“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all who wander are lost.”
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born on January 3rd in 1892 (Happy Birthday!) He was a writer, poet, and philologist from England. He was also a college professor, and the genius author who wrote the classic fantasy books; The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion (and many others.) I have not read The Silmarillion yet, but the others are among my favorites (both in book and film.)
Here are quotes from some of the his most beloved works:
(Click Pictures and Titles for more info.)
“The Hobbit“
“Where there’s life there’s hope.”
“It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
“The Fellowship of The Ring“
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
“The Two Towers“
“There is some good in this world,
and it’s worth fighting for.”
“The Return of The King”
“What do you fear, lady?” [Aragorn] asked.
“A cage,” [Éowyn] said. “To stay behind bars,
until use and old age accept them, and all chance
of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.”
“The Silmarillion“
“All have their worth and each
contributes to the worth of the others.”
Book Bean: Hot Mulled Cider
Nothing says Shire or Middle Earth to me like a steamy
cup of spiced apple goodness.
I am a proud fan of Tolkien, I think he was absolutely brilliant. The worlds, characters, and stories he created were intricately deep and beautiful. Thank you J.R.R. Tolkien, for sharing your fantastic and wondrous imagination.
What is your favorite Tolkien work?
Fun Fact: If you didn’t already love Tolkien enough, know he was a lovely romantic.
At age 16, Tolkien fell in love with Edith Bratt, three years his senior. His guardian, a Catholic priest, was horrified that his ward was seeing a Protestant and ordered the boy to have no contact with Edith until he turned 21. Tolkien obeyed, pining after Edith for years until that fateful birthday, when he met with her under a railroad viaduct. She broke off her engagement to another man, converted to Catholicism, and the two were married for the rest of their lives. At Tolkien’s instructions, their shared gravestone has the names “Beren” and “Luthien” engraved on it, a reference to a famous pair of star-crossed lovers from the fictional world he created. Via mental floss
I didn’t know that fun fact! That’s absolutely beautiful. I am currently reading LotR trilogy for the first time (I know, it took me a while to get there) and I can absolutely agree that he was brilliant. I also watched a documentary about his writing and life, and it was absolutely astonishing. He was incredible, and I believe that nobody has or will be able to match up to his works. He spent 12 years creating his masterpieces. Great post! 🙂
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It was the same for me. What was the name of the documentary you watched, I’m intrigued? Thank you! 🙂
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Oh! Nice post! I’m a huge fan of Tolkien, with two fan-fiction novels on the Mirkwood royals floating around out there and this is right up my alley! Lol!
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Thank you! 🙂 My interest is peaked.
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Oh? If you mean by my unhealthy love of Tolkien and Sindarin, there are books that I could definitely discuss! XD If you mean the Mirkwood royals fan-fiction novels, they’re on A3O or FFN. The Cord and Bind Them. Which sounds suggestive, but they’re adventure / mystery stuff. The series is here if you’d like a look: http://archiveofourown.org/series/269389. Though you can find them on FFN and Inkitt if you prefer. Feel free if you have time. 🙂
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Thanks for the link 🙂
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Not a problem! They are a bit longer than most fanfics (since they are meant to be books), and center on the Kingship of Thranduil. I wrote them as a thank you to the fandom and to make people happy, though! If you do give them a read, please feel free to leave a comment. 🙂
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I will 🙂
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I really loved The Hobbit even if it took me s month to read it! You can see how impressively extensive the world he created is and its marvellous.
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That’s a cute fact about him!
While there’s no denying the amazing impact that Tolkien had on the fantasy genre, I have to admit that his books didn’t really excite me. I read the LOTR books and The Hobbit and I found them dry and long and not easy to read. The movies are a lot better but are still rather drawn out. Like I said, I’m in awe of what he’s done and respect the series, but I’ve had my fill of his work for a while!
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That’s understandable, everyone has books that speak to them more than others. I know there are a few books people rave about (in a genre I usually love) that left me less than impressed. You can see the greatness in his accomplishment though, that makes me happy.
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Reblogged this on makin' it… and commented:
Beautiful Sentiment. Peace.
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🙂
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I grew up on Tolkien, so Middle-Earth has a special place in my heart even if I don’t visit often as an adult. I think I probably still love the Silmarillion best – getting to see all the raw world-building. I had an audio of part of the tale of Beren and Luthien (where Beren and Finrod are trapped by Sauron) and it really helped me hear the marvellous rhythms in the prose.
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I didn’t start Tolkien till I was an adult, it took a while for me to develop as a reader (I LOVED reading as a child, but struggled with necessary skills.) Boy I’m glad I finally did. 🙂
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Brilliant, brilliant post! Plus so sromantic!!
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Thank you! 🙂
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Reblogged this on The Recovering Know It All and commented:
What a Wonderful way to start the week. I too am a Tolkien fan and am currently having another go at the LOTR trilogy. I’m in the Two Towers now. Have a Great day. -KIA
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Happy Reading!
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Beautiful fun fact ❤️
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Wonderful post. I am embarrassed to say I have not read any of his books. I’ll have to make it a point to read at least one this year. Thank you! Happy New Year!
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The Hobbit is the best place to start i think, and it’s a bit of an easier read. Happy New Year!
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Perfect. I’ll start there. Thanks!
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Ah, the Silmarillion…I’d be very interested to hear what you think. I am an avid reader but this one I almost gave up on. The descriptive pages were doing my head in – I like to imagine things for myself. Loved it by the time I got to the end but the start was hard work.
Good luck!
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I’ve heard similar things. I am nervous about reading it, I hope I can make it through.
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Wonderful post about a brilliant man. Tolkien is my example in all things writing. I aspire to be like him…a heavy task though it is. You simply must read Silmarillion! Its my favorite of the bunch!
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Thank you. I will tackle it soon 🙂
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I came to Tolkien as an adult, after I saw and loved the movies. Glad I did, he’s a fantastic writer. I’ll have to revisit the books again soon.
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He really is, everything he did was so well rounded, and his style is so pleasing to read.
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I’ve been a reader all my life but somehow didn’t pick up LoTR until I was 28. I got the Fellowship on a whim at a used book store but the next day began a frantic search of every bookstore I could find for the Towers and the King. I was so happy to find a good matching set because I knew even before Bilbo’s party these were books I would own for the rest of my life.
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That’s how I was too, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t discovered them sooner.
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Thanks for this post! Nice tribute 🙂
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🙂
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Somehow I managed to miss that one about Sam. I have so many favorites, too. And even though I’ve never been able to get through the Sil., my favorite quote is from there. I hear that at the ocean.
“And it is said by the Eldar that in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur…and many of the Children of Iluvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen.”
~
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I love that! I love that his books are so laced with poetry.
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Reblogged this on Crazy Pasta Child.
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great tribute to Tolkien 😀 I can’t decide which one I like. Any beverage to compliment the books? 😀
Oh, and before I forget, i nominated you https://thatrandomilongga.wordpress.com/2016/01/04/the-liebster-award/
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Besides the Mulled Cider hm… I would say Hot Buttered Rum, and you could always skip the rum and replace with coffee or whatever your fancy.
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ohhh..must try that
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🙂
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Reblogged this on Alice White Author and commented:
I love the books, but, like Café Book Bean, I have not read the Silmarillion… I have heard it’s pretty tough going, though.
I read The Lord Of The Rings after the first movie came out, although I believe we read the Hobbit in school. I had intended to see the movies and then read the books, because I didn’t want to end up picking the movies apart, as I always do with movies made of books I have read. Although it took me a while to get into his style of writing in LOTR, I soon could not put the book down, and oops! I read The Return Of The King BEFORE seeing the movie, but I couldn’t help it.
Of course, yes I sure did pick that movie apart. What they should have put in, what they should have left out! Nevertheless, I do love the movies and the books.
Thanks to Café Book Bean for this timely post, and a very Happy Birthday to J.R.R. Tolkien!
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Tolkien is an inspiration to me, and one reason why I want to write! I love this post 🙂
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That is great, he is a wonderful role model for any aspiring writer.
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Pingback: ReBlogged: A Tolkien Tribute | This is Me
That’s a fun fact I did not know. Wonderful. Thank you for this.
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I thought is was super sweet. 🙂
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Wonderful post:)
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Thank you!
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Great tribute to the immortal words of Tolkien! He is just so amazing, I’m a life-long fan.
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So am I! 🙂
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As a child my mom read me chapters out of the Hobbit every night before I’d go to sleep. This started me on my journey in the world of CSI-Fi and fantasy. I briefly wrote about this in my blog titled Books as Memories if you want to take a look.
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That’s great, I think reading chapter books aloud to children, and in general is therapeutic, and builds character.
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🙂
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I love Tolkien, I practically have a shrine in my house 😉
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That’s FANtastic! 😉
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I love this post ESPECIALLY as I was swooning over Tolkien on my drive home today. In particular, I love The Lord of the Rings, but I have a special connection with Leaf by Niggle. It makes me emotional to think of it.
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I haven’t read that yet.
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Thank you for for bringing these two crucial sayings to us. I have read the books several times over.
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Have you read Silmarillion?
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Yes I have. It was hard work, but worth the perseverance. His whole process of dreaming up this world to bring life to the languages he created is fascinating.
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It sounds like a worthwhile challenge.
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Yes it was.
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The Silmarillion is a slog, I couldn’t get through it. Too much like a dry history, not enough plot. The others fall into the small group of books I’ve read multiple times.
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First wanna say thank you for finding my site. It brought me to yours .. its beautiful and i love your tagline..
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And thank you! 🙂
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Great post! I admire him, and his ability to create languages as well. It is a credit to his genius that he based it on solid linguistic principles. He paved the way for other imaginary languages on Star Trek, Game of Thrones. Fun fact, I’ve tried to read his books so many times. I just can’t. (I’ll blame it on my ADD). One of my 8 yr old triplet sons finished the Hobbit in November. I felt both impressed and completely inadequate. I read your post aloud at the dinner table. One son said, “I think that was really good except for the romantic part, because romance is gross.” Gotta love 8 year old boy logic.
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That’s so great and so funny 🙂 Thank you for sharing! 🙂
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I love the quotes you’ve chosen, and the story of Tolkien’s love. It’s so easy to get deliciously lost in the Lord of the Rings. I imagine heaven to be a lot like Rivendell. Yet, Tolkien has important messages for our world, messages of courage and hope, and perseverance, and of course teamwork. Thanks for following my blogs so I could find you!
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So easy! I agree about Rivendell. I love Tolkien’s symbolisms, and the lessons he laces into his stories. Glad we could connect. 🙂
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I really love your reviews, they open great conversation
— http://www.pofoundetry.com
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Thank you as well! 🙂
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Your blog looks great and what a wonderul idea linking books and drinks 🙂
And you have “House of Leaves” on it!
Best,
emilie
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Thank you, I’m glad you liked it, and that we could connect. 🙂
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I have to say, I liked movies more, and I could never get through the books, but I’m definitely in awe with his mythos. There is this book, called Tolkien’s Ring, that takes the reader through the creation of Tolkien’s legendarium and the parallels that it has with actual mythologies of the ancient times. I could not keep my hands of it. I would recommend it, because it shows the side of Tolkien that I as a linguist appreciate, him as a philologist, building artificial languages and mythologies and worlds that feel real. 🙂
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I will look it up, sounds very intriguing 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
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I’m a huge Tolkien fan, Abbie Lu. Tolkien is single-handedly responsible for my love of reading and my vocation as a fantasy writer. I love the quote regarding Sam – so beautiful. And the romantic detail about his relationship with Edith. How “story book” is that? Thanks.
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I can understand that, his influence must be astonishing. I thought that little fact about him with his wife was just so beautiful.
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You have a very creative site. Thanks for following mine. I’ll be exploring yours with interest! Currently into Sharon Kay Penman’s Welsh Princes Trilogy, having just finished Here Be Dragons.
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Thank you. I looked “Here Be Dragons” up, it looks very good. What did you think of it?
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Penman has a great style, uses earthy quotes that make me laugh and the Welsh aspect provides an uncommon and fascinating tension and cultural contrast between the Brits/Normans and the Welsh. I was totally involved in the story and look forward to the next two books, already finished by my wife, who has continued to read more Penman stuff after the trilogy. Let me know if you go ahead with it. I got it from our local library, but we bought the next two as cheap, ePub books.
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I’m definitely intrigued by them, I will let you know 🙂
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I am a great fan of C.S. Lewis and write about him often, but Tolkien came first for me. His books had a profound influence. They were, of course, good friends. By the way, you should check out the Grey Havens, a husband/wife musical duo insisted by Tolkien.
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I will check it out 🙂 thank you for sharing!
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Have you read Surprised by Joy by CS Lewis? I did an homage to it on my blog. Phenomenally influential to me.
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I have read a lot of his work, but I have not read that one. I’ll have to look it up, sounds like something I could use right now. 🙂
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Reblogged this on thering and commented:
Thanks for those great quotes, Abbie. By the way, the quote from the Silmarillion is by Yavanna. She was an Ainu, Those first created by Eru.
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🙂 Thank you.
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Sure thing!
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Over used quote but still kicks asd
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I love Middle Earth and all things Tolkien! I also love the story of him and his wife, Edith. 🙂
You should definitely read the Silmarillion, if you haven’t done so already. It is very good, and there are some beautiful stories in it. 😀
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I have it and plan to do so this summer 🙂
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Oh, great! XD
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I first read the Lord of the Rings when I was twelve, then once more a few years later. They’ve always been some of my favorite books, and he’s always been one of my favorite authors. The fact about his romance with his wife is moving. Thanks for sharing.
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