"The Downsters And The Critics" - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

mark12_30 · 01-03-2004, 07:37 AM

THE DOWNSTERS AND THE CRITICS:
Critical Reviews of the Critical Reviews

This thread will be dedicated to Barrow-Downer reviews of critical works regarding Tolkien's Legendarium, for use by Novice Tolkien Enthusiasts. My intent is to provide Novice Tolkien Enthusiasts (and potential Tolkien scholars) with recommendations for further reading outside the Legendarium itself. This will include links to reviews already in Books (or elsewhere on the Downs.).

For new reviews, please include relevant identification of the book you are reviewing. As a minimum, please include:

Title
Author
Date of Copyright (important when ascertaining which critic is responding to whom.)
Edition (if multiple editions, include dates accordingly.)
Summary description of the book's main themes
Strengths and weaknesses of the book
Whether you generally recommend this book and why
Whether you specifically recommend it for novices and why.

Present your opinions with such evidence as befits the concept of literary review.

If you have already "reviewed" a book elsewhere on the Downs (many have), please link to or include that review here, completing the basic requirements listed above as you do so. Pertinent links to entire threads are also welcome.

As a final note to 'Novices': please feel free to write your own thorough reviews of critical works (using the above guidelines) and post your reviews here! Your feedback on any given book is quite valuable information for other interested Novices. Please don't be shy.

EDIT: In response to the question "What do I mean by 'novice' I offer the following sweeping overgeneralizations. (I do not intend to offend, pigeonhole, or oppress anyone, I am simply trying to provide guidelines for filling out that very contoversial last bullet.)

When I started this thread I was using the term "novice" to indicate "one who is new to, and interested in, the world of Tolkien Literary Criticism." (I'm beginning to like the phrase "Freshman Tolkien Scholar" but someone will probably object to that too...) Overgeneralizing again, let's estimate this "novice" or "freshman" has read the Hobbit and The Trilogy; may or may not have struggled through the Silmarillion; and has read between Zero and Five critical works.

So: Last bullet: Is this particular book under review a good book for such a one to attempt, or would their energies be better spent on another volume?

If the answer to the last question is "No, this book is not suitable for a Freshman Tolkien Scholar," that's fine. Just say so in your review.

Also in accordance with Mr. Underhill's excellent recommendation, if further in-depth discussion is desired for any particular work, simply open another thread and provide a link to it here. (And please, please, indicate the book of interest in the title of the new thread.)
Thanks!

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 7:55 AM January 07, 2004: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 6:04 PM January 09, 2004: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

01-03-2004, 07:37 AM	#1
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	"The Downsters And The Critics" THE DOWNSTERS AND THE CRITICS: Critical Reviews of the Critical Reviews This thread will be dedicated to Barrow-Downer reviews of critical works regarding Tolkien's Legendarium, for use by Novice Tolkien Enthusiasts. My intent is to provide Novice Tolkien Enthusiasts (and potential Tolkien scholars) with recommendations for further reading outside the Legendarium itself. This will include links to reviews already in Books (or elsewhere on the Downs.). For new reviews, please include relevant identification of the book you are reviewing. As a minimum, please include: Title Author Date of Copyright (important when ascertaining which critic is responding to whom.) Edition (if multiple editions, include dates accordingly.) Summary description of the book's main themes Strengths and weaknesses of the book Whether you generally recommend this book and why Whether you specifically recommend it for novices and why. Present your opinions with such evidence as befits the concept of literary review. If you have already "reviewed" a book elsewhere on the Downs (many have), please link to or include that review here, completing the basic requirements listed above as you do so. Pertinent links to entire threads are also welcome. As a final note to 'Novices': please feel free to write your own thorough reviews of critical works (using the above guidelines) and post your reviews here! Your feedback on any given book is quite valuable information for other interested Novices. Please don't be shy. EDIT: In response to the question "What do I mean by 'novice' I offer the following sweeping overgeneralizations. (I do not intend to offend, pigeonhole, or oppress anyone, I am simply trying to provide guidelines for filling out that very contoversial last bullet.) When I started this thread I was using the term "novice" to indicate "one who is new to, and interested in, the world of Tolkien Literary Criticism." (I'm beginning to like the phrase "Freshman Tolkien Scholar" but someone will probably object to that too...) Overgeneralizing again, let's estimate this "novice" or "freshman" has read the Hobbit and The Trilogy; may or may not have struggled through the Silmarillion; and has read between Zero and Five critical works. So: Last bullet: Is this particular book under review a good book for such a one to attempt, or would their energies be better spent on another volume? If the answer to the last question is "No, this book is not suitable for a Freshman Tolkien Scholar," that's fine. Just say so in your review. Also in accordance with Mr. Underhill's excellent recommendation, if further in-depth discussion is desired for any particular work, simply open another thread and provide a link to it here. (And please, please, indicate the book of interest in the title of the new thread.) Thanks! <font size=1 color=339966>[ 7:55 AM January 07, 2004: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] <font size=1 color=339966>[ 6:04 PM January 09, 2004: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.