Tolkien and "real life"

"Derek Wildstar" <gunner.RemoveThis@argo.mil> wrote in message
news:KMtUb.181492$sv6.943653@attbi_s52...
 >
 > "aelfwina" <aelfwina.RemoveThis@cableone.net> wrote in message
 > news:1024m7h47qmf6b6@corp.supernews.com...
 >
  > > So obviously, Tolkien had a huge effect on the course of my life. I
just
  > > wonder if there are others out there who could trace similar
connections,
 > or
  > > am I just strange?
 >
  > > Barbara
 >
 > Barbara, I have learned in my years never to fully trust a person who
reads
 > only one book.
 >
 > You may now scratch your head.

Well, I'm scratching away? I never said LoTR or Tolkien was *all* we read.
I'm pretty voracious, and seldom leave the library with less than 20 books
at a time. Although Tolkien remains my all-time favorite, I read other
fantasy, sci-fi, mysteries,historical, non-fiction, etc. About the only
genre I *dislike* are certain types of romances.
But I have gone as long as 3 years reading TH/LoTR over and over, with other
books at the same time. Most fiction, I finish in 1-2 days time, non-fic,
depends. But I can make Tolkien drag out for months.
I just wonder though, as I said, about whether other folk have "real life"
consequences from their reading of Tolkien.
Barbara

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 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Tolkien and "real life" 

aelfwina wrote:
 >
 > Thinking back over the last 36 years since I first read Tolkien, I realize
 > how much of the course of my "real life" was influenced by his writing.
 >
 > Because of Tolkien, I was introduced to the work of C.S. Lewis, and through
 > them, became a Christian.
 > Because of that, I attended a Christian college, which is where I met my
 > future husband.
 > When we met, our first conversation was about hobbits and the LoTR, which
 > we both loved.
 > On our first date, he took me to a bookstore.
 > Nearly 28 years later, when people ask me what attracted me to him, my
 > answer is still "his taste in books."
 >
 > So obviously, Tolkien had a huge effect on the course of my life. I just
 > wonder if there are others out there who could trace similar connections, or
 > am I just strange?
 > Barbara

Good job Tolkien didn't include any grahic descriptions of sex in his
books, or he could have a lot more to answer for...

M.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Tolkien and "real life" 

"aelfwina" <aelfwina.TakeThisOut@cableone.net> wrote in message news:<1024m7h47qmf6b6.TakeThisOut@corp.supernews.com>...
 > Thinking back over the last 36 years since I first read Tolkien, I realize
 > how much of the course of my "real life" was influenced by his writing.
 >
 > Because of Tolkien, I was introduced to the work of C.S. Lewis, and through
 > them, became a Christian.
 > Because of that, I attended a Christian college, which is where I met my
 > future husband.
 > When we met, our first conversation was about hobbits and the LoTR, which
 > we both loved.
 > On our first date, he took me to a bookstore.
 > Nearly 28 years later, when people ask me what attracted me to him, my
 > answer is still "his taste in books."
 >
 > So obviously, Tolkien had a huge effect on the course of my life. I just
 > wonder if there are others out there who could trace similar connections, or
 > am I just strange?
 > Barbara

It seems that the One Ring, even quite virtual, has got a strong
influence on you. <!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Tolkien and "real life" 

"aelfwina" <aelfwina.TakeThisOut@cableone.net> wrote in message news:<1024m7h47qmf6b6.TakeThisOut@corp.supernews.com>...
 > Thinking back over the last 36 years since I first read Tolkien, I realize
 > how much of the course of my "real life" was influenced by his writing.
 >
 > Because of Tolkien, I was introduced to the work of C.S. Lewis, and through
 > them, became a Christian.
[rest snipped]

I was influenced to have a more positive view of God due to reading
Tolkien. His stories gave me a different way of looking at death which
has been helpful.

I can't say he has influenced my life in any practical day to day
manner though.

Now that I have typed that last sentence, I feel a bit sad.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Tolkien and "real life" 

aelfwina <aelfwina DeleteThis @cableone.net> wrote:
 > ...So obviously, Tolkien had a huge effect on the course of my life. I just
 > wonder if there are others out there who could trace similar connections, or
 > am I just strange?

Reading LOTR deepened my interest in languages, and led me
to take university courses in linguistics, Old English and
fantasy literature. I did go out on a date once with one of the
girls in my Old English class, but it never amounted to anything.
I think the main influence was the inspiring nature of the story.

--Jamie. (nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita)
andrews .uwo } Merge these two lines to obtain my e-mail address.
@csd .ca } (Unsolicited "bulk" e-mail costs everyone.)<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Tolkien and "real life" 

On Thu, 5 Feb 2004 08:53:36 -0600, "aelfwina" <aelfwina DeleteThis @cableone.net>
wrote:

 >So obviously, Tolkien had a huge effect on the course of my life. I just
 >wonder if there are others out there who could trace similar connections, or
 >am I just strange?

No, you're not strange. Or if so, maybe it is an affliction of those
named "Barbara." (g)

I started to read JRRT's "Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" in my
teens just after I'd moved to a new state and a new countryside (not
dissimilar to parts of England -- JRRT's drawing of the landscape in
"Mr. Bliss," the one of Mr. Bliss at sunrise after running all night,
really resonates), and the books at that time opened up for the first
time my sense of wonder and curiosity about the countryside, that is,
in how "it bites into your memory and imagination even if you don't
think it has," as he described the effect a relocation experience of
his own at a young age had on him. Of course, this was the late 20th
century and there were no rustic people about, even in a rustic
setting. But I think it was because of this awakening of wonder that
I eventually ended up getting a degree in forestry and almost a degree
in geology (never was good in chemistry, unfortunately, and couldn't
complete that). And yes, my high school sweetheart was a Tolkien fan,
too, but we didn't marry.

I never did get into forestry for my livelihood, but I do really love
trees now, and a quiet countryside.

Barb<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Tolkien and "real life" 

"Belba Grubb from Stock" <barbb.RemoveThis@dbtech.net> wrote in message
news:leod20h9vl1s2i5mfvilebhvdukvsmaabr@4ax.com...
 > On Thu, 5 Feb 2004 08:53:36 -0600, "aelfwina" <aelfwina.RemoveThis@cableone.net>
 > wrote:
 >
  > >So obviously, Tolkien had a huge effect on the course of my life. I just
  > >wonder if there are others out there who could trace similar connections,
or
  > >am I just strange?
 >
 > No, you're not strange. Or if so, maybe it is an affliction of those
 > named "Barbara." (g)

Could be. Hmm...
 >
 > I started to read JRRT's "Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" in my
 > teens just after I'd moved to a new state and a new countryside (not
 > dissimilar to parts of England -- JRRT's drawing of the landscape in
 > "Mr. Bliss," the one of Mr. Bliss at sunrise after running all night,
 > really resonates), and the books at that time opened up for the first
 > time my sense of wonder and curiosity about the countryside, that is,
 > in how "it bites into your memory and imagination even if you don't
 > think it has," as he described the effect a relocation experience of
 > his own at a young age had on him. Of course, this was the late 20th
 > century and there were no rustic people about, even in a rustic
 > setting. But I think it was because of this awakening of wonder that
 > I eventually ended up getting a degree in forestry and almost a degree
 > in geology (never was good in chemistry, unfortunately, and couldn't
 > complete that).

So Tolkien influenced your choice of major? That's neat.

And yes, my high school sweetheart was a Tolkien fan,
 > too, but we didn't marry.

Well, going on 28 years now, I think I made a pretty good choice. I often
have friends who are going through breakups ask me what our "secret" is.
And I usually answer "Picking the right person in the first place." But
really, there seems to be more than luck at work here; although he was not
nearly *as much* into Tolkien as I, he knew right away what was important to
me. And his choice of going to a bookstore on a first date with me was a
stroke of genius. Barnes & Noble is still a romantic evening out for us, in
fact. Splurged last night and came home with a new Tolkien Reader, UT in
paperback, and the entire series of "As Time Goes By" on DVD.
 >
 > I never did get into forestry for my livelihood, but I do really love
 > trees now, and a quiet countryside.

He really does give words to those feelings that nature can stir is us.
Barbara
 >
 > Barb<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Tolkien and "real life"