Fellowship of the Ring: Book 2 Discussion Post

Woo! What a great book! I love Tolkien!

Some Random Thoughts:

-    I loved the symbolism of Saruman's robes. He was Saruman the white, but when he turned evil, the white was fractured and he became Saruman of many colors.

-    I loved how Gloin and Bilbo reminisced and talked about what happened to our friends from The Hobbit.

-    There is a line in the book that says "O Lady of Lorien of whome were sprung Celebrian and Arwen Evenstar." Does that mean Arwen is Galadriel's daughter?

Discussion Questions
from Jenni

1.    Even if you've read the books before (or you've seen the movies), were you surprised by who Elrond picked for the fellowship?

Not really, It isn't a surprise if you've read the books or seen the movie. I don't understand why Elrond picked Legolas to represent the elves though. I would have chosen someone from my own house. I think he should have picked Glorfindel. 

2.    How do you feel about Gandalf's fate in Moria?

It is sad, but it is something he had to experience to become more than a grey wizard. I thought it was good for the fellowship. They relied on him so much, and I think they learned and grew a lot without him. I think Aragorn is more than qualified to lead the fellowship.

3.    What do you think you would see in Galadriel's mirror?

Probably things I don't want to see. I think I would be too scared to even look. 

4.    If you could have any of the gifts the elves from Lothlorien gave to the fellowship which one would you choose and why?

This is actually something that kind of bugs me about the movie. They get different gifts. Why was that necessary to change?

I don't really need a belt or a scabbard. The bow would be cool, but I'd just hurt myself. I guess I would choose the dirt from Galadriel's garden. I don't have much of a green thumb, so that would help me a lot!

5.    Do you think Boromir had any logic in his thinking about using the ring to fight Sauron?

Yes and No. I think Boromir was more power hungry than the others, so the ring influenced him more. I also think Boromir truly believed he could use the ring for a valiant cause. Too bad he was too arrogant to listen to council's warnings. 

6.    Do you think Frodo was rash for leaving the fellowship behind?

Yes! If I was Frodo, I'd want their help! I'd for sure take Aragorn. Good thing Sam was able to go with him. If not for Sam, the ring would never have been destroyed. 

7.    Do you have a hard time following the action? Do the movies, if you've seen them, make it easier to envision the events taking place?

No. I grew up with Tolkien. I think the movies captured a lot of things accurately, but they messed up on a few things as well. 

8.    Who is your favorite and least favorite character in The Fellowship of the Ring?

Favorite:  This is SO hard!!!! Bilbo will always be my favorite Tolkien character. I really like Sam in the book, and I really like Gimli. Aragorn is always awesome! Barliman kind of makes me laugh. 
I'm going to go with Gimli.

Least Favorite:  I don't know. I like everyone. Oh wait!! I know!!! Lobelia Sackville-Baggins!! Horrible greedy hobbit! 

9.    What is your favorite and least favorite scen in the The Fellowship of the Ring?

Favorite:  I have to say when Bilbo and Gloin are talking. I get so happy when things from The Hobbit pop up. I also love the beginning when Tolkien describes hobbits. Bilbo's party is a favorite. I also like the Council. It's all good!

Least Favorite:  Lothlorien is always slow for me. I wouldn't say I hate it, but it is the slowest part of the book for me. 

10.    These books seem to be very male-centric. Does this bother you? Do you wish there were more important female characters? How do you think the book would've changed if one of the main characters were female?

This doesn't bother me at all. I have no problem picturing hot men while I read. 

Back in Tolkien's day, women didn't go to war. The few women in the books are pretty revered. I'm okay with that. Plus, Eowyn is awesome! She is one of my favorite book ladies! 

Jenni will be hosting a Twitter Chat tomorrow!

Sunday, June 1

6:00 PM (mountain time)

#LotRreadalong

We will be having a party to watch The Fellowship of the Ring movie!

My house

Saturday, June 7

6:00 PM

If you'd like, you can pitch in for pizza.

There will be other food as well.

Bring your spouse and friends.

It's going to be fun!!

If you want to come, contact me or Jenni for directions to my place. I live in Orem, I hope that isn't too long of a drive for people.

We'll be kicking off The Two Towers tomorrow!! Woo!

Fan Art Friday

showcasing

I knew I'd find some good ones for this book!

I like the one with the three of them and the eggs. I also like the one where Gus and Hazel are kissing in the Anne Frank house, and the scene with Gus in the car calling Hazel.

Which is your favorite?

Cabin Fever

From Goodreads:    Greg Heffley is in big trouble. School property has been damaged, and Greg is the prime suspect. But the crazy thing is, he’s innocent. Or at least sort of.

The authorities are closing in, but when a surprise blizzard hits, the Heffley family is trapped indoors. Greg knows that when the snow melts he’s going to have to face the music, but could any punishment be worse than being stuck inside with your family for the holidays?

My Thoughts:

-    That "Santa's Scout" thing is super creepy. I would have nightmares if that thing was in my house moving around.

-    The Net Kritterz cracked me up! I used to play Neopets, which is an online pet thing. I spent a lot of time on that website taking care of my pets. Good times! I wonder if my pets are still alive. I don't know if I could even log in anymore. 

-    Greg likes to take shortcuts for a lot of things. Hopefully he is learning from his mistakes, but I really doubt it. 

-    I keep thinking we are going to discover that Rowley is a bit slow, and he'll be sent to special ed or something.

-    Another creepy thing in the book is Greg's Alfrendo doll. When he finds it towards the end, wow! That doll is messed up!

Previous Wimpy Kid Books

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  
 

My New Favorite

I was surfing through YouTube a couple weeks ago, and I stumbled upon this girl's stuff.

It is my new favorite thing! It is hilarious, and I keep watching them over and over again.

Gnome and I like to sing along. Gnome knows almost all of the Do You Want to Build a Snowman parody. It is funny.

She runs the lyrics of a song through several layers of Google Translate, and then she translates back to English. I think she explains at the beginning of Let it Go. Anyway, here are some of my favorites! They are so funny! Go check out her YouTube channel!

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy

Back of the Book Says:    After staking out, obtaining, and then being forced to give up her first boyfriend, Josh, all Cammie Morgan wants is a peaceful semester. But that's easier said than done when you're a CIA legacy and go to the Gallagher Academy, the premier school in the world . . . for spies.

Despite Cammie's best intentions to be a normal student, danger seems to follow her. She and her friends learn that their school is going to play host to some mysterious guests - code name: Blackthorne. Then she's blamed for a security breach that leaves the school's top secret status at risk.

Soon Cammie and her friends are crawling through walls and surveilling the school to learn the truth about Blackthorne and clear Cammie's name. Even though they have confidence in their spy skills, this time the targets are tougher (and hotter), and the stakes for Cammie's heart - and her beloved school - are higher than ever. 

My Thoughts:

-    I really like this series. Cammie's personality cracks me up.

-    Well of course there is a spy school for boys! Where did they think Mr. Solomon and the other guys learned everything?

-    I really loved the relationship between the girls in the previous book, and I wish there had been more of that. The book focused a lot on Zach.

-    I don't trust Zach. He seems sketchy, and he doesn't seem hot. He is kind of annoying and arrogant.

-    Cammie and her mom have a weird relationship. It seems so strained and awkward.

-    I wish we could have gotten to know some of the other boys. Like I said, the book focused on Zach. 

Previous Gallagher Girls Book

(click on cover to see my thoughts)

Divergent

My Thoughts:

-    I didn't like it.

-    Four was good. I pictured him bigger, but the character was portrayed.

-    Tris was okay.

-    There were too many characters for a movie. We didn't get to know Al or Will very well. What happened to Al wasn't as devastating in the movie as it was in the book.

-    The chasm was weak sauce! 

-    Peter was weak sauce too! He wasn't ruthless enough. No one got stabbed in the eye!

-    It was a little slow and boring at parts. The ending was good, but they messed some things up.

-    Will and Al looked too much alike. I hate it when they do that in movies. Side characters should be easily recognized. 

-    I liked the zip line. It was a longer and more intense ride than in the book, but I liked it. 

-    I liked how the factions were portrayed. They did a good job creating the futuristic Chicago.

-    I probably won't buy this movie, and I don't really care to see it again, but it was worth seeing once.

The Ugly Truth

Goodreads Says:    Greg Heffley has always been in a hurry to grow up. But is getting older really all it’s cracked up to be?

Greg suddenly finds himself dealing with the pressures of boy-girl parties, increased responsibilities, and even the awkward changes that come with getting older—all without his best friend, Rowley, at his side. Can Greg make it through on his own? Or will he have to face the “ugly truth”?

My Thoughts:

-    I remember seeing students doing the egg thing in Junior High and High School. We also had one teacher who gave out a bag of flour wrapped in duck tape. Apparently babies weigh as much as a bag of flour. 

-    Isabella is the worst maid ever! Why would you clean your house right before the maid comes? Doesn't that defeat the purpose? Why even need a maid? The notes were funny though. Greg met his match.

-    Thank goodness my school never did a lock in. That sounds awful! 

-    The elbow thing cracked me up! It was my favorite thing in the book!! ha ha!

-    I still love the illustrations and Greg's shenanigans. This is one of my favorites in the series. 

-    I love the way Greg describes things. The author really captured the life and attitude of a boy. 

Previous Wimpy Kid Books

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  

The Last Airbender: Prequel - Zuko's Story

Goodreads Synopsis:    THE SON WILL RISE
 
Prince Zuko is banished from the Fire Nation by his own father, Fire Lord Ozai. Horribly scarred and stripped of everything he holds dear, Zuko wanders the earth for almost three years in search of his only chance at redemption: the Avatar, a mystical being who once kept the four nations in balance. All around him, people whisper that this is an impossible task—the Avatar, after all, disappeared a century ago—but Zuko defiantly continues the search. His quest is all he has left.

My Thoughts:

-    I don't understand why they changed Zuko's uncle. He looks different. It bugged me. 

-    I was hoping for a bit more from this. I already knew a lot of the stuff in this book. I wanted to shed some more light on other things.

-    I really like Zuko's inner struggle. He is such a complicated character, and he is one of my favorites. 

-    This really wasn't a must read for Airbender fans. I could have passed this up. 

Fan Art Friday

showcasing

Since we're doing a read along this month, I couldn't help but showcase this!

It was hard to find fan art that was based on the book and not the movie.

You might have to click on the picture to make it larger. Some are hard to see.

I like a lot of these. I love the sillouette of the fellowship, and I love the female fellowship. I also love the Bag End scene and the hobbits arriving at Tom's house.

What is your favorite?