A Review by Dr. Anna Smol These stories bear repeated witness to the pleasures of sharing the experience of The Lord of the Rings. What Ringer has not felt the joy of discovering the like-minded fan, whether at a line party in one's own neighbourhood or halfway around the world on the Internet? Or, suddenly, a fan appears at work or at school or maybe even within one's own family. These stories describe that sense of community among fans, no matter how they came to know The Lord of the Rings: perhaps it was reading Tolkien aloud on a rooftop in Iran at the age of twelve, or watching the DVD on a laptop in a hospital room after giving birth, or reading a book passed down from grandmother to father to son. We see teenagers discovering best friends at school, Internet friends crossing an ocean to meet in person, and families bonding in various ways.
Some have known the story for thirty years; others for only a couple, but all of these writers have been inspired in one way or another. Frequently, they identify an array of values, such as friendship, love, hope, courage, faith, compassion, sacrifice, that they cherish and go back to repeatedly in The Lord of the Rings. What is also striking is how the story has compelled people to change their lives. Some cite Gandalf's line, "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us" as the impetus to quit a dead-end job or to find the courage to travel around the world. Most often, Tolkien's story leads to a burst of creativity, with people overcoming writer's block, writing music, or discovering a new artistic vision. But Tolkien's work also functions as a refuge and a solace. There are stories here that tell of devastating personal loss. As one writer comments, "Some hurts do go too deep," and The Lord of the Rings provides the comfort that tells us "the burden... is universal."
With increasing academic attention being paid to fandom, this book should be of interest to those outside the fan community as well. Along with other projects that are soon to appear, such as the documentary film Ringers and Martin Barker's massive study of Lord of the Rings audiences and readers, Lembas for the Soul can provide a view into the nature of Tolkien fandom. Literary and film scholars, for example, might be interested in the way in which both Tolkien's books and Peter Jackson's films provide equal inspiration. Often, readers become avid filmgoers, and filmgoers rush out to buy the books â€" and both will look for the soundtracks or possibly the audio books. In some cases, it is even the way in which the DVD documentaries present the lives of the actors or the filmmakers that provides inspiration. Women outnumber men almost ten to one in these essays, presenting yet more evidence that a female audience for The Lord of the Rings is thriving. While most of the writers come from the United States, people from as far flung countries as Indonesia, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland, and Australia are represented. What one will not find here, however, is criticism of the films. This collection is dedicated to Tolkien and to Jackson, Walsh, and Boyens; in other words, no "book purists" who scorn the films appear in these pages.
But yes, a lembas recipe is included.
Anna Smol
Mount Saint Vincent University
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Ringers from all over the world have shared their
Lord of the Rings experiences with editor Catherine Kohman. Deeply felt tales of newly forged friendship, courage and inspiration, joy and loss fill the pages. Whether these Ringers’ personal stories make you laugh or move you to tears, you will likely recognize something of your own
Lord of the Rings journey within these pages.
