Great discussion. Lots of interesting detail. It’s interesting what you say about finding the book boring at age 11. I read it at twelve, forced myself to, but of course, didn’t understand a lot of it. Read it again at 19 and well; since then I’ve read it several times, on each occasion finding something new and marvelous I missed the previous time. I like the depth you bring in this discussion to the background of hobbits.
It’s wild to think that Tolkien had these shitty drafts and kept at it to arrive at what he did. Like was it perseverance, some writer’s arrogance, a little luck, practice makes perfect, or just a plan?
It was resolve I think, he realized how bad they were and then threw himself back into it, when he realized it was bad. Doing so with according to Christopher unequalled fervour until he was almost blue in the face.
It should give some writers hope, and other writers despair. Anyone can write shitty drafts and improve them. But can you arrive at a finished product like this?
Agreed, I think it gives more hope; Tolkien wrote the worst drafts in history yet was able to write the greatest pieces of writing in the English language.
Followed from yt. Bout time this got moved here
HAhaha sorry for the wait
Great discussion. Lots of interesting detail. It’s interesting what you say about finding the book boring at age 11. I read it at twelve, forced myself to, but of course, didn’t understand a lot of it. Read it again at 19 and well; since then I’ve read it several times, on each occasion finding something new and marvelous I missed the previous time. I like the depth you bring in this discussion to the background of hobbits.
Agreed, it is a fascinating book dunno why it didn’t capture my interest back then when similar volumes often did.
Later at 26 when I next picked it up I was enthralled and in love almost immediately and found it one of the top 15 greatest volumes I ever read.
It’s wild to think that Tolkien had these shitty drafts and kept at it to arrive at what he did. Like was it perseverance, some writer’s arrogance, a little luck, practice makes perfect, or just a plan?
It was resolve I think, he realized how bad they were and then threw himself back into it, when he realized it was bad. Doing so with according to Christopher unequalled fervour until he was almost blue in the face.
It should give some writers hope, and other writers despair. Anyone can write shitty drafts and improve them. But can you arrive at a finished product like this?
Agreed, I think it gives more hope; Tolkien wrote the worst drafts in history yet was able to write the greatest pieces of writing in the English language.