I've just finished reading John Garth's "Tolkien and the Great War," and the experience has been well worth it. Garth focuses on Tolkien's early life to a much greater degree than either Carpenter or Shippey and in so doing serves as a necessary corrective to both. In fact, Garth takes a few polite shots at Carpenter, and so presents us with a better picture of Tolkien's generosity and gregariousness. He also devotes a greater amount of time to analyzing the "Book of Lost Tales" and the origins of Tolkein's legendarium. Another bonus is the greater emphasis placed on Tolkien's pre-Inklings friendships and his relationship with Edith as formative influences on his work. All in all, I felt that "Tolkien and the Great War" actually advanced my understanding of Tolkien's writings and Tolkien the man. If you're a fan of Middle Earth, this one's well worth the read.
I got my Super Nintendo Entertainment System when I was eleven years old. That's a couple years after it first came out. The occasion was a little dramatic: to celebrate the end of a two-and-a-half year course of treatment for cancer. I had no idea that it would be waiting for me at home after the final doctors visit. It was a nice spring day, the trees were waving gently in the breeze outside the bay windows. With a cup of tea resting on the coffee table, I set down to play. What was that first game? It was The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past . Around twenty years later, my SNES still works as does that Zelda cartridge. It's been a long way from boyhood in Southern Connecticut to manhood in North Houston, but I'm still playing. Why am I still playing? There were stretches when I didn't. Many times, I've just been too busy. There were also seasons when it felt embarrassing to still be playing video games....
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