Literally Geeky discussion

Anything to say or discuss about this month's book that just can't wait until the hangout? This is the place to do it.

Yo, yo.

So, just a wee heads up, but I'm not going to be able to make Literally Geeky tonight. First time ever, but real life... what ya gonna do?

I did want to say something about The Hobbit though....

'The Hobbit' occasionally comes in for short shrift when compared to its more serious big brothers, it's cosy at times (unless you're a pony) and it's aimed at a younger audience (though no less rich for it,) with its silly trolls and mean elves.

Then again, with Bilbo as an unreliable narrator recounting a fairytale to entertain his audience, what can you expect?

As far as children's books go, it's far from dumb or flighty: like its tubby little hero, it grows and grows, eventually becoming the kind of primer for would-be machinators that Machiavelli would be proud of.

Gollum, Smaug, Bilbo; these are still some of my favourite people of all time, and unlike some authors who create a truly wonderful character just to squander them (see Hannibal Lecter, Francis Urqhart for details), Tolkien went from strength to strength.

Even so, the more heroic Tolkien's prose becomes the more remote and rarefied the protagonist turns out to be; relatability certainly wasn't one of JRR's aims in creating his lays, but... Look, while you can imagine Fëanor, clad in his bling, throwing quite the hissy fit - "bugger the Valar!" and all that: it doesn't quite hit the same spot as Smaug telling Bilbo he has nice manners for a thief and a liar.

Also, the poems are shorter. Score one for The Hobbit there.

I remember buying the damn book at my junior school's short lived weekly bookshop - four shelves and a biscuit tin for the monies received. It had a glorious cover; gold runes and John Howe's Smaug; serpentine neck and twisted smile; scales reflecting the pile of gold beneath him. That cover eventually wore out from over-reading.

We were allowed to visit the so-called 'book shop' twice a week; once to look around (and price up) and then (there and) back again next day to buy. I remember going home and telling my Mum about the dragon book I wanted, and how excited she was for me because one of the most battered and beloved books on my parents shelves was The Lord of the Rings.

We read that together later in the year.

I'd always been keen on mythology, but The Hobbit was my first foray into fantasy and I never looked back. The Bakshi film, Farmer Giles of Ham, Silmarillion, History of Middle Earth, The Children of Húrin... I'm a big. Big. Fan. So to sum up, my life is all the richer for the dragons and the wraiths and gravitas with which Tolkien invented Middle Earth.

One last thing: for anyone who is both a Hobbit and Tove Jansson aficionado: she did some smashing illustrations for the Swedish version... a couple of which can be found here:

http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/06/...