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Good piece of information indeed, Galin. And Rachel, I kind of knew the book wouldn't be to your liking. I, however, can't cease to love it for all that darkness and sadness it contains.

After all, I've my own darker thoughts that I inflict upon my works from time to time, though lately, I've been re-discovering my past writing interests and fantasy themes. But those thoughts only exist, 'cause I - in a way - believe to the darkness and the light and that those two must be kept in balance at all costs.

So, in order to keep the darkness at balance, I let it affect what I write. Lately, I've noticed that the method works quite well in writing of our band's lyrics. Smile Smilie

But in the light of this new course of fantasy, I thought that I might pass on re-reading TCOH and go for The Unfinished Tales instead. It's been a while I read those through. And from what I remember, it's going to be a sweet read.

Though I'm still at the beginning of my journey towards Lovecraftian madness supreme, so I'll finish the task at hand in order to proceed further.

Ok everyone, brace yourself for this, but for once I actually 100% agree with everything Galin said! That made my day...

The Children of Hurin is easily my favorite Tolkien book. I don't know if a book has ever affected me as emotionally as that one did, which is what I appreciate most about it. I will never forget when I read the very last paragraph, and I could literally feel my heart wrench in my chest I was so distraught with passion, anger, regret, confusion, and loneliness, yet a foreboding sense of love and hope....pretty much exactly what I believe The Prof was going for. And it was amazing.

LeeLee, as someone who works in holistic healing, I've never considered how Tolkien's daily habits might have impacted his writings. Very interesting thought. I don't know for sure his nutritional or sleep intake, but from what I've read, and I could be wrong, he was a fairly happy-go-lucky guy who was often offering help to others, especially friends (still haven't read a full biography, only snippets, though I really want to). However you're absolutely right there might be little details most didn't know that could have altered his writing style, if not just for specific tales at times when he was particularly stressed or sleep deprived. Makes you wonder...

Life is brutal and Tolkien knew it. This extended Tale speaks of cruelty and malice and all that lies, love, and half truths an bring. In a time when very few Men wrote of woe and desperation, Tolkien was ahead of his time.....

The pure Evil of Melkor, delivered through Glaurung is truly the ultimate taboo.....

I finally found a couple of interesting references from JRRT in the typescript version of his text The Kalevala, keeping in mind the "Turin connection" to the tale of Kullervo.

"I don't mean only the "Death of Minnehaha," but the "Fate of Aino" in the Kalevala and the "Death of Kullervo," where the pathos is enhanced not hindered by the (to us) almost humourous naivete of the mythological and fabulous surroundings. Pathos is common in the Kalevala and often very true and keen"

And after turning to the religion of the poems [if the word "religion" can really be applied, Tolkien notes], characterizing it as a luxuriant animism, and after noting that in the Kalevala every stone, or every tree or bird or wave or hill (for some examples), can have well defined personalities, Tolkien will subsequently note:

"(...) One of the most remarkable of these us ["us" as typed in TS] the speech of his sword to Kullervo just before he throws himself upon its point. If a sword had a character, you feel it would be just such as is pictured here -- a cruel and cynical ruffian."

From Tolkien Studies VII, from the contribution edited by Verlyn Flieger.

I remember getting the children of Hurin for Christmas. I was so emotionally traumatized I have never recovered completely It was very well done. I will never read it again.
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