If you’re reading The Hobbit as a prequel to Lord of the Rings, this is the chapter you’re looking for. The original version of this chapter is one of the few things by Tolkien that I’ve never read. After writing Lord of the Rings, Tolkien rewrote much of this chapter to bring the two books…
This is another short chapter, but it has a lot of action in it. It starts with the thirteen dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf climbing the Misty Mountains. It is slow going, but they start off confident and cheery. The good mood doesn’t last long. The main action of the chapter starts when they are caught…
A Short Rest is a short chapter. It is our first introduction to elves and to Elrond. Elrond is a minor character in this book, but he will be huge in Lord of the Rings. The elves will be important to this story later on. The are a few important pieces in this chapter. We learn…
Chapter II is special to me. When I was a kid, I’m pretty sure I didn’t know what to make of Chapter I, so it was Chapter II that drew me in. It’s about perfect juvenile literature. There is plenty of action and danger, but also plenty of humor, mostly of the slapstick variety. This…
The Hobbit is one of my favorite books. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read it. The first time, I think, I was in sixth or seventh grade. It’s been one of my go to books ever since. Whenever I need something that I know I’ll enjoy, it’s there for me. I decided…
Jack walked into the drug store not really remembering why he was there. I really need to start writing stuff down, he thought. I’m getting old, but he didn’t believe that was the reason. He was only forty, still a little young for senility. She was at the counter again. She was the best looking woman, or maybe girl, Jack had…
Today, my niece Khalia was born. She came into our world at a healthy nine pounds, five ounces. She is my brother’s first child, and my first niece or nephew. I’m surprised by how excited I am at the prospect of being an uncle. I love kids- babies and children and even teenagers. I like talking…
I recently re-watched Star Trek The Next Generation (aka TNG). I enjoyed the experience. I hadn’t seen many of the episodes since they originally aired. It’s interesting how differently I view the show now. It was a formative show for me. I was twelve when it debuted. There was a lot that went over my head…
I was an idiot when I was 16. I talked like I knew everything, but I had no clue about 99.9999% of the world that existed outside of my small high school. I didn’t understand how to put myself in the shoes of people who weren’t like me- girls, gay students, and others that didn’t…
The passive voice should be appreciated. Nay, the passive voice should be celebrated. The tyranny of the subject is perpetuated by the active voice, but it can be stopped by the passive voice. Objects can be accentuated, highlighted, shown off by the passive voice. Variety is created by the passive voice. The passive voice should…
