The Hobbit – Part 2
In this months Christian Book Club we have been reading the Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. We started withe Hobbit as an introduction to our next three months’ reading, The Lord of the Rings, a trilogy also by Tolkien. Some people might wonder why we are reading these book on a Christian Book Club. C.S. Lewis said this, “Sometimes fairy tales may say best what’s to be said”. This is actually the title of an essay he wrote on the subject.
I have the idea that as believers, God wants us to use our imaginations. God, who created everything, created us in His image. Part of the package is being creative. Our ability to imagine is God given. Like many gifts it is sometimes misused, but the reaction to the misuse should not be, no use. Our imaginations can be used for Holy purposes. I like to imagine what it must have been like as I read the Bible. Using my holy imagination in this way often helps me to understand and meditate more deeply on the scripture.
In Tolkien’s writings, we get to see characters making good choices. Deciding to serve, to sacrifice, to do the right thing. While there may not be a specific God character, there is a story line of characters who want to do what is right and to do right with right motives. At times, they also fall short, but that is a true picture of our own lives.
I have, once again, become quickly engrossed in the books and well into the Lord of the Ring series already(The first time I read the books, thirty years ago when I was in college, I nearly flunked out of school because I just stayed in the dorm room reading. So far I have been making it to work!) I hope that as you continue to read the story, you will be encouraged to share your observations along the way. I look forward to reading your comments here on the Christian Book Club.
Our next book is part one of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring.
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The Fellowship of the Ring Part One of the Lord of the Rings By J.R.R. Tolkien / Houghton-mifflin The first volume in J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic adventure The Lord of the Rings. In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, (as told in The Hobbit). The Ring eventually passes to Bilbo’s young nephew, Frodo Baggins. The fearsome Ringwraiths were searching for the Ring. Frodo Baggins knew they were seeking him and the Ring he bore, the Ring of Power that would enable evil Sauron to destroy all that was good in Middle-earth. Now it was up to Frodo and his faithful friend, Sam. With a small band of companions to carry the Ring to the one place it could be destroyed, Mount Doom, in the very center of Suaron’s dark kingdom. |
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Category: The Hobbit
How could I possibly fit every glorious thing there is about this series of books into 1000 words? Tolkien is a genius and there is no way to deny that. He has managed to create an entirely different world, every tree, every creature, every nuance of language, every folktale; everything is on these pages that might possibly exist in middle earth. That I believe is Tolkien’s true genius, his ability to construct this world in his head and to let us visit it, completely and fully for four glorious books. However, maybe that is not the extent of his genius. Maybe not because Tolkien also tells a ripping good tale throughout these novels. The prelude with Bilbo being swept up by a band of dwarves and being sent against his will to battle a dragon takes about a night to read, despite the fact that it covers over 300 pages. And then you start the true trilogy, and the ring that Bilbo finds which seemed like a neat little trick in The Hobbit (it grants the wearer the benefit of invisibility) this ring is suddenly so much more than a very handy parlor trick. It is THE ring; crafted ages ago in elven halls with unspeakable power and unfightable draw. Men kill for it, dwarves kill for it, everyone would kill for it and suddenly you are swept off on another adventure with another unsuspecting hobbit that covers all of middle earth and includes the fate of the world…all over this little unassuming ring that must be destroyed. The journey you take in these books will not easily be forgotten, here I am getting chills thinking about the epic battles between good and evil that spring up like weeds around the path of this little ring and Frodo, the hobbit who is charged with destroying it. These books are just wonderous, I cannot say that enough.