only in the basic structure, but I felt that the midnight library and lonely castle in the mirror had some similarities. depressed main character transports to a mysterious dreamlike building where they find the will to live. the end (spoilers) leaves the character trying to escape the very place as it is destroyed as they return to their old lives (but with a renewed passion for life)

Sir Walter Elliot, man who would use moisturizer and have a 10 step skin care routine. You would have loved the anti wrinkles straw.

Maybe this is common knowledge but having recently read the hobbit/the fellowship of the ring, I made a connection to my university work. I recently wrote a paper on Mithraism, the worship of the god Mithra, who represents the sun, light, and justice. And I thought that sounds like Mithril. I'm pretty sure the etymological root is different and Tolkien relied on Norse culture, but still thought it was cool

Augustus Everett, the man that you are...

beach read has me putting down the book every few pages, not cause it’s bad but because i can’t stop smiling while reading it. emily henry, whatever it is you are putting in your books, it’s hitting my bloodstream like hard drugs and i need another hit.

Obsessed with Tove Jansson’s depiction of gollum and bilbo. Why is gollum so big? Why is bilbo in a nightgown and nightcap? She is my hero for many reasons, one of which is being objectively hilarious.

that part in fellowship where gimli isn't allowed to walk without a blindfold through the Naith of Lorien and Aragorn understands that it is not about the blindfold but about being alone, and so all of the fellowship agree to be blindfolded so that they are all treated equally. That is allyship. aragorn is heir to the throne of gondor and a powerful person in middle earth but he would rather they all be blindfolded so as to point out how outrageous it is that gimli would be blindfolded. As long as the world is unfair we stand with those it is unfair to, and we deny the privileges the unfair world would give us to separate us from our friends

The Fellowship When I was a kid, my folks basically told me I was a hobbit. I cherish the memory of them reading all these books to me--and I turned around and read them to my little siblings and eventually to my partner! I've drawn and painted a lot for The Hobbit but never The Lord of the Rings, and this ECCC seemed like the right time to debut one!

"Leave it."

Finished reading the fellowship for the first time. Gotta say, not loving the band breakup. Hope nothing bad happens in the next 2 books…

people online discussing how the council of Elrond is a difficult chapter to get through but i’m loving it. truly just a big gossip session, living for the drama. if i were bilbo, would totally just be munching on a sandwich while my friends talk about the horrors and peril of the ring

Legolas: oh yeah gollum escaped bc we would let him roam around and feel the free air… our fault for being so kind to our prisoners :(

Glóin:

Legolas:

The entire rest of the council: yeah it’s soooooo good gollum is locked up in Mirkwood

Legolas: um

The council: really that’s the only silver lining. This is a terrible situation but at least gollum isn’t here

Legolas: so

The council: we’ve so much to worry about at least we know where he is and don’t have to dedicate resources to finding him

Legolas: haha um

The council: the elves of Mirkwood never let a prisoner out of sight! Except that one time but they’d never let that happen again they are so responsible

Legolas, tears in his eyes: y’all….

Actually I love that Tolkien decided to include Tom Bombadil. What an amazingly unhinged decision. Literally 5 minutes out of the Shire Merry & Pippin almost get eaten by a sentient evil willow tree but there's just Some Guy who's In Charge of the trees and tells it to let them out. He's older than elves and the river is his wife. Also he's immune to the ring, the thing that the preceding 120 pages and following 800 pages are entirely about and he literally never shows up again. Everyone's like "oh he's God" and Tolkien was like NO he's not God he's literally just a Guy and I don't know what he's doing there either he just wants to be. Incredible. No notes.

reading lotr for the first time and today i got to the part where frodo sold bag end to the sackville-bagginses??????? i could never have predicted this. i was in class and i audibly gasped and closed the book. i was absorbed in the book and it shocked me back to reality. i can’t believe this.

gandalf: [explaining the horrors of the ring]

frodo: [is horrified]

samwise gamgee: [outside revving up the lawnmower]

finally started reading lord of the rings. can feel myself becoming an insufferable Tolkien nerd.