Everyone is in a fix and no mistake -- standing on the brink of a tall cliff, bare and bleak, and hearing the imagined step of flapping feet on the rock behind. Join us in the Reading Room as we read Chapter I of Book IV of The Two Towers: "The Taming of Smeagol".
by N.E. Brigand, Oct 4-9, 2005
"In a fix" [10/4 @ 1:54 PM] (10/26)
“This strange twisted knot of hills” [10/4 @ 10:37 PM] (8/12)
“Those as can’t fly can jump!” [10/4 @ 10:41 PM] (7/9)
“Once in milder days” [10/8 @ 2:27 PM] (4/11)
"A help in many needs" [10/8 @ 3:15 PM] (4/15)
“The miserable slinker” [10/9 @ 7:57 PM] (2/2)
“Snakes and ladders!” [10/9 @ 7:59 PM] (4/10)
“They bites our hands” [10/9 @ 8:04 PM] (7/9)
“The result surprised them both” [10/9 @ 8:06 PM] (3/6)
“It may twist your words.” [10/9 @ 8:10 PM] (4/40)
“There was a black silence” (Open Discussion and Word List) [10/9 @ 8:14 PM] (15/23)
See the 4th Discussion by laerasea, June 2008
Everyone is floundering, stepping or falling hands-first into waters as noisome as a cesspool. Join us *sniff, sniff...but not too close* as we traverse the Dead Marshes and cross the Noman-lands, in Book IV, Chapter 2 of The Two Towers: "The Passage of the Marshes."
by Altaira, Oct 11-16, 2005
The Passage of the Marshes #1 [10/11 @ 3:36 PM] (8/17)
Here comes the Sun [10/12 @ 2:35 PM] (5/8)
None for me, thanks [10/12 @ 3:05 PM] (7/23)
Hope & Expectations [10/13 @ 6:42 PM] (12/14)
Tolkien’s other character – the environment [10/14 @ 1:30 PM] (5/6)
Got a light? [10/14 @ 2:29 PM] (4/5)
Wraiths on wings!! [10/15 @ 9:28 PM] (2/2)
The great debate [10/15 @ 10:05 PM] (6/13)
Frodo [10/16 @ 3:26 PM] (5/7)
Open Discussion [10/16 @ 3:27 PM] (5/10)
See the 4th Discussion by Modtheow, June-July 2008
by Canto di Numenor, Oct 17-23, 2005
The Morannon [10/17 @ 6:41 AM] (9/14)
Dead End [10/18 @ 6:31 AM] (7/8)
Slinker or Stinker? [10/19 @ 6:44 AM] (6/6)
Frodo's Rebuke [10/20 @ 6:41 AM] (3/6)
The Other Way, Pt. 1 [10/20 @ 4:33 PM] (4/12)
The Other Way, Pt. 2 [10/21 @ 2:23 PM] (4/4)
Sam Sings & Frodo Decides [10/23 @ 11:21 AM] (6/7)
Open Discussion [10/23 @ 11:37 AM] (7/8)
See the 4th Discussion by sador, July 2008
Everyone is laughing for heart's ease, now that they're in Ithilien! Join me in the Reading Room this week for a squireific topic-oriented discussion of Chapter 4, Book IV of The Two Towers: "Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit".
by squire, Oct 24-29, 2005
Introduction. [10/24 @ 12:07 AM] (4/6)
Characters: Sam (and Frodo) [10/24 @ 7:22 AM] (9/60)
Characters: Sam (and Gollum and War) [10/24 @ 7:25 AM] (6/8)
Characters: Frodo [10/24 @ 12:14 PM] (7/14)
Characters: Gollum [10/24 @ 5:49 PM] (6/18)
Characters: Faramir [10/24 @ 10:30 PM] (5/8)
Places: Ithilien – the Garden of Gondor. [10/25 @ 7:36 AM] (8/19)
Places: Gondor [10/25 @ 12:38 PM] (2/4)
Places: Mordor [10/25 @ 6:44 PM] (2/2)
Places: Maps [10/25 @ 10:08 PM] (2/3)
Themes: Warfare [10/26 @ 7:33 AM] (5/9)
Themes: Time and Light [10/26 @ 3:15 PM] (2/2)
Themes: Season [10/26 @ 6:09 PM] (3/5)
Themes: Food [10/26 @ 11:04 PM] (7/10)
Writing: Plot and Pacing. [10/27 @ 1:44 AM] (3/5)
Writing: Sources. [10/27 @ 11:50 AM] (5/7)
Writing: Style. [10/27 @ 5:31 PM] (7/17)
Commentary: History of Middle-earth. [10/28 @ 8:07 AM] (2/6)
Commentary: The Critics Speak. [10/28 @ 8:41 AM] (3/10)
Commentary: Letters [10/28 @ 5:13 PM] (2/2)
Open Discussion [10/28 @ 10:48 PM] (18/30)
I can't believe I have been away for so long... <Beren IV> [10/29 @ 11:57 PM] (4/12)
See the 4th Discussion by Saelind, July 2008
Everyone is almost yielding to the desire to tell this grave young man, whose words seem so wise and fair, all that is in their minds. Join us in the Reading Room this week as we discuss Chapter 5 of Book IV in The Two Towers: "The Window on the West".
by an seleichan, Nov 1-4, 2005
Strangely like the trial of a prisoner [11/1 @ 9:36 PM] (9/33)
Faramir and Boromir [11/2 @ 1:41 PM] (9/21)
Behind The Sunset Window [11/2 @ 10:00 PM] (10/38)
Ofermod and Gondorian culture [11/3 @ 9:41 PM] (4/12)
Faramir and Sam [11/4 @ 11:13 PM] (6/21)
Open Discussion [11/7 @ 2:05 PM] (7/13)
See the 4th Discussion by Menelwyn, July 2008
Everyone is shivering, and wondering if anywhere in the vastness of the nightlands Frodo's old companions walk or sleep, or lie dead shrouded in mist. Join us in the Reading Room for this week's discussion of "The Two Towers" Book IV, Chapter 6: The Forbidden Pool
by Isis, Nov 6-12, 2005
#1 [11/6 @ 7:36 PM] (6/16)
#2 [11/7 @ 4:31 PM] (6/18)
#3 [11/8 @ 3:58 PM] (9/32)
#4 [11/10 @ 7:03 PM] (5/10)
#5 [11/12 @ 9:39 AM] (7/16)
See the 4th Discussion by weaver, July-August 2008
Everyone is seeing the Sun sinking, finding at last the hem of the great slow-rolling pall of cloud, catching with its level beams the old king's head, before dipping and vanishing like the shuttering of a lamp. Join us in the Reading Room for this week's discussion of "The Two Towers" Book IV, Chapter 7: Journey to the Cross-roads
by Silent_Watcher, Nov 13-20, 2005
Journey to the Cross-roads. Welcome! [11/13 @ 5:47 PM] (2/5)
Faramir of Ithilien. [11/14 @ 11:25 AM] (7/19)
Of food and staves [11/14 @ 6:27 PM] (5/12)
The Parting [11/15 @ 10:00 AM] (4/9)
Gollum I or the fewer, the better. [11/15 @ 6:06 PM] (4/16)
The Sound of Silence [11/16 @ 2:26 PM] (2/7)
A glimpse of Minas Morgul [11/17 @ 8:54 AM] (5/5)
The Third Day [11/17 @ 4:26 PM] (7/15)
Gollum II: No time to lose [11/18 @ 9:07 AM] (2/2)
The Cross-roads [11/18 @ 7:02 PM] (4/8)
From light to darkness [11/19 @ 8:47 AM] (7/25)
Open Discussion [11/20 @ 7:27 PM] (7/7)
See the 4th Discussion by a.s., August 2008
Everyone is waiting, like a bird at the approach of a snake, unable to move, feeling more urgently than ever before, the command to join us in the Reading Room as we discuss Chapter 8 of Book IV of The Two Towers: "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol"
by nefisa3, Nov 21-27, 2005
First Step [11/21 @ 3:10 AM] (2/3)
The Three Amigos [11/21 @ 12:21 PM] (6/9)
*Announcement* re: stairs of cirith ungol [11/21 @ 8:16 PM] (13/15)
The valley of death [11/23 @ 2:10 AM] (7/23)
Frodo Triumphant [11/23 @ 7:21 PM] (6/21)
Telling Tales [11/25 @ 4:12 AM] (7/11)
Rudeness and Ruin [11/25 @ 6:16 PM] (8/68)
Open Discussion [11/27 @ 9:14 PM] (14/41)
See the 4th Discussion by Saelind, August 2008
Everyone's head is whirling as with a draught of potent wine; wild joy at their escape from the very mouth of despair fills all their minds. But little do they know of the craft of Shelob, and the many exits from her lair! Join us in the Reading Room as we discuss The Two Towers, Book IV, chapter 9: "Shelob's Lair".
by linkinparkelf, Nov 28-Dec 4, 2005
Shelob's Lair: Come for a stroll? [11/28 @ 2:42 AM] (1/5)
In we go! [11/28 @ 12:25 PM] (6/12)
A walk in the dark [11/28 @ 6:02 PM] (6/26)
Turn on the light! [11/29 @ 11:39 AM] (5/20)
David Baggins and Goliath Ungol [11/29 @ 11:50 AM] (3/11)
I'm outta here! [11/30 @ 3:32 PM] (3/14)
A Glutton for Mutton [12/1 @ 10:46 AM] (4/14)
The Spider and the Sneak [12/1 @ 3:23 PM] (3/5)
The monster revealed [12/2 @ 2:31 PM] (6/15)
Revenge of the Sneak and Sam strikes back [12/3 @ 2:51 PM] (4/5)
Final Thoughts and Open Discussion [12/4 @ 2:48 PM] (7/9)
See the 4th Discussion by Beren IV, August 2008
"Mr. Frodo is dead! Not asleep, dead!" Everyone is weeping and kneeling and keeping a debate in their hearts, whether to take the Ring and see it through, alone, to the Crack of Doom and all. Join us in the Reading Room as we discuss Chapter 10 of Book IV in The Two Towers: "The Choices of Master Samwise".
by erather, Dec 5-10, 2005
Introduction [12/5 @ 12:06 AM] (3/9)
"Some desperate, small creature" [12/5 @ 12:39 PM] (6/107)
Who said that? [12/5 @ 9:28 PM] (7/16)
Catastrophe [12/6 @ 2:22 PM] (6/20)
Grief and Mourning [12/6 @ 10:02 PM] (5/6)
Options, none of them good [12/7 @ 5:30 PM] (4/4)
"I will take the Ring to Mordor." [12/7 @ 9:51 PM] (6/19)
Extra: The Social Construction of Sam [12/8 @ 3:39 PM] (2/4)
The Ringwearer [12/8 @ 10:36 PM] (3/3)
Orcs at work and play [12/9 @ 9:35 PM] (5/7)
Something slipped [12/10 @ 2:47 AM] (3/4)
The good news, and the bad [12/10 @ 5:56 PM] (2/13)
Open discussion [12/10 @ 6:02 PM] (11/20)
See the 4th Discussion by Dreamdeer, August 2008