A Decade in the Making
Dec. 19th, 2011 11:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
windemereToday is a ten year anniversary, of sorts. I'm not quite sure what it's an anniversary of, but I do know it is significant. Ten years ago today, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was released to theatres. It was an important day in the world of Tolkien fans.
I wouldn't really know. Ten years ago today I still had a 100 pages left to read of Fellowship of the Ring. It had been a busy December, and I had (like in most things) come late to the Tolkien fan party. I didn't truly understand the significance of the event. I was not one of the millions at the midnight premiere or the showings on the day. Instead, I stayed home and read.
By Christmas day, when I had actually finished the book, I made a decision. At the time, I wasn't at all sure it was the right choice, but I'm glad of it now. I chose to finish the other two books before I saw the movie. As almost everyone I knew had already seen if, a dear friend Ellen offered to wait with me until (hopefully) the end of the month. And so, on Christmas day, I forced my father to drive me home from my grandmother's in order to get the second book. My mother didn't forgive me until New Years. My aunt thought it was hilarious.
On the 27th I picked up Return of the King and on the 29th, a mere 10 days after the rest of the world had seen it, and only a few hours after finishing the last chapter of King, I was in the theatre.
The books are a gift. They are the best of their kind; a world so real and so beautiful that fans for decades have been lost in their wonder. They are magical and memorable. They are a true literary marvel. And the movies, those wonderful creations of a small group of dedicated fans themselves, are our reward.
And what a reward it is. I have met my best friend and my seler because of J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson, and many more friends besides. And I meet still more because of him every year.
In less than a year there will be The Hobbit. And a year after that another as well. Once more we will be treated to the best make believe world come to life on screen. And it will be amazing. I can't wait.
I wouldn't really know. Ten years ago today I still had a 100 pages left to read of Fellowship of the Ring. It had been a busy December, and I had (like in most things) come late to the Tolkien fan party. I didn't truly understand the significance of the event. I was not one of the millions at the midnight premiere or the showings on the day. Instead, I stayed home and read.
By Christmas day, when I had actually finished the book, I made a decision. At the time, I wasn't at all sure it was the right choice, but I'm glad of it now. I chose to finish the other two books before I saw the movie. As almost everyone I knew had already seen if, a dear friend Ellen offered to wait with me until (hopefully) the end of the month. And so, on Christmas day, I forced my father to drive me home from my grandmother's in order to get the second book. My mother didn't forgive me until New Years. My aunt thought it was hilarious.
On the 27th I picked up Return of the King and on the 29th, a mere 10 days after the rest of the world had seen it, and only a few hours after finishing the last chapter of King, I was in the theatre.
The books are a gift. They are the best of their kind; a world so real and so beautiful that fans for decades have been lost in their wonder. They are magical and memorable. They are a true literary marvel. And the movies, those wonderful creations of a small group of dedicated fans themselves, are our reward.
And what a reward it is. I have met my best friend and my seler because of J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson, and many more friends besides. And I meet still more because of him every year.
In less than a year there will be The Hobbit. And a year after that another as well. Once more we will be treated to the best make believe world come to life on screen. And it will be amazing. I can't wait.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 05:03 pm (UTC)*clings*
no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 06:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 09:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 10:16 am (UTC)