A Tolkien Link-Up! (Happy Bilbo's Birthday!)

by - September 22, 2017

Hey, followers and fans!
Today is September 22, which means that for those of us who love Lord of the Rings, it's a very special day--Bilbo and Frodo's birthday! At this point, I'm sure many people have run the numbers and discovered how old they are. I don't care to do that. 

But today I'll be taking part in Hamlette's blog linkup for Hobbit Week! If you haven't read Lord of the Rings, please do so. (I'm looking at a couple of you in particular....you know who you are XD) There are ten questions and, because you didn't get enough Lord of the Rings/Hobbit gifs last week on my announcement post, there will be a number of those scattered throughout this post.

Here goes!

THE QUESTIONS



1. How long have you been a Tolkien fan?
Oh goodness. I don't even know. My dad read me The Hobbit when I was eight years old, and I remember he had to go on a business trip in the middle of the Mirkwood chapter. It was torture for my little kid soul.

As soon as we finished the Hobbit, we forged on to Lord of the Rings, and there's been no turning back. I watched the movies right when I finished the books, and while I had to skip most of the more intense scenes, I fell in love anyway.

2. Has your love of Middle-earth affected your life?
Oh my word. (Today will just be the day of ejaculations at these questions.)

The following gifs describe me when I see someone new and I don't know if they like LotR:
Then I start talking about it to them and this becomes clear:
(Hmmm. I wonder why...?)
And then I spend way too much time binging on the movies, which proceed to shred my soul into a million tiny pieces. Especially the third one. I tend to forget the emotional toll that the third one takes on me and then marathon them over the course of a few days, only to lie around crying for a few hours after finishing because. The FEELS.
Also: Lord of the Rings has greatly changed my writing journey. The first series I wrote was a cheap rip-off of it. And I still think it's the best fantasy epic ever written, and it's kind of the level to which I aspire for my fiction. *cheesy grin*

And it just has the best quotes in the world (after the Princess Bride and Bad Lip Reading.)
(Wrong post, Inigo. If you think I should do a Princess Bride appreciation post sometime soon, please, let me know, by all means!)


3. If you had to take the One Ring to Mordor, which character would you choose for your sole companion?
Okay, so, everyone else I've seen take a shot at this question has picked another Lord of the Rings character. But it doesn't say that, now does it?

If we had to pick Lord of the Rings characters, I'd go with... Sam.
But... if we're going with other characters... Let me just give you a hodgepodge. Points if you can identify people and let me know. ;)


4. Which is scarier, Shelob or the Balrog?

Ummm. The Balrog. Much as I hate spiders... if I had the phial of Galadriel (which, being the Ringbearer, I would), I would be able to stand up to Shelob. I'd run like all getout, but I'd do it.
But this?
Terror. Help. Flee. Nothing can help you now.
5. Which two towers do you think Tolkien was referring to in the title The Two Towers?  (i.e. Orthanc, Barad-dûr, Cirith Ungol, Minas Morgul, or Minas Tirith)

Well, if we're going by the movies, it's the towers of Bard-dur and the Tower of Orthanc, right? Saruman even says so. But in the books, the only two towers that actually feature in the book The Two Towers, which I would imagine at the ones being referred to, are Orthanc and Minas Morgul. The other three don't really feature until the third book. So....yeah.

6. Whose wardrobe would you like to have?
No question about it. 
7. What do you think an Ent Draught would taste like?

Umm.....the way the world smells after a strong rain, when the sun is just coming out again and there's mist rising off the earth. When the trees are shedding the remnant of the water they've collected during the storm.

Yeah, I just waxed poetic there. Please tell me I'm not the only person who loves that smell.

Also, I need some ent-draught. It'll make you taller.
^Me. All the time.

8. Where in Middle-earth would you like to live?

Rohan.
You get to ride horses.
And live HERE, for Pete's sake. 
Who'd want to live anywhere else?


9. Do you have any Tolkien-related opinions that surprise other people?

Let's get started. *cracks knuckles*
-I don't like Faramir in the second movie, but I love him in the books. And in the third one...
*sobs and hugs him because he's so beautiful and broken*
-I'm... not actually all that fond of Legolas. *hides from all the screaming fangirls*
-My favorite character in the Fellowship is... at least at first... BOROMIR! 

Then it later becomes....
Gimli. 
I jest. It's actually Sam.

-I don't like the Hobbit movies. Except for the fact that I really enjoy making fun of all the supposedly hot actors. And I'm crazy about Bilbo in those movies. XD


10. List up to ten of your favorite lines/quotations from the books or movies.

“Where there's life there's hope, and need of vittles.”        ~Someone

"I had the most wonderful dream last night! I dreamed that we had a huge barrel, full of pipe-weed, and we smoked all of it. And then- you were sick."             ~Pippin

“That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo… and it’s worth fighting for.”      ~Sam

“Frodo: I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.
Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” 




I hope you all enjoyed this post, and that maybe I convinced a couple of you to read this if you haven't yet! Please, if you want me to do a Princess Bride post sometime, let me know in the comments below, and have a WONDERFUL rest of Tolkien Week!


~Faith

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74 comments

  1. Yep, still not into it, but I've gotta read when you post because you do funny gifs. Oh, hey, here's another thing: I've never watched the Princess Bride, either. XD

    I'm just a walking controversy at this point. Anyway, still a great post. :D

    ~Ivie
    iviewrites.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. IVIE. WHY?!?! The Princess Bride, too? THE PANCAKE FLIPPING GOODNESS-TO-HONEST PRINCESS BRIDE?!??! Dude...

      Delete
    2. You know, I find y'all's reactions hilarious. You have made me laugh.😁
      While I'm not interested in LotR, you might, and that's a big might, have more luck with The Princess Bride. 😁

      Delete
    3. Actually you guys I haven't watched princess bride yet but I've read the book and IVIE HOW COULD YOU NOT LOVE LOTR??? *cries with confusion* Have you ever watched the movies? Some people like them more than the books...

      Delete
    4. Nope! Heard the movies were a waste of time. I've had nothing to do with any of it.
      Gray isn't happy about that, though. I'm just indifferent.

      Delete
    5. *leaps into the controversy* Ivie, you must be fixed. Thanks. Sit down and watch the movies.

      Delete
    6. Nah, I'm good. You shouldn't fix what isn't broken and I'm not broken. XD

      Delete
    7. Lol, I know, but you still need to watch them. I promise they're not a waste of time--they're SO good.

      Delete
    8. GAH they are amazing...a bit too much violence and an annoying mushy part if you ask me but the friendship and storyline is just YESSSS. YESSSS XD

      Delete
  2. *squints up at Ivie* If the mob won't work, we'll have to send the armies of Rohan, or maybe Gondor. XD (lol)

    Gaaahh, I need to watch the next two movies!!! I'm reading the 3rd book, but I've only watched the 1st movie, so as soon as I've finished the series I'll have to get onto that :D

    Whoa, whoa, whoa! NOT A FAN OF LEGOLAS??!! But... it's Orlando Bloom. *lets loose wild fangirl screams*

    Reading this was so much fun, Faith!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Didn't Gray send a mob after you? I remember hearing about that on Goodreads, lol :D

      (You know we love you, girl. <3 We're just pulling your leg. *cough* tryingtotalksenseintoyou *cough* :D)

      Delete
    2. ....I feel like an infamous mob starter, but someone has to help you out, Ivie, this is appalling! XD

      GUYS, I HAVE AN IDEA. WE NEED TO BAN TOGETHER AND LITERALLY SHOW UP AT IVIE'S DOORSTEP WITH THE LORD OF THE RINGS AND A TUB FULL OF POPCORN AND FORCE HER TO HAVE A MARATHON WITH US! XD

      Delete
    3. OMG I'M SO IN!!! *pauses*

      Where are we going??? (Anyone who didn't get that isn't a true Lotr fan. Just sayin')

      Delete
    4. OH MY WORD LETS DO IT!!! I need this to be a thing guys. Except I don't know how soon I can get to Texas. :p

      And MusicGirl... I understood that reference. Because you need someone of intelligence on this sort of mission.

      Quest.

      Thing?

      Delete
    5. Y'all don't even know where in Texas I live. Its a big state, peeps. Are you willing to travel all around to find a girl whom you don't know who she even looks like or what you're looking for?
      XD

      Yes, Lila, Gray sent a mob after me and it was a frightening experience. And yes, Gray, you have become very famous for it. XD

      Delete
    6. Haha let's do it guys, let's go search Texas for Ivie!

      @Faith
      Yesssssss

      Delete
    7. Lol, good luck with that. I'm like a ninja, you know. ;)
      See, the problem is, if I ever saw one of y'all, (that I've seen in pictures) I'd probably run up to you and give myself up because I'd be SUPER excited.

      But I don't have to worry about that. You'll never catch me. XD

      Delete
    8. *employs my spy skills* *cough cough* Anyway I would want to see you so I'd join the mob ;) *wink wonk* And I am so unphotogenic that I differ widely from picture to picture...sooo... XD

      Delete
    9. Not all who wander are lost, someday Ivie will understand how great LOTR is and what she missed, she will throw the ring of her hate into the fires of Mordor and everything will be normal and ok again, and we will all cry with joy. *smirks happily at all the references*

      Delete
  3. I really enjoyed the first movie! It was a bit too long for me before, but now that I think of it, cutting it short wouldn't do the story justice.

    SHOULD I READ THE LOTR BOOKS?! Every now and then I think really, really hard about it.

    - andrea at a surge of thunder

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    Replies
    1. Yes, you should read them! They're so good, and a true classic in the realm of fantasy.

      Delete
  4. You know, I read LOTR a long time ago, but I still remember almost every detail EXCEPT FARAMIR. I don't know what happened to my memory, but I have little to no recollection of him. I need to reread the books, clearly.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, you do. He's so much better in the books, just remember.

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  5. I love all things Tolkien. Sam is my favorite character!

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  6. YESSSSS. A TOLKIEN POST. THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPEH.

    That's so sweet your dad read you the books when you were little. A++++ parenting right there! :D

    I 100% agree about all the FEELS. I'm a sobbing mess through basically ALL of RotK. It's just ridiculous...

    EOWYN'S WARDROOOBE. Like, I'm in LOVE with Arwen's dresses, but Eowyn's appeal to me more for some reason. They're so great!

    Okay, your answer to the Ent Draught questions was GORGEOUS. And you're not the only one who loves that smell. It's my faaave!

    Oh man, dooon't get me started on how they ruined Faramir's character in TTT. He was the greatest creation ever made in the books, and then the movie just had to butcher it up so bad. Uuuurgh. They did make it up later though. He's amazing in RotK, but still. It makes my blood boil. >.>

    Yes to all those quotes! I love them each. Of course, I love basically ALL the quotes, so. XD

    Okay, I need to stop or I'll blabber about my love for LotR 'til the end of time...

    OH. But first...I'D LOVE A PRINCESS BRIDE POST FROM YOU. I mean, there can NEVER be enough Princess Bride appreciation!

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    1. My mom thought my dad was crazy... but I loved them. So I'd have to agree with you!

      I usually sob until the climax, at which point I distract myself from the tension by counting the number of times someone should have died. It's very effective. XD

      Oh good, you think so too. ;) I love that smell. Things like that make me just love God so much more.

      YES POOR FARAMIR. He did not for one second deserve the Peter Jackson treatment! *tries to think of another character who did besides maybe Saruman*

      The quotes are some of my favorites, although I also love the part when Pippin and Merry are drinking the ent-draught in TTT the movie. I laugh so hard every time.

      AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID YES TO THAT SO LOOK FORWARD TO THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE!!

      Delete
  7. I loved this post, but I also like Legolas... XD

    YES. Do a Princess Bride post, and change Ivie's mind! XD

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Y'all are just so passionate about getting me to watch these things, aren't you?
      😂

      Delete
    2. You don't know what you're missing! It's like how you would feel if you found out that one of us bloggers has never had a slushy or tea. XD

      Delete
    3. Lol, I'm just gonna go ahead and say that I've never had any good tea before. Judgement for that is completely welcome 😜

      Delete
    4. @Gray sorry....

      @Ivie we are fangirls. It's our full time job.

      @MusicGirl not judging- just weeping. You poor thing, you must remedy that at once!

      Delete
    5. See, you don't even like sweet tea and I know some people who, unfortunately, have no access to slushies. The real way to get me is to find that people think Toothless is ugly, which I dealt with on the whole Christmas/No Christmas thing on Goodreads. My own team calling Toothless ugly ...*sobs*

      But I see your point. Appalling. Buuuuut, I just don't think I would like it. Maybe the Princess Bride, but not LotR. XD

      Delete
    6. But y'all would never call Toothless ugly, right? You wouldn't do that to me, right?

      Delete
    7. TOOTHLESS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DRAGON IN THE WORLD AND I WILL FIGHT WITH YOU AGAINST THE SAVAGES WHO SAY OTHERWISE

      Delete
    8. I KNOW RIGHT!!! Hey, do you have a goodreads?
      I can't believe they would insult him like that!!! It should be illegal!!!

      Delete
    9. DO NOT INSULT MY BEAUTIFUL TOOTHLESS. HE IS NOT UGLY. HE'S LIKE A KITTY-CAT IN DRAGON FORM. (And from me that's the highest compliment.)

      Delete
    10. @Ivie

      Nah, I don't have a goodreads. I'm so boring. XD all I have right now is mah email (#topsecretstuff) and my private blog which is only available to the people I know in real life. But I'm pretty much always able to chat in the comments of the blogs I follow. :D

      Delete
    11. @Faith: I KNOW, RIGHT!! I'm hurt, I am very much hurt. ;)

      @Musicgirl121: I get it. This stuff can be so time consuming, its annoying. :D

      ~Ivie
      iviewrites.blogspot.com

      Delete
  8. Please please please please do a post on the Princess Bride! *if you are tagging in that post please tag me!!* I ADORE that movie!

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  9. PRINCESS BRIDE AND LOTR OH MY GOODNESS THIS IS THE POST I DREAM OF!!!!!!!!! AND NO LEGOLAS!?!?!! But he's.... LEGOLAS. *whimpers* And yeesssss, Eowyn's wardrobe!!!!!
    Micaiah @ Notebooks and Novels

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    Replies
    1. Eowyn's wardrobe is the cat's pajamas. And believe me, I used to like Legolas a lot more. Now I'm just... tired of him. XD

      Delete
  10. *screams with joy at all the gifs* AND YES YES YES Finally someone that loves Sam the most and likes Boromir! *fist bumps the air* But I must say...Legolas is something else. <3 #dedicatedfangirl obviously ;)

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    1. Boromir for the win! He's got such a sad story but I love him. :(

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  11. Yes Tolkien!! I've seen alllll the movies and have read the hobbit and the first two Lotr books. Haven't been able to read the last one to save my life.

    UGH HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE LEGOLAS????? HE'S MY FREAKIN FAVORITE!!!

    But yes, I agree with almost all of this except I would want Arwen's wardrobe because she's like amazing. Also, I'd rather live in Mirkwood which is so weird cause I'm like the antithesis of an outdoor girl lol.

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    1. AND YES DO THE PRINCESS BRIDE POST!!!!! I've only seen the movie twice, but it's such a homeschooler classic lol.

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    2. Aww, read the third one! Do it!

      I don't think I could survive in Mirkwood. Too many trees and elves and orcs and... ugh.

      Delete
    3. Lolz maybe I'll try again soon.

      Yeah, that could be a problem... Guess maybe I'll just have to stick with Legolas and Tauriel.

      Delete
  12. Yes, yes, do a Princess Bride bride post, Faith! If nothing else, educate our dear friends on this timeless film.

    Part of the reason that I've been *afraid* to watch the LOTR movies is the butchering of characters that you were talking about.

    I love your quotes!

    Catherine
    catherinesrebellingmuse.blogspot.com

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    1. I honestly think Faramir is the only one who took a really bad butchering, but I can definitely understand that.

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    2. "Educate our dear friends..." Was that a jab at me? XD

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    3. Perhaps? *smiles with too many teeth*

      Delete
  13. Awesome post!
    ...But what are you doing, trying to take Artham to Mordor? I've already recruited him for my fellowship, remember?

    Obi-wan Kenobi is a good idea for a companion, though. He's adept at hanging around basket-cases in hot places.

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    1. Oh yeah, I remember that!

      Just as long as he doesn't get the high ground while we're climbing Mount Doom. If I got mad at him, he'd probably cut all my arms and legs off. :p

      Delete
  14. Wow, that's quite the young age for LoTR, but I guess it's good that it started working on you early. I've only recently finished the book (in audio) at just over twenty years of age. I had read the first 60% or so of it in the usual fashion over the span of maybe five years (spurts of reading over time), but the copies I was reading were always quite uncomfortable, so I couldn't work my way through it as well as I could other thick novels (novels with at least slightly larger print and a smaller mass). I need to watch the films again now that I've finished the novel. The films for The Hobbit are okay, I think. The twice-normal frame-rate are a bit peculiar to the eye though.

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    1. I agree- in all likelihood I was way too young, but I didn't care then. It's never too late to read them, though, so I'm glad you finally got around to doing it!

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  15. Okay, THIS POST. SO. GOOD.
    Makes me want to go pick up the books again. :)

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  16. Another Princess Bride fan! Did you know the movie will be in theaters for two days next month? Check out the Fathom Events page for it to see if there's a showing near you. I am reeeeeeeeally hoping to go see it.

    Anyway, at first I was thinking, "Yes! Another Boromir fan! Sweet!" But then I saw you were joking. Well, Sam's my second-fave LOTR character, so I won't pout ;-)

    Your answer to which character to take along cracked me up :-D Creative and fun!

    Thanks for joining the party :-)

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    1. AHHH, I AM SO TOTALLY TELLING MY FAMILY ABOUT THAT AND WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THAT THANK YOU SO MUCH HAMLETTE!! *glomps*

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    2. Sweet! I think I've got it all worked out so that I'll get to see it with my brother, actually. We first saw it together when we were little kids, at a friend's house, so this feels fitting. Glad you get to see it too!

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  17. HAPPY (late) BIRTHDAY BILBO AND FRODO! XD Lovely post, as always. <3

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  18. YAY!!! Great post!!! I did this tag too. ;-D Faramir is awesome. And I totally agree with you! The Balrog is scarier!!! Happy Hobbit Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XD

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  19. Ok, so I've just filled a contact form by mistake - I thought it was the comment section! hahahaha Anyway, super glad I've found blog and I loved this post! :)


    www.letmecrossover.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks for the follow! And you're 100% okay, so glad you've found my blog!

      Delete
  20. I tagged you for the Back to School tag! You can check it out here (http://fireflysstoryspace.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-back-to-school-tag.html) if you're interested. :-D

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  21. Love your post! AMAZING! And you're whole blog! I just followed you!

    TeenWriter @WeAreTeenArtists
    www.weareteenartists.wordpress.com

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  22. DO THE PRINCESS BRIDE POST. DO IT! I would love to see that.

    The after-rain. That is a lovely smell <3

    Rohan! And Faramir! And Sam! <3

    So I've actually only see the movies, but I do love them. I think the 3rd one's my favorite.


    Alexa
    thessalexa.blogspot.com
    verbosityreviews.com

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Hello, friends! Do make yourselves comfortable and stay for a while--I'd love to chat with you! I simply ask that you keep it clean. :)