First Time Readers

Merry and Pippen just are intensely good friends. Especially in the Conspiracy Unmasked chapter.

If you’ve seen Lord of the Rings, you know this man. Farmer Maggot. The one and the only. And I am astounded that the Hobbits actually eat in the home of Farmer Maggot.

So, I am reading through Lord of the Rings for the first time and publishing my thoughts on the chapters as I read them. But I just finished chapter three and I have to say: Gildor makes me like elves.

I am reading through Lord of the Rings for the first time, and I’m in chapter two. And I have to say, out of everything I have seen so far in this book, one of the things that surprised me the most was the sadness, hopeless, possessed story of Gollum.

I am reading Lord of the Rings for the first time and something struck me as sad and depressing in the first chapter. It seems like it’s more subtext than it is anything else, but the invisibility and loneliness of Bilbo Baggins is terribly sad.

Chapter 7 - Helm’s Deep Q1 - Who is your favorite character so far in the whole story? Q2 - Can you guys help me walk through this whole chapter? They turned and ran. At that moment some dozen Orcs that had lain motionless among the slain leaped to their feet, and came silently and swiftly behind. Two flung themselves to the ground at Eomer’s ´ heels, tripped him, and in a moment they were on top...

Chapter 4 - Treebeard Q1 - Do you think the God of Middle Earth is causing all these things to happen? ‘Hm, but you are hasty folk, I see,’ said Treebeard. ‘I am honoured by your confidence; but you should not be too free all at once. There are Ents and Ents, you know; or there are Ents and things that look like Ents but ain’t, as you might say. I’ll call you Merry and Pippin, if you please – nice...

Chapter 1 - The Departure of Boromir He turned from the North back again to North, and saw nothing save the distant hills, unless it were that far away he could see again a great bird like an eagle high in the air, descending slowly in wide circles down towards the earth. Q1 - What, if any, symbolism is there with the Eagles? Q2 - Why does Aragorn always shout Elendil? ‘Farewell, Aragorn! Go to Mi...

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Chapter 19 - The Mirror of Galadriel ‘Alas!’ said Aragorn. ‘Gandalf the Grey fell into shadow. He remained in Moria and did not escape.’ At these words all the Elves in the hall cried aloud in grief and amazement.  Q1 - What do you think of Lothlorian ‘I am afraid that’s only too true, Sam,’ said Frodo. ‘Yet I hope very much that before we leave we shall see the Lady of the Elves again.’ Even as h...

Chapter 16 - A Journey in the Dark ‘The road that I speak of leads to the Mines of Moria,’ said Gandalf. Only Gimli lifted up his head; a smouldering fire was in his eyes. On all the others a dread fell at the mention of that name. Even to the hobbits it was a legend of vague fear. Q1 - What do you think of Moria…it seems darker than I expected. Turning to the others he said: ‘While I am searching...

Chapter 13 - Many Meetings  ‘There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming. The Morgul-lord and his Black Riders have come forth. War is preparing!’ Q1 - What is Gandalf talking about? ‘I suppose not,’ said Frodo. ‘But so far my only thought has been to get here; and I hope I shan’t have to go...

Chapter 9 - At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The man stared after the hobbits for a moment, and then he went back to his house. As soon as his back was turned, a dark figure climbed quickly in over the gate and melted into the shadows of the village street. Q1 - What is this?  ‘Mind yourself! Don’t get lost, and don’t forget that it is safer indoors!’ Q2 - Are you shocked that Merry and Pippen wer...

Chapter 5 - A Conspiracy Unmasked Sam was the only member of the party who had not been over the river before. He had a strange feeling as the slow gurgling stream slipped by: his old life lay behind in the mists, dark adventure lay in front. He scratched his head, and for a moment had a passing wish that Mr. Frodo could have gone on living quietly at Bag End. Q1 - What do you think of the perspec...

Chapter 1 - A Long Expected Party Q1 - What do you think of a Hobbits coming of age at 33? Q2 - What do you think of Frodo’s parents death of drowning? Q3 - What do you think about Hobbits? Out flew a red-golden dragon – not life-size, but terribly life-like: fire came from his jaws, his eyes glared down; there was a roar, and he whizzed three times over the heads of the crowd. They all ducked, an...

Jon, Danny, Jenn, and Lizzy embark on a journey, much like young master Frodo and the Fellowship. In this episode, they talk about the things they know about Lord of the Rings and what they expect from the series as they begin to read.

Jon, Jenn, Danny, and Kristen talk over their last thoughts of the Harry Potter series.

Jon, Danny, Jenn, and Lizzy all went to see Cursed Child. Here are their thoughts and reviews on all things controversial and emotional.

Chapter 33 - The Prince’s Tale As Ginny and Hermione moved closer to the rest of the family, Harry had a clear view of the bodies lying next to Fred: Remus and Tonks, pale and still and peaceful-looking, apparently asleep beneath the dark, enchanted ceiling. Q1 - What do you think about Tonks and Lupin? Q2 - In the beginning of the memory what do you think of Snape, Lily, and Tuneys connection? Q3...

Chapter 29 - The Lost Diadem “Alecto, Amycus’s sister, teaches Muggle Studies, which is compulsory for everyone. We’ve all got to listen to her explain how Muggles are like animals, stupid and dirty, and how they drove wizards into hiding by being vicious toward them, and how the natural order is being reestablished. I got this one,” he indicated another slash to his face, “for asking her how much...

Chapter 24 - The Wandmaker “I want to do it properly,” were the first words of which Harry was fully conscious of speaking. “Not by magic. Have you got a spade?” And shortly afterward he had set to work, alone, digging the grave in the place that Bill had shown him at the end of the garden, between bushes. He dug with a kind of fury, relishing the manual work, glorying in the non-magic of it, for...

Chapter 21 - The Tale of the Three Brothers “ ‘There were once three brothers who were traveling along a lonely, winding road at twilight —’ ” “Midnight, our mum always told us,” said Ron, who had stretched out, arms behind his head, to listen. Hermione shot him a look of annoyance. We are talking about a cloak that really and truly renders the wearer completely invisible, and endures eternally, g...

Chapter 17 - Bathilda’s Secret Harry, stop.” “What’s wrong?” They had only just reached the grave of the unknown Abbott. “There’s someone there. Someone watching us. I can tell. There, over by the bushes.” Q1 - What do you think of the monuments to the Potters? Was it possible that she had been waiting for them all these long months? That Dumbledore had told her to wait, and that Harry would come...

Chapter 13 - The Muggle Born Registration Commission Beneath the title was a picture of a red rose with a simpering face in the middle of its petals, being strangled by a green weed with fangs and a scowl. There was no author’s name upon the pamphlet, but again, the scars on the back of his right hand seemed to tingle as he examined it. Q1 - How vile is this? The witch glanced toward the shining m...

Chapter 9 - A Place to Hide “When you say you’ve got the Cloak, and clothes . . .” said Harry, frowning at Hermione, who was carrying nothing except her small beaded handbag, in which she was now rummaging. “Yes, they’re here,” said Hermione, and to Harry and Ron’s utter astonishment, she pulled out a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, some maroon socks, and finally the silvery Invisibility Cloak.  Q1 -...