How the movies sparked my family's interest of Middle-earth

KyleMcM · 12-26-2003, 10:55 PM

First of all, I'd like to say "Hi" to everyone. This is my first post here. I found this site a few days ago via another link. What a wealth of information of Tolkien's world and what a wonderful group of people discussing various topics of Middle-earth.

I first read "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" about 20 years ago. My friends and I, being in our early teens, were drawn into Tolkien's writings. We would discuss various characters and stories every chance we could. However, no one in my family had any interest in the books. I remember my 15th birthday when I got "The Atlas the of Middle-earth" and some of my family rolled their eyes.

I must admit that my interest in Tolkien diminished over the years. With college, jobs, marriage etc. I read less and less, but the books always held a special place for me in the memories of my teens.

When I first heard about the movies, my interest was renewed and I picked up the books again. But I was not the only one that had an interest this time. My youngest sister started asking questions, and I suggest she read the books before the movies came out. She was hooked! My wife also became interested, and my oldest sister, and my mother, and my cousin.

These are women, all over the age of 27, with families, jobs, etc., who now have an interest in the books because of what they saw in the movies. All of them now are experiencing the incredible world that Tolkien created, where before, they thought the story was something only for kids.

I laughed to myself the other night when one of them asked me, "Exactly where is Middle-earth?" and I drew a crude map from memory from my old "Atlas of Middle-earth" . The same book that they had once rolled their eyes at.

***Khamûl*** · 12-27-2003, 01:32 AM

Welcome to Entmoot KyleMcM.

Feel free to wander over to the General Messages forum where you will find a thread at the top for the sole purpose of welcoming newbies. If you need to find a particular thread, or to see if a thread on a certain topic has already been started, the search feature in the upper right corner is quite handy. I am one of the admins, so feel free to drop me a PM or an e-mail if you have any questions or comments. Happy 'mooting.

samwiselvr2008 · 01-01-2004, 11:14 PM

I wish that my family had become interested in the books like yours did after the movies. Unfortantly, I'm like you, were my family sorda zones out when I start talking about Middle Earth related stuff. At first my mom thought that I shouldn't "wast" my money on a copy of The Lord of the Rings, but now she dosnt' even bother to stop me from being obsessed. Thankfully I have the 'moot, I don't know what I would do without it, I would have blown up by now!

Welcome to the 'moot, and I hope you stay!

katya · 01-02-2004, 12:25 AM

Welcome to the 'moot. Your first impression was indeed accurate. It's nice here.

Anyway... glad the movies could help you out in that way. I wish my family was more accepting. My mom's just like, "Go outside." or worse, "Didn't you already read that?"

samwiselvr2008 · 01-02-2004, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by katya
Welcome to the 'moot. Your first impression was indeed accurate. It's nice here. Anyway... glad the movies could help you out in that way. I wish my family was more accepting. My mom's just like, "Go outside." or worse, "Didn't you already read that?"

*sigh* the not-so-understandin- family

katya · 01-02-2004, 11:21 PM

Yeah... *sigh*

Actually, my dad's side of the fam all likes Tolkien. My uncle had a party-shack called "The Hobbit". It's grown into a house now.

Thorin II · 01-06-2004, 05:17 PM

I find my family and friends tend to get pushed in one direction or the other. My parents and girlfriend have all been brought into the fold (reading the books, loving the movies, etc.). Others are quite tired of hearing about Tolkien...

12-26-2003, 10:55 PM	#1
KyleMcM Sapling Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 2	How the movies sparked my family's interest of Middle-earth First of all, I'd like to say "Hi" to everyone. This is my first post here. I found this site a few days ago via another link. What a wealth of information of Tolkien's world and what a wonderful group of people discussing various topics of Middle-earth. I first read "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" about 20 years ago. My friends and I, being in our early teens, were drawn into Tolkien's writings. We would discuss various characters and stories every chance we could. However, no one in my family had any interest in the books. I remember my 15th birthday when I got "The Atlas the of Middle-earth" and some of my family rolled their eyes. I must admit that my interest in Tolkien diminished over the years. With college, jobs, marriage etc. I read less and less, but the books always held a special place for me in the memories of my teens. When I first heard about the movies, my interest was renewed and I picked up the books again. But I was not the only one that had an interest this time. My youngest sister started asking questions, and I suggest she read the books before the movies came out. She was hooked! My wife also became interested, and my oldest sister, and my mother, and my cousin. These are women, all over the age of 27, with families, jobs, etc., who now have an interest in the books because of what they saw in the movies. All of them now are experiencing the incredible world that Tolkien created, where before, they thought the story was something only for kids. I laughed to myself the other night when one of them asked me, "Exactly where is Middle-earth?" and I drew a crude map from memory from my old "Atlas of Middle-earth" . The same book that they had once rolled their eyes at.

12-27-2003, 01:32 AM	#2
*Khamûl* Slacker Warrior Admin Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,759	Welcome to Entmoot KyleMcM. Feel free to wander over to the General Messages forum where you will find a thread at the top for the sole purpose of welcoming newbies. If you need to find a particular thread, or to see if a thread on a certain topic has already been started, the search feature in the upper right corner is quite handy. I am one of the admins, so feel free to drop me a PM or an e-mail if you have any questions or comments. Happy 'mooting. __________________ "If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you." Gandalf to Pippin Psalm 107:31

01-01-2004, 11:14 PM	#3
samwiselvr2008 Elf Lord Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Hobbiton Posts: 739	I wish that my family had become interested in the books like yours did after the movies. Unfortantly, I'm like you, were my family sorda zones out when I start talking about Middle Earth related stuff. At first my mom thought that I shouldn't "wast" my money on a copy of The Lord of the Rings, but now she dosnt' even bother to stop me from being obsessed. Thankfully I have the 'moot, I don't know what I would do without it, I would have blown up by now! Welcome to the 'moot, and I hope you stay! __________________ Jesus loves you! Movie vewing count from the theater: Return of the King:9 Two Towers: 11 Fellowship: 13 FRODO LIVES!

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01-02-2004, 12:25 AM	#4
katya Elven Maiden Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,309	Welcome to the 'moot. Your first impression was indeed accurate. It's nice here. Anyway... glad the movies could help you out in that way. I wish my family was more accepting. My mom's just like, "Go outside." or worse, "Didn't you already read that?"

01-02-2004, 11:21 PM	#6
katya Elven Maiden Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,309	Yeah... sigh Actually, my dad's side of the fam all likes Tolkien. My uncle had a party-shack called "The Hobbit". It's grown into a house now.

01-06-2004, 05:17 PM	#7
Thorin II Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The Lonely Mountain Posts: 161	I find my family and friends tend to get pushed in one direction or the other. My parents and girlfriend have all been brought into the fold (reading the books, loving the movies, etc.). Others are quite tired of hearing about Tolkien...