Happy Hobbit Day, everybody. If you're an obsessive fan of the Lord of the Rings books — less so the films — you might know that September 22 is the birthday of both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, though 78 years apart from each other.
The opening chapter of The Fellowship of the Ring centers around the events leading up to and immediately following September 22. And since it's the birthday of the main protagonists of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, fans of the books have used the day as an excuse to throw parties and generally nerd out with each other. As somebody who enjoys parties and nerding out, I approve of this.
I've been a fan of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien since I was about 11 years old. That's when I first read The Lord of the Rings. It wasn't till years later that I read The Hobbit — sort of exactly the opposite of what you're supposed to do, I suppose, but I've never been one for doing things the normal way.
Since I first read the trilogy, I've re-read it at least 12 times. I've also read the Silmarillion and tons of other supplemental material, written by Tolkien. Let me tell you, The Silmarillion is not an easy book to read — and I'm a really smart guy.
So the world of The Lord of the Rings has been a big part of my life for a very long time. It's the book I've read and loved the most, and if there were a fantasy world that I would want to live in, that would be it.
When I saw Peter Jackson's version for the first time, I was brought nearly to tears twice. Once when I saw how beautifully he had brought the world to the screen; the other when I saw how he'd screwed up my favourite books.
Jackson's movies are really beautiful, and they're amazing fantasy movies. But as far as I'm concerned, they're just barely related to their source material. He made so many changes to things that I found important in the books, that I couldn't help feel a bit disappointed.
But that's the way it goes with the books that you read and hold the most dear. I know a lot of people who feel similarly about the Harry Potter films. They read and loved the books, and there were so many changes in the movies that they felt cheated on some level.
I can understand those people, but I was never as invested in Harry Potter. Sure, I've read the books, but they weren't part of my life like The Lord of the Rings. So I have a lot less trouble accepting the changes that the filmmakers made in those movies.
But when it comes right down to it, I'm glad that The Lord of the Rings movies exist. I can put one on and really enjoy it on its own merits. I just think of it as something separate from the books I love so much. There's nothing wrong with that.
So this September 22, keep an eye out for me. I'll be lounging under the spreading branches of a big, lovely tree somewhere and raising a mug of something to Bilbo and Frodo on their special day.
Sean Vale
Editor
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