READ THIS FIRST before re-reading LOTR or THE HOBBIT | TOLKIEN READING ORDER

Updating your Tolkien reading order? Consider these books first ...
Check out my previous video on my preferred order: • BEST TOLKIEN READING O...
______________________________________________________
Hey! I published a little poetry book ... interested?
Get your copy of 'Anarchy for the Innocents' on Paperback via Amazon: www.amazon.com...
or Amazon UK: www.amazon.co.... today
I also wrote my own Anglo-Saxon epic poem ... interested?
Order your hardback copy of 'Haestingas' here: mxpublishing.c...
Get your copy of 'Haestingas' on Paperback or eBook via Amazon today: www.amazon.com...
________________________________________________
Visit my author website: www.jamesmoffe...
Follow me on INSTAGRAM: / jimbrewingbooks and on WORDPRESS: atolkienistper...
________________________________________________
MUSIC for video:'Nowhere Known' by Your Friend, Ghost / yourfriendghost845 Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/l-nowher... promoted by Audio Library • Nowhere Known - Your F... 'Stark Goes Dark' by The Whole Other
The Whole Other playlist: • Playlist

[@TheGoober019]

Reading the biography of writers before reading their works is always a benefit.

[@brewingbooks]

Absolutely! Though I’d still suggest reading Tolkien’s at least after the first read of TH and LOTR 👍

[@ilikemandalorians9861]

The first (and so far only) Tolkien book I have read is actually John Garth’s biography. He lived such a fascinating life, I think I’m almost more interested in reading about Tolkien himself than his stories 😅

[@hermanmelville3368]

Try some his works

[@brewingbooks]

I love biographies so I can understand your sentiment 🙂 It’s also equally rewarding to get acquainted with some of his works as it enriches your experience of the author’s life even further 👍

[@ilikemandalorians9861]

@@brewingbooksquite! I hope to start with The Hobbit next week

[@Omnilatent]

Completely agree! Another great book to start is "Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth" as this shows both, biography and work of Tolkien (including drawings and not just literature!).

[@brewingbooks]

Yes! Maker of Middle-earth is stupendous 😃 Great pick!

[@bookchaser1103]

I really enjoyed that biography. I love context, and that offers a lot of it. Very readable. I'm currently easing through Tolkien's letters, as well as a very interesting book on Tolkien and Lewis, "The Gift of Friendship." Also a good recommendation. I really need to get to Oxford one day ...

[@brewingbooks]

Thanks for the heads up on the Tolkien/Lewis book 🙂 And yes, Oxford is a MUST 😃

[@FracturedHope01]

Great video! Added the biography immediately to my wish list. Quick question. Are you going planning on doing a 2024 update video to your Tolkien collection?

[@hermanmelville3368]

Not change so much

[@brewingbooks]

Perhaps I'll wait a bit until I build the collection further ...

[@samuelleask1132]

Hey James! Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll definitely check it out. Unrelated to the video, but I have a wee request if I might humbly ask. I have the immense privilege to be visiting the UK from Australia for the first time this November, and I’m really hoping to visit some Tolkien-related places while I’m there. I have quite a bit of time so I’d like to see the Eagle and Child and spend some time exploring Tolkien’s old haunts at Oxford, as well as visiting his grave, but I was wondering if you might have any recommendations for Tolkien-related places to visit? Thank you so much in advance for taking the time to read this James! Namárië 🧝‍♂️ 🧙‍♂️

[@brewingbooks]

Hey! Sorry for the delay in replying. That’s fantastic! You’ll definitely enjoy Oxford; besides the Tolkien element, it’s a great place to experience. As for sites to visit, as you mentioned: Wolvercote Cemetery, the Eagle & Child pub (which unfortunately had closed its doors, but you can still take nice pictures from the outside), Merton College is also recommended - not to mention Number 20 Northmoor Road where Tolkien lived for around 20 years from the 20s till early 40s. There is also the University park where you can find Tolkien’s bench (with a small plaque on it to mark this). This is a spot Tolkien used to visit, and the bench sits nicely between two impressive trees (Trees of Valinor?). Besides, this spot in the park is absolutely gorgeous. There are also the Botanic Gardens where one can find the famous Tolkien tree (a Black Pine) which was a favorite of his and is seen in photographs next to it many times (though I believe they had to cut it down recently … mischief of Saruman probably)

[@ReadingRonin]

Are you able to include links or the ISBN for the books you mention in your videos?

[@brewingbooks]

Will certainly be doing so for future videos. Thanks for the suggestion 👍

[@crusader2112]

I’m currently reading The Fellowship The literary lives of the Inkling by Philip and Carol Zaleski. It’s pretty good so far. 👍

[@brewingbooks]

Interesting! Thanks for the heads-up on this book 🙂

[@crusader2112]

@@brewingbooks No problem. Peace ✌🏻

[@CT--fd6gc]

Is there gonna be a other guide to silmarillion video soon?

[@brewingbooks]

Tune in later on today! :)

[@lucagianchino6404]

The lettera are good too before Lotr and silmarillion?;)

[@hermanmelville3368]

Sure

[@brewingbooks]

Absolutely! :)

[@cbca6567]

Hmm not sure I agree either. For a concise modern summary of Tolkiens life and the images that served to inspire/give form to his grand fantasies I would recommend reading John Garth's beautifully illustrated "The Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien" published 2020, which includes also a chapter on JRR Tokiens war time experience, summarising his more in depth book on the war period. The images of where JRR Tolkien grew up in England and the comparison with the unnatural city landscape or the barren hell like landscape on the world war 1 battlefields are all rendered in beautifully chosen photos, sketches and paintings to give the reader a better sense of how Tolkien imagined settings described in his books. Especially memorable for Tolkien was the sheer enormity and grandeur/beauty of the Alps where he undertook an extensive hiking holiday in 1911 and which gave foundation to every mountain scene portrayed in his novels. Lastly there should be no doubt as to the reading order of his most significant novels since Tolkien expressly mentions the order to read them in his letter to Milton Waldman in 1951, agent and editor to publishers in London. Tolkien says the "Silmarillion" should have been published "in conjunction or connection" with "the Lord of the Rings" as one long saga of the jewels and the rings because it gives context to the story and should be read first, but the publishers chose to publish the latter only then. One can see that if one has not read any of the saga including "The Hobbit" already, "The Silmarillion" should be read first and then "the Hobbit" and then "The Lord of the Rings" for logic and chronology.

[@brewingbooks]

That’s for the input 👍 I certainly need to check out Garth’s newest book at some point.

[@xHLGTrashcanx]

I'm not sure I agree. Loved this bio but I though it was so much richer having already experienced Tolkien's work. Here's my suggested reading prior to the bio: Required: -The Hobbit -The Lord of the Rings Suggested: -The Silmarillion -The Monsters and the Critics Bonus: -Mythopoeia -Leaf by Niggle -Unfinished Tales -Some C.S. Lewis (Narnia being the most helpful)

[@BZerp]

He did stipulate that this is before 're-reading' the main books, not first time...

[@xHLGTrashcanx]

@@BZerptrue true

[@brewingbooks]

Cheers 😉

[@brewingbooks]

Thanks for sharing your preferred reading list. I certainly agree about reading some CS Lewis prior to the bio 👍