LOTR Read-along Response

I'm (sort of) participating in the Lord of the Rings Read Along hosted over at Little Red Reviewer and Geek Daddy. I'm saying sort of because I've read the books so many times that I don't actually have to be re-reading them at the same time. It makes answering some of these questions a bit more difficult, because I'm coming at the story from a perspective where I know the whole thing. There are few surprises there for me any more. Although, I did re-read the Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers fairly recently.

This week's questions are:

1. Hobbits seem to have songs for everything!  I didn't realize this was a musical. . . . how are you liking all the songs?

I actually like the songs quite a bit. Besides, they're not the only ones with poetry and songs - Tom Bombadil is a classic example. It seems as though half of his lines are in the form of poetry.

2. I love that we learn about Gollum and his past so early on. It gives a dark and foreboding (dare I say, perilous?) feeling to the whole thing. Were you surprised that the story took a dive towards the dark and scary so quickly?

I actually can't remember if it surprised me or not - I've more or less forgotten my reactions from the first time I read the Fellowship of the Ring. Now, it just seems to fit the story and I can't imagine it being any other way. Besides, as I understand things, a book needs some kind of a "hook" to pull the readers in. This seems to be that hook.

3. Tom Bombadil!  what and who is he???  If you met him in a forest, would you trust him?

Now, this is a can of worms you've opened. Everyone has a theory as to who Tom Bombadil is, and nobody has an answer. I certainly don't. I've seen discussions where one party claims he's really Iluvatar, and others that claim other things. There's a fairly comprehensive listing in this thread over at the LOTR Fanatics Forum.


I don't know that I would 'trust' him if I met him under the circumstances that the hobbits did, but I'd definitely accept his help - there don't seem to be any other options at that point in the story.

4. What did you think when Pippin, Merry and Sam told Frodo about their "conspiracy", and that they pretty much knew what he was planning from the beginning?

Loyal friends who really don't know what they're getting in to at this point. They'll find out though. And, they're friends that I'd be glad to have.

5. What's your favorite part of the book so far?

I'd have to say the bit where the horn call of Buckland rang out. That little hint of what's happening in The Shire after Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin have gone left a number of unanswered questions and hints. My true favourites though lie much farther along in The Lord of the Rings.