Into the Wardrobe

Well, who's ready for our next reading group?
We won't start until after New Years, but if you'd like I could set up a schedule. What if we started on Jan. 3rd, Tolkien's birthday?

I think we had already decided we would read The Tolkien Reader including The Homecoming of Beorthnoth, Tree and Leaf, Farmer Giles of Ham, and The Adventures of Tom Bombadil.

Does everyone's edition include Tolkien's Magic Ring by Peter Beagle? If you like, we could leave that out of our reading since it's not written by our favorite author.

Let me know if Jan. 3rd is a good date to start or if you are still too busy from the holidays. We could wait until the next week so as to keep the schedule more organized.

Magpie and Adam Linton, I especially hope that you will be able to join in, since we had some good discussions while reading Silmarillion.
But everyone is welcome, of course.

Yes, please, A# minor, please do set up a schedule for The Tolkien Reader, starting after January 3. My copy does have the introduction by Peter Beagle.

How fast do we want to make the schedule? Do we want to finish in one month (reading about 60-70 pages every week)? Or do we want to stretch it out over 2 months (reading about 30-40 pages every week)?
I don't mind reading it slowly since it will give us plenty of time to discuss more in depth each book before going on to the next one. I also realize that we are all busy and may be reading other books as well.

Votes for slow? Votes for fast?

I'm sorry, but this time I am in overload, and I will have to pass on this study (especially since I don't even have the book right now).

Awww...We'll miss you, magpie.
Ok, slow it is.

Here's a slow schedule with only about 40 pages every week.
If it ends up being too slow, we can just discuss as far ahead as we have read. While there isn't much material each week, there is plenty of food for discussion in these writings (except maybe the poetry).

Tolkien Reader Reading Schedule
January 3-7 Tolkien's Magic Ring by Peter Beagle
January 8-14 Homecoming of Beorthnoth, Beorthelm's Son
January 15-21 On Fairy Stories (up to Fantasy)
January 22-28 On Fairy Stories (from Fantasy to end)
January 29-Feb. 4 Leaf by Niggle
February 5-11 Farmer Giles of Ham (halfway, or pg.121-155)
February 12-18 Farmer Giles of Ham
February 19-25 The Adventures of Tom Bombadil

I realize that page numbers are probably not the same, but I've given them just to give an idea of half of Farmer Giles.

Thank you, A# minor. I'll look forward to participating. And when we're done with this, may I suggest Smith of Wootton Major for the next project?

Darn, I would've liked to get in on this but I guess I'll wait until the next one. :)

Welcome back, Monica! We're so glad to have you!
Thankyou for agreeing with me on the Gandalf-being-vain thing. I don't know where Beagle got that junk from!
In between reading Tolkien Reader, I'm also reading LOTR for the gazillionth time, and I can't think of an time when Gandalf displayed a vain character. If anything, I'd call him extremely humble from the way that he hides his true powers and goes toddling about in the guise of an old man.
Well, maybe "toddling" isn't the right word.