Second-guessing and Misunderstanding Tolkien

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

And we're so well-paid for it. 😅

(That was a joke, in case anyone didn't notice 😀)

 

[Deimos]

Well, I certainly don't mark up my Folio Society books! 😳

You have Folio Society Books? If I owned any I'd be afraid to touch them, much less read them.
But they do look really nice. Oh, and they are very well made too.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Yeah, I went nuts there, for a few years. But they have a half-price sale every summer (or used to); that brings the prices down to about the price of your average hardback these days. Much superior quality, of course.
And no "faux gilt" -- or "faux leather" either.

 

[Elbereth Vala Varda]

And we're so well-paid for it. 😅

(That was a joke, in case anyone didn't notice 😀)

You are both EXTREMELY under-appreciated. With everything that you do for this Forum, and for everyone here your value is just so immense. Thank you for all that you do, always!

 

[Deimos]

Yeah, I went nuts there, for a few years. But they have a half-price sale every summer (or used to); that brings the prices down to about the price of your average hardback these days. Much superior quality, of course.
And no "faux gilt" -- or "faux leather" either.

You mean they use real leather and real gold gilt? Sorry, my bad.
It looks real, but I always assumed it was faux, at least the leather.
Real gold gilt is still done on many things, and being thin, would not typically break the bank unless you were doing acres of it.
.

 

[Elbereth Vala Varda]

Some versions do.. Depends how much you desire to spend.

I have some particularly ornate collection pieces, and then also some mass-market paperback editions, so tons of variety.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

You mean they use real leather and real gold gilt?

Yep, and if they don't, they say so, as in the case of a few of their books bound in "vegetable parchment". They're careful to describe materials.

Unfortunately, I discovered that one of the idiosyncrasies of my chemical makeup causes the gilt to dissolve, so I should probably wear cotton gloves when reading.

Hmm. I wonder if that's connected with my inability to wear an old-style windup wristwatch?

 

[Deimos]

Yep, and if they don't, they say so, as in the case of a few of their books bound in "vegetable vellum". They're careful to describe materials.

Unfortunately, I discovered that one of the idiosyncrasies of my chemical makeup causes the gilt to dissolve, so I should probably wear cotton gloves when reading.

Hmm. I wonder if that's connected with my inability to wear an old-style windup wristwatch?

Ummmm... so does a wind-up wristwatch dissolve on your wrist? I guess that could get pretty messy...

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

No, it would just speed up and slow down, making it useless. Must be due to my magnetic personality. 😄

I was probably the only hippie to carry a pocket watch.

OK, time to get back on topic (Sorry, Radaghast 😔)

 

[Deimos]

No, it would just speed up and slow down, making it useless. Must be due to my magnetic personality. 😄

I was probably the only hippie to carry a pocket watch.

OK, time to get back on topic (Sorry, Radaghast 😔)

Yeah..sorry.... I am OCD when it comes to "going off on a tangent" (and any tangest will suffice).

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Hey, you're not the only culprit here!

 

[Ent]

Hey, the topic is "Second-guessing and Misunderstanding Tolkien."

If one can do that, it stands to reason they will also second guess and misunderstand a Thread topic..! 😁

 

[Deimos]

No, it would just speed up and slow down, making it useless. Must be due to my magnetic personality. 😄

I was probably the only hippie to carry a pocket watch.

OK, time to get back on topic (Sorry, Radaghast 😔)
View attachment 15934

That's a great GIF... 😄

 

[Elbereth Vala Varda]

Must be due to my magnetic personality.

Must be.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Does this qualify?

https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienfans/comments/rzp70k

(Trying to make amends for derailing here)

 

[Ent]

Does this qualify?

Sure.
Answered in the text when Gollum is chatting with himself.
--------------
"we'll see. It may well be, O yes, it may well be that when She throws away the bones and the empty garments, we shall find it, we shall get it, the Precious, a reward for poor Sméagol who brings nice food. And we’ll save the Precious, as we promised. O yes. And when we’ve got it safe, then She’ll know it, O yes, then we’ll pay Her back, my precious. Then we’ll pay everyone back!’ Tolkien, J.R.R.. The Lord of the Rings: Vol II: The Two Towers: Book 4: Chapt. 9 - Shelob's Lair.
-------------
Would she find the ring? Maybe. Is Gollum taking a decent risk? Probably.
Would she care? I doubt it. Like her parentage, she's only concerned for her own gluttony and has no more use for Sauron or rings than he has for her (other than as a 'gate guard').

Gollum, like Sauron, misses some finer points in his lust for possession of the Ring, and now the power it may give him as well... which he was totally unfamiliar with when he had it all those years before, by the way. He cared less for its power - only for its ability to let him wrench the necks of some 'squeakeres'. Now, he knows if he has it he can "pay Shelob back" and "pay everyone back" (including Sauron no doubt, for the horrors visited on him when he was captive.) Of course, he could NOT actually pay them all back, but the power and deception of the ring wants him to believe so, for its own sake.

(Nice recovery, S-eS. 😁)

 

[Eljorahir]

The question of whether Shelob would keep the ring is also answered directly in the text:

"Little she knew of or cared for towers, or rings, or anything devised by mind or hand, who only desired death for all others, mind and body, and for herself a glut of life, alone, swollen till the mountains could no longer hold her up and the darkness could not contain her."

 

[Ent]

The question of whether Shelob would keep the ring is also answered directly in the text:

"Little she knew of or cared for towers, or rings, or anything devised by mind or hand, who only desired death for all others, mind and body, and for herself a glut of life, alone, swollen till the mountains could no longer hold her up and the darkness could not contain her."

No wonder I thought what I thought about her..!! 🤓

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

I was just asking if the question qualifies for this thread. 😄

I guess Radaghast will have to decide.

 

[Ent]

I guess Radaghast will have to decide.

Ah yes, I see. And reviewing the original post (15.5 pages back), it really only asks one question:

"How would/do others here respond to such questions, if at all?"

I forget if I answered the real, original question... (sorry @Radaghast) so here it is (again if it so be.)

Personally, I say "Well, this is what the text says", quote the text, and let 'em froth, fume, and fuss - or accept and move on - as they see fit.

Most aren't looking for 'answers' they're looking for 'confirmation and agreement', absent which the responder is just 'wrong'.