Reviews (34)

Cairistiona · 5 May 2013 · Chapter 3: On Grace and Free Will in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings

I've only just found time to read these and decided to start with this essay, and such a profound essay it is! "It is this potent combination of the use of free will to embrace the divine will even at great cost to oneself that makes this tale resonate with how we should live our own lives." This really identifies perfectly what I love so much about Tolkien's works and The Lord of the Rings in particular... they really do inspire one to look at the way we must live our own lives and realize that, though the road is difficult, if we embrace it, the end result will be well worth it, because: "If God has prepared good works for us for walk in (Ephesians 2:10), then it is a joy and a wonder to walk in them. If God is working in us both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13), then it is our delight and our fulfillment to realize that we are doing exactly what was planned for us to do all along." I can't imagine anyone putting it any better!

Raksha The Demon · 24 April 2013 · Chapter 5: A Man of Quality: Faramir, Captain of Gondor

A wonderful essay on my favorite human character in LOTR! Miryam Librán-Moreno speculates that, even after all the coldness and trauma that he had suffered from his father for much of his life, Faramir’s feelings for him after the man’s death were “pity, forgiveness and abiding love.” This would match his character, though she admits that such emotions are not recorded because it would break the younger man’s “decorous restraint and modest reserve with uncharacteristic, too-direct self-revelation” (“Parallel Lives” 27). - I would disagree with Libran-Moreno; since I imagine Faramir to be less saintly; though quite noble. As a soldier who nearly died in Gondor's defense, I think Faramir would feel some anger as well as sorrow toward the father who abandoned his duty; it might take him some time to totally forgive Denethor. But that's my opinion; and it can be argued. (Though Faramir doesn't seem to have any trouble breaking decorous restraint and modest reserve when he's burbling away to Eowyn about all things growing green in the garden they'll make in Ithilien.) I definitely agree that Faramir will become a good friend and counselor to King Elessar! Thanks for writing this.

Larner · 24 April 2013 · Chapter 5: A Man of Quality: Faramir, Captain of Gondor

An excellent summary of Faramir's character and essence.

Linda Hoyland · 4 February 2013 · Chapter 4: The Heroism of Obedience and Love

Thought you might like to know you have an error in one of your links. It should be http://pinterest.com/authorannemarie/ You had an extra full stop which leads to"page not found".

Linda Hoyland · 4 February 2013 · Chapter 4: The Heroism of Obedience and Love

I enjoyed these throught provoking essays very much.

Larner · 4 February 2013 · Chapter 4: The Heroism of Obedience and Love

Lovely to think that Sam and Frodo are indeed forever together at the end, that Sam did find him again to rest at his side. Both were obedient to wills other than their own, and both rose above what would usually be expected from mere mortals, even from the greatest of the Immortals.

Larner · 28 January 2013 · Chapter 3: On Grace and Free Will in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings

And the road that led to Mordor traveled through Rivendell, Lothlorien, and Minas Tirith; then led through Mordor to Tol Eressea and a healing/blessing that neither Frodo nor Sam could have come to by any other path. In this way salvation worked backwards, as noted by Lewis in "The Great Divorce," to hallow even the most dread and evil of experiences both knew.

Larner · 28 January 2013 · Chapter 2: The Fiat of Iluvatar's Children

An excellent analysis of the choices of the heroes of LOTR. Each one rose beyond what one might think one of the Children might strive for.

Queen Galadriel · 29 August 2011 · Chapter 1: Did Frodo Fail?

This is wonderfully done. I love the comments about the word choice there, something I can appreciate now more than ever before, and I'm sure it was quite intentional on Tolkien's part, loving language as he did! This was thought-provoking and uplifting to read. :) And, by the way, surprise!