It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Beginning a new adventure with your family is one of the greatest things about having one.
As I post about the various books, television, movies and other inputs I enjoy often the moments that bring me the most pleasure are those that involve the ones closest to me. Starting The Fellowship of the Ring with my eldest daughter is one of those moments.
We’ve all read The Hobbit together so continuing the story on with her in a world that I treasure immensly reminds me not only of the power of stories, but of the power of sharing them.
The Company of the Ring
An unexpected bonus has been seeing the world through her eyes, for the first time. So many questions I don’t even think about, and yet they are jumping off the page at her: why should the hobbits trust Strider? is Barliman Butterbur one of the good guys? who are the Black Riders?
And WHERE THE HECK is Gandalf? This one was really eye-opening; I didn’t see before how much you feel Frodo’s anxiety at the unexplained absence of the wizard.
This only made the Bridge of Khazad-dûm that much more heartbreaking. The Fellowship was not alone in shedding tears for their fallen friend that day.
But a new day is coming and we press on. We’ve since finished the book and are currently on our way to confront Saruman in The Two Towers.
More adventure to come!
I believe we began the book on May 19, 2017 and finished on August 12th. I didn’t take very good notes so I’m not sure if that’s the correct starting date, however I know we started The Two Towers the same night we finished part one of The Lord of the Rings.
