Welcome to Litsy!

lissom: thin, supple, and graceful (adjective)

#WeirdWords #WeirdWordWednesday #FellowshipOfTolkien

Happy Tolkien Reading Day! After recently reading Tolkien‘s work on The Fall of Arthur I decided to revisit a bit more of his poetry today in the tagged book with supper tonight. I love the story of Beren and Luthien, and the parts that were written as poetry are especially wonderful.

Anyone else reading a little extra Tolkien today?

#TolkienReadingDay #JRRTolkien #FellowshipOfTolkien #ReadAndEat

Post 2/2: When I read ”Of the Flight of the Noldor” now after reading the History of Middle-Earth (HoME), I always miss the actual inclusion of the oath of Fëanor and his sons. Reading the words feels so much more dramatic than only a narrative description. So, I‘m sharing two versions. This is the earlier version in poem form from the tagged book, and my favorite.

#FellowshipOfTolkien #Silmarillion

I have always enjoyed reading Tolkien! I enjoyed reading this book a lot. Loved reading the backstory of these writings that he was working on. I rated this book a 4 out of 5 stars!!! This is the first book completed for #RushAThon readathon hosted by @Andrew65

#7days7books Day 7

Seven books that left a deep impression on me and changed me.

A bounty of lore and insight into the creation of the mythology of Middle-earth. A must read for lovers of The Silmarillion and Beren and Lúthien.

1. I guess I need to double check since my spreadsheet says 95 & Goodreads says 97.
2. 100 books
3. Lays of Beleriand by J.R.R. Tolkien - This one was so much more enjoyable than I expected since I‘ve slowly developed a greater appreciation for his poetry.
4. Fall of Gondolin by J.R.R. Tolkien - Yes, I‘m still enjoying all the Tolkien books!

#2018checkin

Omg!! Sarah @JazzFeathers Thank you so so much!! The handmade bookmark is gorgeous and the books are perfect!! You‘re an author!? I can‘t wait to read your book! And the COASTER! So cute! The mug is gorgeous too but much too small for an English mug of tea so I‘ll keep it as an incense stick holder on my altar for all to see! Thank you! #tolkieniteswap

#ThereAndBackAgain Day 5 - The Unnumbered Characters

There's no way l talk about Tolkien's characters and l leaves out my dear Feanor.
Yes, yes, l know everybody hates him, we discussed all about it when we read the Silmarillion 😆
But what can l do? He's a marvellously complex, difficult, nuanced, strongwilled, stabborn and yes, also talented character. He will always be one of my favourite.

#ThereAndBackAgain Day 4

And talking about discovery, l know l've already said this time and again, but he the strength of the version in verses of the two great stories - The Children of Hurin and Beren and Luthien - just charmed me.
Never imagined it and loved to be charmed 😊😍

I somehow never posted May stats and I only finished a few books in June, so here are combined stats for the two months. Favorites were the wonderful poems of Tolkien in The Lays of Beleriand and the incredible history in Schindler‘s List.

#readingstats #monthlystats

And thus it ends the Lays of Beleriand. A total pick... and l never expected it. I feared it would be hard and slow going reading these poems. But there is such power, such feelings and emotions, such visions, they complety sucked me in.
Such a shame Tolkien never completed them.

#YearOfTolkien

I hoped to enjoy this book based on my previous reading, but it far surpassed my expectations! Tolkien tells some wonderful stories in epic form through verse. If you enjoyed Children of Hurin or Beren & Luthien, I strongly recommend the versions in these pages. My only wish is that he had completely finished the “Lay of Leithian.”

#YearofTolkien

Before my review, I want to share two comments on these pages.

I‘ve enjoyed many C.S. Lewis books and find his friendship with Tolkien interesting. However, I thought his method of commenting on and suggesting revisions to the poem was strange.

Secondly, I love The Lord of the Rings, so I‘m glad things worked out the way they did, but I can‘t help but wish that someone had been strongly encouraging him to finish these poems!

#YearofTolkien

#Riotgrams #selfieread #readingselfie

So, l suck at taking selfies. And l hate to post pics of myself. But l thought l'd do an exception tonight as l sit down for my final session of the Lays of Beleriand. This may well be the only time that you'll see my face 😆

#YearOfTolkien

The revised beginning of the Lay of Leithian is absolutely fantastic. This poem keep getting better and better. Such a sad matter that Tolkien never finished it 😢

#YearOfTolkien

I think l'll probably be done by tomorrow. What about you, gals? @Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @InLibrisVeritas

I adored these stories in this form, for me reading them in the rhyme and meter of older works of poetry made them so much more lyrical and enjoyable than the brief summaries found in The Silmarillion.

#YearOfTolkien

...the clear colors are gone.”

I loved these poems so much, I am aghast that the publisher‘s reader at first thought they were a translation of some ‘Celtic Geste‘ author unknown🙊, & that the verse translation was colorless 🙉, & that the prose-version summaries were ‘far superior‘🙈

*Without this setback, we would most likely have never gotten The Lord of the Rings, as work went forward on the Silmarillion instead, but 🤭😱

#YearOfTolkien

Canto XII

Nooooooo!!! How can it end there!!!! 😭
Yes, yes, l knew the poem is incomplete. I still think it's unfair!

I enjoyed reading Tolkien's notes about what would follow. It's familiar and new at the same time.

I loved this poem.

#YearOfTolkien

Canto XIII

Fantastic! Loved the dialogue between Luthien and Morgoth. She uses her magic against him - a magic of music and light - but also her wits. Once again Luthien proves to be an awesome heroen.

#YearOfTolkien

I took this photo this morning, but I‘ve taken most of the day to accomplish what I set out to do, so I‘m just now posting. I finished Cantos XIII & XIV, although I have not read all the notes. That abrupt ending gets me every time! I love this poetic version and am so glad Christopher chose to publish what was available, even if it is incomplete. #YearofTolkien

Also, @Riveted_Reader_Melissa your #1001Discoveries books are finally in the mail.

I finished Canto XII of “The Lay of Leithian” today, and I‘m continuing to enjoy all the detail of the story. Also, Luthien is amazing, again in this quote wielding her magic to put Carcharoth to sleep.

#YearofTolkien

Canto XII

I'm really loving the glimpses to the history of Middle-Earth that we are getting in the poem. Fingolfin's challenge is an awesome episode and l loved to read it here.
Loved the dialogue with Carcaroth too. Reminds me a bit of the dialogue between Turin and Glaurung.

#YearOfTolkien

Canto XI

Absolutely fantastic! This part was never address in such details in any of the versions l've read so far.
Beren's farewell to life gave me the shivers. The terrible journal to Thangorodrim in a way foreshadows the journey to Mount Doom.

#YearOfTolkien #LotRChapterADay #Tolkien

Canto X

Beren and Luthien has always been one of my favourite stories in the Silmarillion, but this version is so beautiful.
I love the way Beren and Luthien become one thing and one always think to the well being of the others.
They are a beautiful couple.

#YearOfTolkien

Canto lX

Loved it! So much feeling! And Beren and Luthien's emotional reaction are so realistic, so human.
I love that they already act like one entity, like everything one do is completed by the other. This is such a great couple.

#YearOfTolkien

I finished the Canto VIII and am moving on to Canto IX. I always really enjoy Huan‘s part in the story.

#YearofTolkien

Hey! Here I thought I was two days behind and needed to catch-up, but apparently I‘m right on schedule too. So yay, I‘m not behind after all!😜

You knew I‘d get behind right here, somehow, and need extra days, thanks @JazzFeathers !!👍

#YearOfTolkien

Canto VIII

Loved this part. I love the way the different goals of the character get into conflict. And Huan is a beautiful character. He has clearly human mind and heart, and although he's been faithful to Celegorm since he came fron Valinor, he changes his heart when he realises Celegorm's deceit of Luthien.
Loved the glimpsesb into Arda's history in the poem.

#YearOfTolkien

Canto Vll

Really loved the magic duel between Felagund and Thu (who will one day become Sauron).
Part game of riddles, part fight of magic song, this is a powerful episod. And l love that both characters are very aware. Neighr let the other discover all their secrets, and still both are aware of the adversary's power.

#YearOfTolkien

Canto Vl

The story as we know it is finally sharing up. I loved the passages about the past.
Finrod Felagund is one of my favourite characters from the Silmarillion 😊

#YearOfTolkien

Canto V

I've always loved Luthien's initiative. She knows the man she loves is in danger, she knows nobody near her will help him. So, does she despair? No. She thinks, 'Then l have to save him,' and she devises a plan involving magic and wits.
And please note this is an Elf princess going off to save a human warrior.
If this is not a kick-ass female character, l don't know who is.

#YearOfTolkien

A grilled chicken fajita bowl for supper and then Cantos 5 & 6 of “The Lay of Leithian” make for a pretty enjoyable evening. I love all of the detail in this long poetic version. I‘m also sure Luthien is now officially my answer for anyone who says there aren‘t enough women in Tolkien‘s work. They may be few, but they are mighty!

#YearofTolkien

Canto lV

Last time l read this episode, it was so different. This is a wonderful version where all the characters have great personality. I love the dynamics between them. Beren comes out as a fighter. Thingol is hauthy but not necessarily unfair. Melian is like a goddess and Luthien is determined and strong-willed.
I love all of them.

#YearOfTolkien

Canto lll

Really really enjoyed the meeting between Beren and Luthien. This is a very sensual version, more than l remember all the others to be.

#YearOfTolkien

I have to say, my #YearOfTolkien group... I am loving the second part of this book The Lay of Leithian is so beautiful in rhythm and meter, I actually prefer it to the prose story version, and find myself disappointed when I hit the end of each Canto and have to break rhythm for the Notes and Commentary.

Beren and Lúthien are somehow a bit more magical in this form.

Canto ll

Betrayal, ravange, promices of loyalty... and ghosts.
I mean. There's not much more l can ask for 😆

#YearOfTolkien

This time of year reading in my backyard is one of my favorite things, including the sunsets and the fact that you can almost see the corn growing from day to day.

I‘ve been enjoying all of the poems in this book, but the Lay of Leithian is my favorite without a doubt. I love the story, and I also love the rhythm of the words in this poetic form.

#YearofTolkien

Canto l

The Lay of Leithian is so very different from the Lay of the Children of Hurin, in metre, in feeling, in imageining. They are two very different stories, one the antithesis of the other in so many ways. And still both so beautiful.
Loved the opening of the Lay of Leithian

#YearOfTolkien

I've discovered a podcast devoted to Tolkien. They're commenting the Silmarillion one chapter at a time. I'm loving it!
https://bit.ly/2Ionfml

Today was my official last day of school (although I plan to spend a couple more days working in my classroom this week), so my evening plans include a wine slushy and books in the backyard with the pets!

I plan to read the next chapter of poems first and then at least start Schindler‘s List.

#TeachersofLitsy #YearofTolkien #1001Discoveries #boutofbooks

Such a shame there seems to be so little about Tuor and Gondolin, at least at this stage. This make me even more eager to read the new book.

#YearOfTolkien

Wait! Nobody moves!
If you were around when we read the Silmarillion last year, you'll know of my love for Feanor. And what do l find here? The first ever written Feanor's Oath in form of poem!
Oh, my goodness it is beautiful!!!!

Granted, in my opinion this is one of the best passages in the Silmarillion (which is a book with a surprisingly high number of best passages) but the poem form is just powerful.

Fantastic!!!!

Read it a couple of days ago, but l'm a bit late with my posting.
I will never cease to say it: l'm shocked of how much l'm liking the poems. I've never been a poem girl, l usually don't understand poetry. But then this is not really poetry, it's more epic, and it is a bit hard to read (especially for me, English is my second language)... but boy, this is so powerful!! So many places where l got the shivers.
I'm loving it!

#YearOfTolkien

I finished the additional versions of Children of Hurin this evening with spaghetti squash for supper. I wasn‘t sure about it the first time I read it, but I‘ve come to appreciate this dark story more as I‘ve read different versions. Some of the poem revisions definitely heightened the intensity of certain aspects.

#YearofTolkien #readandeat

1. Currently, main reads are The Lays of Beleriand for #YearofTolkien & The Moor's Last Sigh as #audiobook for #Reading1001
2. My family, especially my grandma and dad
3. Evening, but really any time of day!
4. Recently, Lonesome Dove

#ManicMonday

Christopher is absolutely right. This revision of the opening of the poem is a lot stronger, involving, cruel and visceral.
#YearOfTolkien

I‘m starting the second version of The Children of Hurin this morning. I have a busy weekend of visiting family planned, but here‘s hoping I can make time to finish this section today.

#YearofTolkien

Thanks to a new schedule from @JazzFeathers and some effort on my part, I‘m actually caught back up with my #YearofTolkien read along 😅

So here it is the updated schedule for the #YearOfTolkien readalong of The Lays of Beleriand 😊

#Tolkien fans are very welcome to join

'Twas Turin that towering on the tarn's margins
Up high o'er the head of the hushed water
Now falling faintly, let flare and echo
A song of sorrow and sad splendour,
The dirge of Beleg's deadthless glory.
There wondrous wove he words enchanted
That woods and water waked and answeted,
The rocks were wrung with ruth for Beleg.

#YearOfTolkien #Tolkien