must get around to making a list of the titles in this series and then never get around to reading through it.But would at least have a starting point, I have a list of Ford Maddox Ford's essential books over time from teh back of his book trying to establish a canon. Not got through that either. BUt did finally read through his text after a couple of different goes with a loing interval in between.
― Stevolende, Friday, 29 January 2021 10:05 (three years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Sunday, 31 January 2021 00:01 (three years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Monday, 1 February 2021 00:01 (three years ago) link
I have to say, ilx loving Tolkien without shame has been shocking me this week, what with the ~problematic~ aspects, the fact that he's a bona fide English Culture Hero, and the overwhelming odour of nerd-dom, I expected someone to take a serious crack. (tbc I like the books, and my mother reading us The Hobbit from the fronts seat during road trip vacations is a cherished childhood memory)
― rob, Monday, 1 February 2021 00:09 (three years ago) link
loving Tolkien without shame has been shocking me
so, your point is that we should all be ashamed of ourselves?
― Compromise isn't a principle, it's a method (Aimless), Monday, 1 February 2021 02:05 (three years ago) link
Ilxor are nerds.
I'm considering giving the hobbit and lotr a go this year, once I'm finished with proust (so no time too soon)
― Dusty Benelux (jim in vancouver), Monday, 1 February 2021 02:09 (three years ago) link
i went to reread the Hobbit last year and decided against it within 5 pages.
― koogs, Monday, 1 February 2021 02:18 (three years ago) link
I intensely dislike Tolkien and all he inspired to the point of complete indifference, and I get a lot of people feel different about it. Having said that TEN votes is still more than I expected. Onwards and upwards imo.
― A Scampo Darkly (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 1 February 2021 08:49 (three years ago) link
I dislike high fantasy that has different "races" of human-like beings inspired by racial or cultural stereotypes. I don't think designing the world before designing the story is a particularly good idea either. But I have never finished one of Tolkien's books so take that with a grain of salt.
― wasdnuos (abanana), Monday, 1 February 2021 09:18 (three years ago) link
You could probably come up with problematic aspects for all sorts of books that have won this! Also note UK ilxor allergy to National Culture has a cut-off date - not like there's any screeds on here against Ealing studios or Enid Blyton.
I was indoctrinated into fantasy nerdom at an impressionable age and so love Tolkien unreservedly, though I can totally understand why others wouldn't. But The Hobbit is just a nice warm children's book, mostly unconnected to any high fantasy world building. The movies tried to make it fit that mold and that's part of why they're an absolutely rotten experience.
People surprised by this result should steel themselves for the moment the Moomins start showing up here imo.
― Daniel_Rf, Monday, 1 February 2021 11:50 (three years ago) link
UK ilxor allergy to National Culture has a cut-off date
Ah that's a good point, which hadn't occurred to me.
― rob, Monday, 1 February 2021 13:55 (three years ago) link
wd have voted for journey by moonlight. love that book.
― Lord of the RONGS (Fizzles), Monday, 1 February 2021 14:23 (three years ago) link
Wherein We Elect Our Favourite Novels of 1938
― Daniel_Rf, Monday, 1 February 2021 15:22 (three years ago) link
not like there's any screeds on here against Ealing studios or Enid Blyton.
Enid Blyton was a fucking racist iirc
― emil.y, Monday, 1 February 2021 15:33 (three years ago) link
Look away if worried about spoilers: Happy Ending of T's saga (incl. The Hobbit as seemingly lighter-weight genesis seed etc.) is actually so tragironic---Anti-Quest and sacrifice of magic is nec. to deliver from evil, but Middle Earth will become Western Europe, and the King is White Male Saviour, dominant species at last, and we all know how that's gone, and author, between the World War he barely survived, like some of his patched-up characters, and another WW just ahead, provides the one of this clearly enough that tragirony extends to and through order of race, species etc.. not to say it nec. absolves him from all other judgments/readings)(but that was my take on it when reading several years ago)
― dow, Monday, 1 February 2021 22:10 (three years ago) link
*Savior*, sorry.
― dow, Monday, 1 February 2021 22:11 (three years ago) link
Provides the "tone* of this clearly enough
― dow, Monday, 1 February 2021 22:12 (three years ago) link
The Blind Owl is really something out of time, as is Journey by Moonlight. We should leave the Tolkien to ILE lol.
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 2 February 2021 00:21 (three years ago) link