Subject: To be honest...
Author:
Posted on: 2010-04-15 17:15:00 UTC
I skipped bits my first few times through Lord of the Rings, too. That might have something to do with the fact that I was in 5th, 6th, 7th grade at the time, but still. I at least won't hold that against you.
However, I will defend to the death every word Tolkien used, and tell you why. {= )
Regarding the foreword, just for one, Tolkien was writing before anyone had ever heard of Hobbits/Halflings/whatever ('cause, you know, he invented them). He and his editors probably felt it necessary to offer those words of explanation of their history and culture outside the actual text of the story, but in a place where it would be visible to the readers, who otherwise might have found themselves completely lost. The pipeweed (which is actually akin to tobacco, not pot) actually plays a fairly important role later in the story, it being Saruman's way of buying his way into the Shire and taking over, so knowing its role in Hobbit life does matter. Nowadays, of course, everyone has heard of Hobbits even if they haven't read the books, so the foreword may seem a bit superfluous to the modern eye. But it IS there for a reason.
That said, if you fancy something a little more condensed that stays true to canon, I highly recommend Brian Sibley's radio adaptation. Yes, it's going to sound a little corny when they put narration in the mouths of characters so the audience knows what's going on, but at least it's CANON. And the voice-acting is top notch. You'll recognize Frodo, at least. The same actor played Bilbo in the movies. {= )
~Neshomeh
