Hamlette's Tenth Annual Hobbit Week Party

It's Tolkien Week! Every year for a decade, Rachel at The Edge of The Precipice has gathered Tolkien fans from around the world to play games and share blog posts centered around Tolkien's groundbreaking works. She also hosts a giveaway each year, so go ahead and enter it if you'd like the chance to win some Tolkien-flavored goodies!

1. Who first introduced you to Middle Earth? I remember Mama reading The Hobbit

 to me and my siblings when I was little (and I remember thinking that Gollum must have looked something like the fish from the Peter Rabbit look-and-find book we used to have), but I didn't really find it very riveting back then.
Then my sister had me read it some years later and it still took me a few tries to get through it! I think the only reason I did was because my dad and sister loved it so much and I wanted to read something hard. Which is kind of ironic since The Hobbit isn't really that hard to read now that I'm older and the page count of chapter one isn't so daunting.

2. Has your love of Middle-earth affected your life?
I've spent a lot of time reading the books and watching the movies that I would have spent on something else if I had never known Middle-earth. And I'm writing this blog post instead of working on different writing projects.

3. Have you ever dressed up like a Tolkien character?
No, but I'd love to sew one of Eowyn's costumes someday!

4. What people in your real life would you want in your company if you had to take the ring to Mordor?
My family, because we'd know each other and would probably be able to work together better than if I got some strangers to come with me. But on the other hand, some of us might not die, but most of us don't have any combat training at all, so we'd probably be a terrible group to handle the most powerful weapon in Middle-earth.

5. What Middle-earth location would you most like to visit?
Lothlorien maybe? I love the blue and silver colors and the gowns and the pretty big trees and the water; I can't think of a single thing I don't like about it. I can think of things I don't like about other locations though. Like Hobbiton. I'd thoroughly enjoy it if there were only certain Hobbits living there. And I'm pretty sure I'd be scared of Elrond if I went to Rivendell.

6. Are there any secondary characters you think deserve more attention?

Not really. One of the points Tolkien tried to get across is this: 'Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere'. The beauty of The Lord Of The Rings is it shows us a glimpse of what is going on behind the scenes. Most adventure books focus on the main character's quest and the people who stick by them. Sometimes there are two or three other POVs, but Tolkien managed to pull off nine other POVs. This is because while each of the characters were off having their own adventures, the audience could still see that it was all connected. We didn't have to wait for the end of the series for the payoff; the entire thing was the payoff!

7. Would you rather attend Faramir's wedding or Samwise's wedding?

I think for my socially anxious self, Faramir's wedding would be the easiest to be invisible in, so I might prefer his wedding. On the other hand, hobbits have lots
of food and fireworks and flowers, so maybe Sam's wedding.

8. How many books by J.R.R. Tolkien have you read?

The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, The Lord Of The Rings, Farmer Giles of Ham, Letters By Father Christmas. I think that's it.

9. Are there any books about Middle-earth or Professor Tolkien (but not written by him) that you recommend? 
I don't believe I've read any. So, I guess not?

10. List up to ten of your favorite lines/quotations from the Middle-earth books and/or movies.

'The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost.'

'The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.'

'But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it'll shine out the clearer.'

'It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not.'

'Yet dawn is ever the hope of men.'

'For he was a gentle heart and a great king and kept his oaths; and he rose out of the shadows to a last fair morning.'

'I want to be a healer, and love all things that grow and are not barren.'

'Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.'

And that's all for today! You can exect me back with at least a couple more posts to add to the growing Hobbit Week Party collection in the next few days.