Jane Austen's Emma. Read aloud with the Mrs. Having seen the 90s and the recent film adaptations, I had a general idea of the story, but getting Austen's prose is of course far superior. Mrs Elton is as rude and insufferable in her proper regency presentation as ever. Mr Woodhouse's hypochondria never fails to elicit a chuckle.
The War of the Ring, book 8 of History of Middle-earth, edited by Christopher Tolkien. This covers the drafts of Lord of the Rings for about the last two-thirds of Two Towers, and the first half of Return of the King.
(photo dates from 17th April)
Isobelle Carmody "Darksong" (2002)
Book 2 of the Legendsong saga. The plot, or plots, thicken, with the sisters' stories mirroring what happened in the first book, after just missing each other at the end of it. The cliffhanger has been looming over me for 23 years.... Very much looking forward to book 3.
(photo on 30th October)
Tom Shippey's "J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century" (2000) A literary analysis of Tolkien's work: largely his three main books, in proportion, but also his lesser fiction. Shippey draws out ancient sources that Tolkien seems to be drawing on, but also talks how Tolkien's work is thoroughly a product of the 20th century. The title is a bit of a clickbait pun: Tolkien is an author of the 20th C, while also topping many polls at the end of the 90s.
(actually finished it on the 1st Jan, but who's counting)
theHigherGeometer
Brynawel
