Republic of Thieves | Read-along Part I

If you aren't reading or haven't read The Republic of Thieves (the third book in Scott Lynch's Gentleman Bastard series), you probably don't want to read this post. Spoilers are sure to run rampant here. If you'd like to join in, you can find the read-along schedule here or feel free to jump in in the comments and let me know your thoughts!

My initial thoughts regarding The Republic of Thieves is how much easier of a read this book is versus the previous two. Is it just me? It's possible I'm getting used to Lynch's style and I do already know the characters, but there seems to be a change in how well the story flows.

1. We get to reminisce with several old friends in this section - Carlo, Galdo, Chains. How did you like this? Bitter sweet or happy dance?
   
   Happy dance! At first I thought oh no, more interludes..., but I actually love the interludes right now. I love the old friends, and I love Sabetha, but I'm probably getting ahead of us here.
   
   
2. Finally, the infamous Sabetha makes a physical appearance, albeit in Locke's reminisces. What are your impressions? How do you think the romance, if there is to be one, will play out?
   
   I adore how smitten Locke is with Sabetha. I am loving the interaction between those two (and Chains). I'm not sure that anything romantic will ever come of their relationship, but we do already know they are with each other as Gentlemen Bastards for a significant amount of time. At this point, Sabetha is starting to warm up to Locke. "Not today, at any rate," she said softly.
   
   How do you guys feel about the scheme where Locke thought Sabetha had been kidnapped? I have mixed emotions about it. The Bastards are fiercely loyal, and to me a scheme like that would dissolve so much trust. I do see it as a moment that will shape who Locke is, though. I WILL NEVER LOSE AGAIN!
   
   
3. After trying absolutely everything to save Locke, Jean still won't give up. What did you think of that little pep talk he gave Locke concerning Patience's offer of healing?
   
   Wow. Jean made a strong point by using the image of Ezri burning so that they could live. Locke's reaction was immediate.
   
   
4. Locke has a few caveats to working for the Bondsmage. Wise or just Locke grasping for some control over his life? What would you ask Patience?
   
   It's definitely wise for Locke to make the terms of their agreement absolutely clear. Those damn Bondsmagi pop up wherever and in whomever they want. I wouldn't want to be in their debt. I'm surprised Locke will have answers at his beck and call, but that will be a great asset for him. I, personally, would ask questions about magic. There are plenty of powers I would like to yield.
   
   
5. At the end of this section, we see that all is not as Patience laid it out. How much do you think Patience knows of the plot to off Locke and Jean? Do you see it interfering in the rigged election?
   
   I don't know what to think about Patience. My first reaction is that she is unaware, but we are talking Bondsmagi here. Also, can we bring up the fact that she's the Falconer's mother? This whole Patience thing is a lot for me to wrap my head around.
   
   

Be sure to check out the rest of today's read-along posts here.

September Readalong | Carrie by Stephen King

Fun news! Midnight Book Girl and Midnyte Reader are hosting Stephen King readalongs through Fall. I can't resist a King readalong and these girls are awesome so I'm excited to join in.

The readalong choice for September is Carrie. I think Carrie might be the last King book I re-read, but I'm in for reading it again. Want to join me?

The book discussion schedule will happen as follows:

Part One: Blood Sports- Discussion post on 9.12.12, Twitter chat from 9pm EST- 11pm EST #CarrieBS

Part Two: Prom Night- Discussion post on 9.23.12, Twitter chat from 7pm EST- 9pm EST #CarrieProm

Part Three: Wreckage- Discussion post on 9.30.12, Twitter chat from 8pm EST- 10pm EST #CarrieEnd

(Twitter chats!)

We will also be reading Salem's Lot in October and Misery and/or Cycle of the Werewolf in November.

There is a sign up linky on Midnight Book Girl and Midnyte Reader's blogs or you can jump in with comments during the discussion posts.

Read-along | Feed by Mira Grant Part II

For the month of February, Grace over at Feeding My Book Addiction hosted a read-along of Mira Grant's Feed.

The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.


NOW, twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives-the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.

If you haven't read Feed, you can find my review here. Please be aware this post will contain spoilers. If you have already read Feed, please share your thoughts in the comments!

Read-along Discussion

I can't believe I wound up really disliking Feed. I was so optimistic and set to love it. I guess I had high expectations and assumed the first half was building to something. I thought once we were past the setup and the info dumps, we would get out to the Ryman farm and be all set up for things to really start happening. I found out pretty quickly I was going to be disappointed.

My biggest problem was not liking George or Shaun or the awful dialogue. When George said "I hired her..." I wanted to either quit or cry.

I'm really hoping I will make the rounds and find that everyone enjoyed it! I'm dying to know what you guys thought about George's death. I kept trying to figure out how she could come back to life after that. It was pretty shocking.

Even though I didn't like Feed, I'm really glad we picked it this month because I was really wanting to read it.

Read-along | Feed by Mira Grant Part I

Grace over at Feeding My Book Addiction is having a horror read-along this month. Those participating chose to read Feed by Mira Grant. Here's the description of Feed if you aren't aware of the premise:

The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.


NOW, twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives-the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.

Or simply put: Zombies.

We are reading Feed all month long (the next and last post is February 29th) if you want to join us. I don't think there are any spoilers in this post if you'd like to read my thoughts so far.

Read-along Discussion

As a fan of the zombie, I'm digging Feed so far. There are a lot of new explanations for old zombie habits, and that is what I'm always hopeful for.

I liked the opening, but then I really started worrying that these characters had no sense at all. It pulled me out of the story for a while, but once I got all of the blogging details, it started to make a lot more sense. I like the message of blogs being bringers of truth, by the way.

I had to laugh at this line:

We are the Jennifers of our generation.

Oh, boy, can I relate to that. Maybe I should start calling myself Buffy. :)

I love that the zombies in Feed are called zombies. It's kind of a pet peeve of mine when I read a zombie book and everyone acts as though they've never heard of a zombie before. They don't know what to call it, they don't know how to fight it... Feed smashes that pet peeve, and I love it. If the zompocalypse occurs, people will react a lot like they do in Feed.

Does the relationship between Shaun and George make you uncomfortable or is it just me?

Feed is getting better and better as it progresses so I'm looking forward to reading the next half. I'm just hoping there won't be too much of a cliffhanger when it ends.

What do you guys think so far? Do you enjoy zombies?

Read-along | 11/22/63 by Stephen King [Parts 4-6]

Oh, man. My final thoughts on 11/22/63. I think I've finally recovered from my grief over finishing this book. It's so rare for me to get physically depressed when I finish a story! I love it, though!! It's one of the few rare finds I cherish when reading.

If you haven't read 11/22/63, I highly recommend you check it out. You should also wait until you've read it to read the rest of this post because it will contain lots of spoilers. Do feel free to read my spoiler free review of 11/22/63 here, but I can give you the short version. "I loved it."

If you have read 11/22/63, I'd love to read your thoughts in the comments!

Spoiler thoughts on the first half of 11/22/63 can be found here.

Spoiler Thoughts 11/22/63 Parts 4-6

I have a question for you guys! After Jake was beaten at his home in Dallas, his neighbor - the lady in the pink nightgown - got help for him. Is it my imagination or did Sadie not find her and buy her flowers?

"the walker-lady (Alberta Hitchinson; Sadie sought her out and brought her a bouquet of flowers) stood over me on the sidewalk and hollered until a neighbor came out, saw the situation, and called the ambulance that took me to Parkland."

Why did we have a billion chapters (slight exaggeration) after that with Jake and Sadie trying to remember where he lived?! Um.. he lived by the walker-lady in the pink nightgown! What am I missing here? I'm hoping someone can tell me where my misunderstanding lies.

Jake's recovery was the only part of the book I didn't love. I know it was a necessary evil to bring us to 11/22/63, and the past is obdurate, but it was the one area of the book that hung for me.

Other than that, I hope you guys loved this book as much as I did! I'm not a romance reader but I fell in love with Jake and Sadie. When she asked Jake if he was from the future - I absolutely loved that! It was completely perfect that he didn't even have to tell her! As heart wrenching as it was at the end, I loved that part of Sadie remembered Jake. After learning more about the yellow card man (whoa!), I thought Jake and Sadie's last meeting was perfect.

What did you guys think about the natural world and possibly reality being affected so greatly by Al and Jake's travels? I'd still love to know more about the yellow card men! I can't help but wonder if the doors in The Dark Tower work like the portal in Al's Diner since the yellow card man said there were other portals like Al's.

I look forward to making the rounds today and hearing all of your thoughts!

Read-along | 11/22/63 by Stephen King [Parts 1-3]

Grace over at Feeding My Book Addiction is hosting a read-along of Stephen King's 11/22/63 through this month. If you haven't read it, please be aware this post will contain major spoilers. I will say to you now this book is awesome. You should go grab a copy and join us. If you have read it, feel free to jump in the comments with your thoughts!

Other read-along participant posts:
Grace at Feeding My Book Addiction
Brittany at Self-styled bibliophile
Alice at Tales of an Intrepid Pantser
Rachelkiwi at she is too fond of books 

Spoiler Thoughts 11/22/63 Parts 1-3 (pp. 1 - 350)

This book is fantastic. I really thought I was going to read this throughout the rest of the month along with my other reads but I'm so hooked you couldn't make me stop reading it. This is actually the kind of book you want to call in sick to keep reading.

I was surprised by how fast the time travel stuff came into play. I love when a book jumps straight into it. At first it seemed a lot like Groundhog Day with Al explaining how the past reset each time, but then... I still get goosebumps thinking about it. The Kennedy plan, the way Al tried saving that girl but it got reset, the way he did save that girl (happy ending!), then what?... wait... why is that girl in a wheelchair?... Jake got a rootbeer!!

I have no idea what to think of the yellow, orange, black card man. He really gave me the creeps from the beginning. I wanted Jake to follow Al's advice to a tee. He scared me. Then the whole black card throat slit thing... I wonder if Jake could even return to the past if he wanted to? It makes me feel like this is his only shot at it.

I'm also a little worried about him finding the steps to go home!

I really should have written this post when I finished Part 3. I'm on page 694 and all of my thoughts of the first half and the second half are running together. I will say I love that the past is obdurate. It's helping make this one hell of a story!

Are you guys loving it? What do you think of the yellow card man?

Read-along: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Week Three

This week marks the end of the LOTR read-along and the end of my revisit to Middle Earth. This read-along was hosted by the Little Red Reviewer and Geeky Daddy. Be sure to stop by the Little Red Reviewer's post to watch a parody on the ending of The Lord of the Rings. It's funny stuff.

Thank you read-alongers for allowing me to join in, and thanks Book Den'ers for reminiscing with me!

As always, there may be spoilers ahead for those who have not experienced this journey.

What do you think Gandalf was going to speak with Tom Bombadil about?

It sounded like Gandalf was possibly seeking advice from Tom Bombadil.

What did you think of the two weddings? Do you think Eowyn will eventually find happiness with Faramir?

I'm glad things worked out for Aragorn and Arwen, but I *love* the relationship between Eowyn and Faramir. (I'm also thrilled for Sam and Rosie, too!)

What did you think of their meeting with Saruman on the road home? I was half expecting someone to just kill Saruman.

The company has a lot more pity for people than I probably would!

Holy Cow I was not expecting the scouring of the shire. If this is your first time reading, were you surprised? And if this isn't your first time reading, does the shock get a little easier to swallow on re-read?

The scouring of the shire was heartbreaking. Sam said it was worse than Mordor! :(

What did you think of the very end, of the departure of the Havens?

I thought it was a great ending. I'm glad Gandalf told Merry and Pippin what was happening. I'm glad Sam got to see Galadriel again. :) Frodo is heartbreaking to me. I hope his departure means a part of him can heal.

Characters are supposed to change and develop during a story, right? Who changed more, Sam or Frodo?

Both. Frodo's changes depress me. Sam, on the other hand, will heal and has stepped into a proud existence.

Read-along: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Week One

This past week began the read-along of the last book in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. This read-along is hosted by the Little Red Reviewer and Geeky Daddy.

I was running a bit behind (still had to finish The Two Towers!), but I'm all caught up. If you've read the books or seen the movies, feel free to jump in the discussions! Please be aware that there are spoilers for those who have not yet experienced LOTR.

Here are some other discussions to check out:
The Little Red Reviewer
Blue Fairy’s Bookshelf
Geeky Daddy
Lynn’s Book Blog
Polishing Mud Balls

This week's questions come from Clint at Geeky Daddy.

1.With the company that went with Aragorn through the Paths of Death. Would you have volunteered knowing it may be curse and ghosts haunting the paths?

I think if I made it that far on the journey, there would be no turning back. 

'I will go with you even on the Paths of the Dead, and to whatever end they may lead,' said Gimli.

2.What were your thoughts of Merry and Pippin in the preparation to the Battle of Gondor. It seemed that each ruler just thought that each hobbit could not be a contribution to the battle.  

Merry and Pippin - being small and unworldly - were more humored than taken seriously. I've had instances in my past - being young and female - where I had to prove my worth in a way those around me did not. I can appreciate Merry and Pippin holding their ground and coming out as important contributors.

3.Did you think that the preparations to the Battle sparked your interest and all or did you find that the flow was bogged down a bit?

I rushed through this in order to catch up, so I may have escaped some of the "bog down". :)

4. I thought that it was great that both Eowyn and Merry made it to the Battlefield. Yet against orders of the King and made a huge contributions. What did you think both of them doing this and would you have done this if it was you?

I immediately want to say "yes" I would have done it, but that's probably because I keep putting myself into the journey and into the roles of these characters. I'm loving Eowyn defying her role and heading out to battle alongside Merry.

5. What do you think of Denethor's rash decision to send Faramir to hold Western Osgiliath against the hosts of the Enemy that outnumbered their own greatly?

I do not enjoy Denethor. He does give me more insight into Boromir, though. Not only did Boromir want the ring to protect his people, he may have needed it to not be a shame to his father. Poor Faramir! Gah. He seems to already be a shame, and he still does as his father pleases.

Read-along: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Week Two

It's week two of the Two Towers read-along hosted  by the Little Red Reviewer, Geeky Daddy, and Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings. I'm thoroughly enjoying my re-read of The Lord of the Rings and like someone mentioned last week, this is the perfect time of year for LOTR. I love everyone's comments and insights, and I also love that these discussions are conjuring up great memories for those who love the books/movies but aren't participating in the read-along.

If you've read the books or seen the movies, feel free to jump in the discussions! Please be aware that there are spoilers for those who have not yet experienced LOTR.

1. The Glittering Caves of Aglarond; Fangorn Forest: Which of the two would you be most excited to visit once the war was over?

I would want to visit the caves, but I would be more excited about Fangorn Forest. Mostly due to claustrophobia, but also because of the Ents.

2. How did you like the reunion of at least part of the fellowship at Isengard? Did any part of it stand out to you?

I thought it was funny for them to find Merry and Pippin eating, drinking, smoking, and relaxing when they were so worried about the great peril they were in. I can't imagine that's how they expected to find them.

3. What are your thoughts about Galdalf's confrontation with Saruman?

Saruman creeps me out. His manipulations give me the shivers. How cool is Galdalf the White, though?! "I am not Galdalf the Grey..." I love it.

4. We learn a great deal about the Palantir in this section. How do you feel about Saruman given Gandalf's speech about the use of the Palantir? Would you, like Pippen, be tempted to look in to see what you could see?

I wouldn't have stolen it away from Gandalf, but yes, I would have been overly curious about the Palantir. I would have been tempted to look only not knowing what I would find.

5. What are your thoughts about Smeagol/Gollum in this first part of his journey leading Frodo and Sam? For those of you who've seen the film, are you hearing Andy Serkis in your head when you read Gollum's lines?

Oooh, yes. I hear Andy Serkis saying Gollum's lines the same way I heard Cate Blanchett reading me the prologue in The Fellowship of the Ring last month!

I enjoy Gollum. He makes me very anxious.

6. Sam and Frodo are not traveling in the most picturesque part of Middle-earth. Which would you find worse, the seemingly impossible to leave mountains or the Dead Marshes? [For some reason I answered which one I'd rather travel.]

Personally, I would be more comfortable on marshland, but would despise the fog. Well, the corpses and the fog.

I love the imagery of the candle lights and the draw of the corpses. Very dark and creepy.

7. Tolkien introduces us to a lot of places in this section of The Two Towers, many just getting a mention in passing. What do you think of Tolkien's place names (Minas Morgul, Isengard, the Emyn Muil, and on and on)? Do any stand out to you? Are there any that you don't care for?

I love the names. They are unlike any other names I know so I go into them with no preconceived notions. When you later hear the names again - the movies, re-reads - it conjures up vivid memories that don't belong to anything else.

LOTR: The Two Towers Read-along: Week One

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers read-along started this past week. The read-along is hosted by the Little Red Reviewer, Geeky Daddy, and Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings. Feel free to join us in the read-along or jump in the discussions if you've read the books or seen the movies!

Please be aware there will surely be spoilers if you haven't yet experienced The Lord of the Rings.

What is your favorite part of The Two Towers, thus far into the book?

The Ents. After reading The Fellowship of the Ring the first time, I remember telling my friend how I wished the forest had been more enchanted. He replied "Just wait". Oooh. I couldn't have asked for more than Treebeard and the stories of the Elves awakening the trees.

What were your thoughts of Boromir trying to defend Merry and Pippin from Orc archers?

I think Boromir would have done anything to protect the hobbits after turning on Frodo the way he did. The ring was now out of his presence and his mind had turned to remorse. It's also in his nature to protect his land and his people.

What thoughts would have been going through your mind if you were approached by Treebeard?

"I knew it!" I've always had a love for enchanted forests. If I ran into Treebeard I would feel like I was let in on a secret I already knew existed. And I would be absolutely terrified, especially if a tree already tried to swallow me...

What were your thoughts and reactions of the battle at the Hornburg?

I love the relationship forming between Gimli and Legolas.

Do you like it that Tolkien has split the Company into three mini-quests? Do you wonder if the company will be together throughout the quest again?

I do like that they are split up. I feel like I am getting more of the full story that way. I think the hope that they will join back together is an extension of hoping for a happy ending.

You can find more discussions of The Two Towers here:

Little Red Reviewer
Geeky Daddy
Stainless Steel Droppings
The Written World
The Blue Fairy’s Bookshelf
Lynn’s book blog

Read-along: The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings #1) by J.R.R. Tolkien

I've decided to join in on the Little Red Reviewer and Geeky Daddy's read-along of The Lord of the Rings.  I read The Lord of the Rings quite a long time ago and really enjoyed it.  I felt pretty good about how much I had retained when the movies came out, but when I started trying to answer questions from those who had not read the books, I realized I hadn't retained as much as I thought.

I'm excited to finally reread The Lord of the Rings and revisit Tolkien's world.  I'm jumping into the discussions at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring so I'm posting all three discussion parts at once.

There are surely spoilers to be found here if you haven't read The Fellowship of the Ring and intend to.  If you have read Fellowship or you've seen the movie and want to discuss either, please join in in the comments with your thoughts (or join the read-along!).  Discussion is very welcome.

Part I

1. Hobbits seem to have songs for everything!  I didn't realize this was a musical. . . . how are you liking all the songs?

I have a tendency to skip quotes, songs, poems, dreams,etc. when I'm reading if it feels like filler.  The first time I read LOTR, I skimmed or skipped most of the songs, especially in the Tom Bombadil chapter.  This time around I appreciated the songs for being part of the story, and I actually enjoyed reading them.

2. I love that we learn about Gollum and his past so early on. It gives a dark and foreboding (dare I say, perilous?) feeling to the whole thing. Were you surprised that the story took a dive towards the dark and scary so quickly?

I didn't know what to expect the first time I read LOTR.  I read it based on a recommendation from a friend.  I was pleasantly surprised by all of the darkness in the book.  I was hooked after meeting Smeagal.  It's been so long since I first read Fellowship, I didn't remember just how fast Gollum appeared, so it was a little surprising all over again.

3. Tom Bombadil!  what and who is he???  If you met him in a forest, would you trust him?

I still don't have a clue what Tom Bombadil is!  He's obviously something ancient, but nothing like what I would expect an ancient forest dweller to be.  If I met him in a forest without knowing anything about him, I would trust him because he was so helpful.

4. What did you think when Pippin, Merry and Sam told Frodo about their "conspiracy", and that they pretty much knew what he was planning from the beginning?

I thought it showed a deeper side to the hobbits.  They aren't as simple as they seem.

5. What's your favorite part of the book so far?

At this point the Smeagal/Gollum stories are my favorite part of the book.

Part II

1. What was your initial thoughts of Strider/Aragorn when Hobbits met up with him in The Prancing Pony? Did you think that he was linked with the Riders?

This is a tough re-read question, but I do think the first time I read this I thought he was a bad guy and yes, probably linked with the Riders.

2.What was the biggest surprised to you during this section of the Fellowship of the Ring?

Frodo using the ring at The Prancing Pony.  He set out to stop his friends from revealing too much and revealed far more than they ever would!

3.Do you like that Tolkien goes in depth and tells the readers of the history events of the war that is upon the Fellowship?

It may be a product of already loving LOTR, but yes, I'm enjoying all of the history.

4. How far do you think you would have lasted if you were Frodo and nearly becoming a Rider?

I have a pretty strong will so hopefully I would have lasted!

5. As dangerous quest unfold to become, the other hobbits want to stick by Frodo til the end. Would you sacrifice yourself and stick with Frodo til the end?

If I were willing to endure the journey to Rivendell, I think I would be willing to see the quest through to the end.

Part III

Gandalf and the Balrog, just Wow.  Just a short scene, but oh so intense!  With their mentor gone, how will the group go on?  Even when they do reach Lothlorien, no one seems to know how to get where they are going.  They had been dependent on Gandalf making the decisions, and now he is gone.

Gandalf's fall was very quick!  I wonder if Gandalf had remained with the group, if Frodo would have ever been compelled to go alone at the end of Fellowship.

Galadriel and her Ring. She knows the Ring of power must be destroyed, but with it's destruction comes the de-powering (is that a word?) of her Ring as well. The Elves must leave Middle Earth or forget who and what they are. For her, this is a no win situation. Frodo's success effectively means the banishment of the Elves in Middle Earth. I wonder if that makes him more likely to do everything in his power to succeed, or less? 

I think Galadriel's acceptance of Frodo's quest helps solidify how important it is for him to succeed.

Boromir - I didn't trust from way back at the Council at Rivendell. His conversation with Frodo at the end of Fellowship made him look like a know-it-all with a world view of colonialism and imperialism. Is this Tolkien taking a shot at the old fashioned British world view, or am I reading way, way too much into it? 

I think Boromir has in his heart already to find a powerful weapon against the enemy.  The Ring offers that power to him. 

After spending some time in Lothlorien, Sam realizes the Elves aren’t quite as scary or as strange as he first thought. I wonder if when he gets back to the Shire if he’ll realize the Hobbits in the next town aren’t quite as strange as he once thought.  I really don’t think this is an overt “message” story, but I do wonder if Tolkien didn't mind throwing in a little message of “those folks in the next valley aren’t as different as you think”.

It does seem every place they have traveled a misconception about hobbits, men, dwarfs, or elves is getting cleared up!  It is reasonable Tolkien had a message there.

I only stared reading fantasy a few years ago, and I keep running into this undercurrent of choice.  Bilbo has to choose to give up the Ring.  Frodo has to choose to take on the quest and be the Ring bearer. Even Boromir is choosing how he feels about the Ring and what it could bring him.  In the end, this is all coming down to how we choose to live our lives from moment to moment. 

Things may happen that are out of our control, but we always have the choice on how we will respond.

And the obligatory: what was your favorite part of this section?

This is a pretty dark answer, but I like where Boromir turns on Frodo.  I don't like that he did, but I love seeing how the ring is affecting those in its presence, and I love that it pushes Frodo to take this quest alone.

Another thing I love is how many quotes in the movie are taken straight from the book.  That's a beautiful thing.

Thank you LOTR read-alongers for having and participating in this read-along!  I can't express how much I'm enjoying the revisit to middle-earth.