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".

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)

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."

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)

The Black Gate is Closed

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)

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)

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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"

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)

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".

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)

"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".

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)