Recently Read: The Children of Húrin by J. R. R. Tolkien

Unable to leave the ancient Library just yet as there are so many remarkable books to keep you fascinated, the librarian seizes the opportunity and starts talking about yet another book...

(Today it is Trustdale in the 5th inquart, 0 S.D. and the sun still rules the sky this late afternoon)

ast night I finished reading the latest novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Children of Húrin. This novel - the result of his son Christopher Tolkien successfully putting together different fragments written by his father into one complete narrative - takes place in The First Age, long before the Third Age events of The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings.

I read in a review of the book before I decided to buy it, that this novel stylistically could be seen as a novel somewhere "between" the archaic prose of The Silmarillion and the more accessible books about the ring. That is actually a very good description of this book. If you don't like Tolkien's two most famous books (The ring trilogy is actually one single work), you will probably not be intrigued by this one. If you want to know more about the history of Middle-earth and experience an epic - albeit dark - story in one of the most detailed fantasy settings that will ever be created, then this is definitely something for you.

The story is not as elaborate - or exciting - as those about Bilbo's and Frodo's quests. But it's a dark high fantasy saga with captivating characters and marvellous settings. The beautiful illustrations by Alan Lee (smaller ones in black-and-white as well as some colored full-page ones) makes it an even richer experience.

Highly recommended for Tolkien fans but probably not for a more "mainstream fantasy" reader, looking for an easy-to-digest novel of a more casual style.

Fantasytree tip #5: If you have never read Tolkien before - and still haven't experienced some of the best fantasy ever written - my advice is that you to start with the two "ring-books", The Hobbit and Lord of the rings.

As a comparison I would rate these three works by Tolkien as follows:

Children of Húrin: 8 out of 10 Leaves

The Hobbit: 9 out of 10 Leaves

Lord of The Rings: 10 out of 10 Leaves (FANTASY MASTERPIECE!)

Each one of these three novels offers a fantastic experience of Tolkien's Middle-Earth though. Enjoy your travels.

Related links:

The Tolkien Society (includes a HUGE link-collection about practically everything related to Tolkien)

TheOneRing.net

Recently Read: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Once more entering the ancient Library you stare in awe at the seemingly endless shelves of old books. The librarian notices your reaction and soon approaches. "May I help you?" she asks in a calm, considerate voice...

(Today it is Winddale in the 4th inquart, 0 S.D. and innumerable stars fill the night sky)

couple of days ago I finally finished reading a novel I've been leaving and returning to for a long time. Lewis Carroll's classical masterpiece (featured in "1001 books you must read before you die", Swedish edition) has been virtually impossible to read without remembering all the familiar characters (and plot) from the Disney version that I have seen more than once.

This makes it quite impossible for me to give the novel a fair rating. Full of unforgettable characters, puns, word games and logical puzzles taking place in a wondrous, dreamlike world, it is easy to see why this novel has remained a classic. I recommended it to anyone interested in reading a classic of parallel-world fantasy literature (á la C. S. Lewis' Narnia), in linguistic experiments or if you are not at all familiar with the story, what will happen and how it will end - this novel would surely have been an even more rewarding experience if I would have begun reading it without all the knowledge I now had about what to expect from it.

Luckily I know hardly anything of the less well-known sequel, "Through the looking-glass" that is included in the same edition. Since this continuation is also generally regarded as a literary masterpiece (and I enjoyed the first part) I plan to read it as well - and probably have yet another wondrous journey ahead of me soon.

Related links:

The Lewis Carroll Society of North America (LCSNA)

Into the wardrobe - A C. S. Lewis website (find more Narnia-related links in the link collection)

Upcoming Movie - Inkheart (2 days left!)

n two days another film version of a popular family fantasy novel will hit the theaters. This time it's Cornelia Funke's Inkheart that will make children and parents alike filled with awe. The movie stars Brendan Fraser, known from the three Mummy films as well as Journey to the center of the earth.

Inkheart is the story about Meggie, whose father Mo has the ability of making fictional things and sometimes even characters come to life - by reading about them aloud! The problem is however that the evil Capricorn has discovered this unusual talent and wants to use Meggie's father in order to gain riches and power for himself.

A marvellous adventure awaits...