It all started with a star.  I was reading my favorite book by my favorite author, and I got “stuck.” 

This often happens when I’m reading the works of the late J. R. R. Tolkien, an inventor of languages, a professor at Oxford University, a family man, a devout Christian, and author, most notably of works set in the fictional world he created called Middle-earth. 

A world I was engrossed in when I encountered the star.  And then one thing led to another: the name of a constellation in the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring, which led to the original reference in The Silmarillion, which led to the index, which led to looking up more references…

Reading one line in one book led to five books – and many precious minutes spent in Middle-earth.

It’s easy for me to get lost in the world Tolkien created.  It’s breathtakingly beautiful – beautiful places and epic events described in the most profound way.  It’s not just what he says, but how he says it.  It’s writing that makes you want to keep reading. 

In other words, you don’t just read Middle-earth, you experience it.  For me, there is no other way.  Once I dip my toe in the water, I want to wade in and let the tide carry me where it will.  I don’t just read Tolkien, I research it.  I re-read it.  I add to my understanding of this world, layer upon layer.  And I study the man behind the words – his background, the places in England he knew and loved, and his own words about his works. 

As a result, the amount of books in my home with the name Tolkien on the spine is quite large.  And after my birthday a couple of years ago, that number increased by two.  My family gave me a first-edition UK edition of The Silmarillion from 1977 and The Worlds of JRR Tolkien, by John Garth. One published the year I was born and one published two years ago.  The works of Tolkien span my life. 

And I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love reading anything by and about Tolkien, even his lesser-known works that have nothing to do with Middle-Earth.  His imaginary world is sometimes as real to me as our own:

I have heard the singing of the Elves as I gaze down into the valley of Imladris.  I‘ve sat in the shade of a mallorn tree in Lothlorien.  I’ve seen the snow atop the Misty Mountains.  I‘ve savored the taste of strawberries and cream in the Shire.  I’ve seen the lights in the party tree.  I see it all vividly – in my mind’s eye, anyway. 

Sadly, I can’t seem to find Gondor on Google maps.  I can’t pop down to the local travel agency and book a trip to Hobbiton.  The Misty Mountains remain a mystery.  But I can visit these places any time I want to simply by opening a book, which is why I have so many of them. Tolkien’s works speak to me in a way no other work of fiction does. 

And now, with the upcoming TV series on Amazon, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, his works will be made available to a whole new audience.  Since I first discovered Middle-earth on screen, not on the page, the idea of new fans discovering this world is immensely exciting.  While I’ve been an avid reader my whole life, I somehow missed Tolkien.  I don’t even remember hearing about his books in school except for The Hobbit. 

My introduction to Tolkien came from the crazy-talented Peter Jackson, a visionary of a filmmaker from New Zealand.  His Oscar-winning movies adapted The Lord of the Rings from page to screen and sucked me in.  So, after the third movie in the trilogy came out, I turned to the books, to the source of the beautiful epic I had just watched unfold on screen.  And then one Tolkien book led to another which led to his authorized biography which led to commentaries about his work…

If you are new to Middle-earth, welcome.  Or as Tolkien’s characters say, well met.  You may not have understood any of the references in this post, but thanks for reading anyway!  If you discover this magical place on screen, like I did, let me encourage you to also consider the books.  Seeing Middle-earth on screen is wonderful, but you’re seeing an adaptation of it, one creative team’s interpretation of the source material.  And while I’m thankful there are those who chose to tackle this, and as much as I love the movies, the books are better.  The book is always better (my mantra in life). 

That being said, I hope we like the new Amazon series, which is a prequel to The Lord of the Rings.  I hope it’s a faithful adaptation of Tolkien’s work.  So far, there have been mixed reviews from the Tolkien fanbase.  Some have raised questions as to how far they’ve strayed from the original work in terms of timeline and plot points.  We shall see. 

But if what you see on Amazon piques your interest, maybe it will lead you to the books.  And don’t worry, you don’t have to read them as I do, with highlighters and reference material at the ready.  You can read them without stopping to ask questions or look things up and still get the gist. 

However, there is a treasure trove of information in the back of the books: appendices, pronunciation guides, charts, and maps.  It may be an overwhelming amount of information for a new reader, but it’s meant to be a helpful guide.  I think it can only serve to enhance your reading if you let it.  But it’s up to you how you choose to read.  You can dig as deeply as you want. 

And I hope you like what you find.