[Decrepit&Senile]

A recent thread on "fantasy endings" reminded me of a subject I meant to broach some time ago: How does "The Lord of the Rings" end for you? I have read the books many times. I of course always read the story-proper in its entirety. I have not, however, read the whole of the appendix since my first read-through back in the mid 1970s. That said, several bits of it are for me indispensable.

The first of these is A\I\(v): "Annals of the Kings and Rulers\Numenor\Here follows a part of the tale of Aragon and Arwen." Next comes the concluding few paragraphs of Appendix A, referencing the departure of Legolas and Gimli. I then jump to Appendix B "The Tale of Years" and read from the paragraphic beginning "After the fall of the Dark Tower and the Passing of Sauron..." to its end, which includes Sam's departure, the deaths of Meriadoc and Peregrin, and these final two sentences:

"Then Legolas built a grey ship in Ithilien, and sailed down Anduin and so over the Sea; and with him, it is said, went Gimli the Dwarf. And when that ship passed an end was come in Middle-earth of the Fellowship of the Ring".

I might or might not read more of the appendix during any given re-read, but for me this ends the tale.

-Decrepit

[Evil Agent]

I've read The Lord of the Rings seven times (just finished it last week), and I always end it differently.

I've read the entire appendices at least twice. Other times, I read excerpts (the best parts) as you described above. Still other times, I've been known to launch right into The Silmarillion (if I haven't read it in a while).

[phil_geo]

Holy crap. I have read those books 3 times, and I have never read a word of the appendices. I never noticed there are 150 pages of appendices in my edition - not a small amount of content to skip. Thanks for pointing it out, I'm going to read them now.

[Evil Agent]

The best experience I had was on my 4th or 5th reading of LOTR, when I was reading the appendices, and I realized for the first time who Thorongil was.

[BDM]

Read it all and . . ?
I'm a little confused -
What exactly is the topic?
What are you looking for us to say about it?

[Evil Agent]

Read it all and . . ?
I'm a little confused -
What exactly is the topic?
What are you looking for us to say about it?I think it's pretty straightforward. The question is "how do you finish off your reading of The Lord of the Rings?" In essence, do you read the 150+ pages of Appendices (i.e. extra material) at the end?

[PeterWilliam]

Much like EA, I'm a huge LotR fan, but have only read the appendices two or three times, whereas I've read the story seven or eight.

[BDM]

I think it's pretty straightforward. The question is "how do you finish off your reading of The Lord of the Rings?" In essence, do you read the 150+ pages of Appendices (i.e. extra material) at the end?

Yes, but so ?
If we do (as I have) or don't, so what?
I thought it was great that Tolkien actually took the time to answer the fates of many of the characters we came to know and love in the books, but I don't see how it really matters after the fact. The story of the LOR was still what it was. Wouldn't have changed my love of it if he hadn't written those extra pages.
I just found those extra pages an even greater end to such a great story.
Isn't there a sort of compilation/summary/encyclopedia of all Tolkiien's books?
I'm pretty sure I've actually looked at such a book in my local B&N.

[Evil Agent]

Yes, but so ?So answer the question, or don't answer it.

Why post pointless messages that amount to little more than spam? If you are uninterested in the topic, then go away.

[tyriseus]

I love the appendixes but have only read them twice - after the first time I read it and the third. The other times I chose to skip them. (I think I've read it five times.)