Why do I have the impression that everyone here on MR has a PhD in literature? You're one well-educated lot, you know that?
It seems barely possible for me to write something contributory, but I'll give it a try anyway.
When I first read the LOTR, it was in my late teens and I was much depressed with my prospects for the future. I had escapist tendencies and was looking for a refuge, a place where I could forget about the everyday, mundane life.
So I hopped into the Middle-Earth and left all my concerns behind for at least a short while. I didn't much care for the story, for me it was enough to roam around and get to know all the wonderful characters, good and bad. Go to arcane places of old age, like Moria, with their history only hinted at or insinuated, because that gave my fantasy even more space to unfold itself.
I would have lingered in the Old Forest or Lorien forever, if Tolkien would let me or gallop through Eriador and enjoy the vistas.
For me the Middle-Earth has a tremendous emotional charge and it makes me sad I can't enjoy books the way I enjoyed LOTR anymore. But that's the bane of growing up, I guess.
And one more remark on the nature of this thread: the start was unarguably rough, people were giving promises to unsubscribe and never post here, but the debate turned out thrilling for me, especially the part on Shakespeare and Tolstoy. I learnt something new about Twain and Orwell, got some tips for further reading. It's good to be here on MR.
P.S. I'm deeply sorry for the overly pathetic tone of my post. Ran out of fresh and original thoughts this morning.
