Talking Tolkien

“All we have to decide, is how much Tolkien to enjoy with the time that is given to us.”

Ok, maybe that isn’t quite the encouraging quote Gandalf gives to Frodo in Moria, but it can certainly still motivate to action! Currently our own Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) group, in an extraordinary cinematic showing, is presenting all three Hobbit movies AND the Lord of the Rings trilogy now through February 15th at the newly re-opened SIFF Cinerama. To celebrate the occasion, let’s talk Tolkien!

Scholar, soldier, translator, writer; who was Tolkien? In Tolkien: Maker of Middle-Earth by Catherine McIlwaine, Tolkien archivist at the Bodleian Library, you get an impressive compilation of essays, maps, personal letters, and artwork displaying the creative process behind Tolkien’s creation of Middle-Earth. Exploring how World War I affected Tolkien’s writings, Tolkien and the Great War: the threshold of Middle-Earth touches on his early life, then moving into how his firsthand experience in the trenches of World War I influenced the stories he wrote.
Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: the gift of friendship focuses on the famous academic camaraderie and friendship between Tolkien and Lewis. From their religious debates to their writing styles, see how these two extraordinary icons helped each other on their literary and personal journeys.

Teen Novels for Black History Month 2024

Here are some brand new titles featuring Black teens and at least a bit of Black history. (Created January 2024)

When the super strict principal of a tough charter school is found murdered, J.B., Ramón, and Trey are immediately under suspicion, and must find the killer before they are caught in Nick Brooks’ Promise Boys.

In Sarah Everett’s novel, How to Live Without You, two sisters must find their way back to each other six years after their parents divorce, although it’s not clear whether one of them wants to be found.

Lamar Giles’s dystopia The Getaway shows how Jay’s life at Karloff Country – the place wealthy people go to when they want to escape the world’s troubles – is well-paid, fun, and secure, until one of his friends and coworkers (and her family) goes missing with no explanation, and the wealthy guests refuse to leave.

Characters with Real World Problems – No Matter the Genre

Rich and royal characters are a mainstay in literature. We do like to know what it is like to have it all. To live in opulence and navigate the world with ease is something we are told to aspire to, so culturally we gravitate to depictions of wealth and plentitude. Plus, we also love learning that wealth cannot buy happiness, but I digress. The well-off are well represented in literature, so I appreciate when fiction of all genres feature characters who struggle in every day ways to make ends meet while their lives and concerns are given center stage in a story. It’s nice to read novels in which you do not have to be rich to be matter. Here are some books that turn the limelight on economically disadvantaged characters, who also deserve our attention and emotional investment.

Fantasy especially has historically favored royalty or chosen one narratives, so it’s oh so nice when the MC knows what it means to miss a meal or fight for your day to day survival. Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind was a breath of fresh air when it arrived on the epic fantasy scene with its ragged hero Kvothe accounting for every coin he needed to get his education amongst his ‘betters.’ Here are two recent dark fantasy novels featuring scrappy heroines that come to mind:

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
Opal lives in a motel with her biracial brother, Jasper, after their mother died in a car accident. Opal knows that she is not liked in the town, that she is seen as the loser daughter born of a wild woman, so she carves her way through the town with arch, stubborn pride despite the disdain and dismissal. But she feels an odd pull to the mysterious Starling House whose history and present is wrapped in ominous rumors. When Opal becomes a housekeeper for the infamous house, she makes sure to pocket some of the fine silverwear (and sell it on eBay). This dark Gothic novel set in Kentucky features a heroine whose survival instincts were borne of deprivation, but may serve her in ways she never dreamed.

Book of Night by Holly Black is her first foray into the adult fiction realm, delivering an even darker and edgier fantasy than her YA. Charlie Hall is a con-artist working as a bartender in a world where shadows have power and some can wield them for some pretty bad deeds. An incident from Charlie’s past resurfaces, stirring up a cauldron of risk and danger she thought she had dodged. Gritty and realistic, Charlie’s background as a scheming survivor plays a major part in this compelling urban fantasy.

Middle Grade Fiction for Adults

For a long time as an adult, I told myself that middle grade books were no longer for me. But I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was wrong! Not only can middle grade novels simply be great stories, they can also transport you back into the world of being a kid. This includes the importance and depth of friendships that we make when we are young, the sense of adventure and openness to the fantastical and the unknown, and the complex and often difficult experience of being a kid. If you, too, love a good story regardless of age, here are some of my recommendations:

Amari and the Night Brothers 

After Amari’s older brother goes missing, she discovers a mysterious briefcase in his closet. Soon, a whole secret world opens up for Amari. She is nominated to join the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs where she must compete against other students, fight against an evil magician, and find out what really happened to her brother. 

Coraline 

After moving to a new home, Coraline goes exploring and discovers a mysterious door that opens into a world that looks very similar to her own. At first it seems like a better version of her own life, until she begins to realize that things are eerily off–and her new set of parents want her to stay with them forever.

Oh, doggone it!

Dogs can completely change the way we feel—for the better. They are funny, loving, and intelligent. Canine companions live in an estimated 63 million U.S. homes, so it’s no wonder stories, movies, and videos featuring dogs have always been big hits. Let’s not forget our own local legend, the public-transit-riding dog, Eclipse, who rides the bus throughout Seattle (except during quarantine, of course). Today, we are going to look at three dog-related titles that highlight the amazing lives of dogs and those who live with, rely on, and love them.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

This is one of those stories, told through the eyes (and voice) of a dog, that simply works. Enzo is a dog who sees the world for what it is and would love to speak his mind directly to those around him, but cannot. However, we are lucky enough to get an inside look at his joys and frustrations surrounding the life of his human family. Publisher’s Weekly notes: “Stein’s tale of family, loss, redemption, and fast cars—recounted entirely from the perspective of a retriever-terrier mix named Enzo—ups the ante on the recent trend of high-concept anthropomorphism in popular fictions.”