Day 3: The 30 Day Book Meme

[sciathan_file]

Went back to my old work again (I was like, where are my childrens?!?!) and everything is very different. How is I leave for 3 months and don't know anything and anyone anymore?

Also, the Ouran epilogue--made me laugh! I <3 that series and now Kyouya has captured my imagination yet again...damn him. :D GO READ IT PEOPLE

Comments

[mornea]

My favorite too. My eldest daughter's middle name is Elanor. NOT Eleanor, but ELANOR. And you know why. :) (many people do not). This same daughter later tried to teach herself Quenya.

Thumbs up to your choice. I love many books and many series, but none as much as these.

[sciathan_file]

:) That is awesome that you named her Elanor. :) And my friends from high school still remember the cosmic nerdiness of my Tolkien presentation. :)

In terms of series, in Harry Potter it has a competitor, but, to be perfectly cheesy, those books don't have that timeless quality or sort of plain nostalgia factor than LOTR does for me.

Now I seriously want to go read them again...

[mornea]

We loved the Potter books as well, but next to LOTR there is, imo, no comparison. I'm not sure what it is about LOTR, as Tolkien broke all the rules for writing a novel. His whole tone changed drastically between "books" and he wandered around figuring out what to do as he wrote (of course he "rewrote, back to front" as he said, and made everything work). What he came up with is something that really surpasses many other stories, even very good ones, and I think will stand the test of time. It can't really be 'dated' because the very human emotions and problems (even among the non humans) are so basic to us and will hold true despite changes in culture. The temptation of power, the power of Humility, the weakness of the strong, etc.

[sciathan_file]

I think he essentially writes from character, and that is what keeps me hooked. Yeah, you have balrogs and wizards and hobbits and ents, but when it all comes down to it, everyone is inherently recognizable as human. Even the ringwraiths are merely beings corrupted by greed and every time I read it Sam grows in my estimation as a character. In a way, I think it could be argued he's the real heart and hero of the series.

I think that's also why I like the tale of the fall of Numenor...it taps into those same sorts of basic concepts of human natures and emptions (Except with respect to Feanor and some of his sons, The Silmarillion misses out on a lot of this. I read that one as a compatative study with Norse Mythology).

Aw, now I really want to go dig them out and read them.

[kannnichtfranz]

Thank you for telling me about the Ouran epilogue!! I wouldn't have known about it otherwise!

Aaaaand now I've read it, and, just, omg, how is it that I live without this series, anyway? I really have no idea.

[sciathan_file]

It is not as much of an epilogue as I thought it would be, although I did enjoy the nods to Barcelona (I saw the cover and I was like "This looks like Park Guell. What the heck would the Host Club be doing there...?" Lo and behold, it was.)

I am still holding out for a Kyouya spin off series, as his plot is the most unresolved of all of them. I like Nanoko, too, but I don't think she is quite snarky enough for Kyouya.

We will just have to have a re-read from the beginning...this is what I've decided.

[kannnichtfranz]

I prefer to think of it as a one-shot, because it means there might be more of them. :)

Heh, Nanoko is difficult, but not difficult enough for Kyouya -- I love that he loves 'em difficult. There's Tamaki, and then there's the fact that this one-shot was basically about how Kyouya's choice is to stay within his family obligations because his most favorite thing ever is playing power games with his father. *eyeroll of love for Kyouya*

[jav_chan]

Hey where did you read the epilogue? I can't find it.

[sciathan_file]

Google "Omari's Sister"--it also could be referred to as the Barcelona chapter,

[jav_chan]

Arigatou!

[sciathan_file]

どいたしました。 :)