24 July 2017

Gifts for the Tolkien Enthusiast

Anyone who has done even scant research on John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892 – 1973) knows that even though he was a very private man, there is no shortage of biographical information about this famous British writer and medievalist. Hardcover, paperback, digital and audio books, letters, and other materials abound. 

His son, Christopher Tolkien, was and still is extremely protective of the legacy of his father, and has only ever authorized one official biography. His father is highly respected as a literary hero and a myth maker, and he wants to keep it that way! 

Understandable, however, that did not stop others from publishing their unauthorized unofficial versions. (Even moi! Tried my hand at publishing an unauthorized biographical sketch.) These unapproved life stories (see listing below.) are just as appreciated by Tolkien fans, as the approved biography written by Humphrey Carpenter



Furthermore, the commercialization of “all things Tolkien” may have started with the success of the “Lord of the Rings” books, but when these works were adapted to film, Tolkien fever infected the masses around the world. A loyal Tolkien-ite can not only build their own personal library, but can purchase puzzles, games, collectibles, and more!!



Lord of the Rings Collector Chess Set


– The 32 playing pieces made in fine pewter bear an amazing resemblance to the characters in the film. The top of the board is plexi-glass; the rest of the board is made out of cold cast porcelain. Hero pieces have a green ring around the bottom and villain pieces have a purple ring around the bottom. A map of Middle-earth is mounted below the playing surface.   Board measures 15 x 15 x 4.5 in.

Who would not want to keep this magnificent chess set in the family and treasure it for generations? Is it not the perfect gift for a collector, and an avid chess player who is also a devoted Tolkien follower?

Unauthorized Tolkien Biographies ( Name of Author )


Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.

— J.R.R. Tolkien



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Like to read autobiographies or biographies to glean inspiration?

Like to read autobiographies or biographies? Reading about the lives of other people has always been a source of inspiration for me and no doubt it is the same way for other people too. In fact, if a person is suffering from depression one of the suggested activities to uplift their spirit and pull them out of the dark black hole is reading life stories. Not trying to sound corny but we are all ordinary people and it is encouraging to know that the majority of us endure the same trials and tribulations and most of us overcome or rise above our difficulties and get on with our lives.



But clearly you do not have to be depressed to draw motivation from reading about the achievements of someone else. For one of my friends it was the life of Malcolm X. The first biography which influenced my life was about Sammy Davis Jr. It was titled Yes I Can. (I could just kick myself for not keeping the book as it is now considered a collectible. He also published a sequel called Why Me?) The first autobiography written by Mr. Davis is also the book that peaked my curiosity and got me interested in reading more and more biographies about anybody – celebrities, men and women in history, people in political circles, etc. Turned this fascination into a hobby and created a Pinterest board called BIO-Snapshots, a collection of trivia, information and articles about people. Some of my most recent pins link to mini-bios of: Nora Baker, Robert Smalls, and Huma Abedin.

Do you get inspired by reading
biographical accounts or personal memoirs?

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Suggested Reads (press play to view)




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The Pack – Art Print Poster
David Cowles
Available at AllPosters.com
and Amazon.com
  • David Cowles is a full-time freelance illustrator whose work has appeared in such publications as: Rolling Stone, Newsweek, Fortune, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, and The New York Times. One does not have to convince others that this guy has tremendous talent. If you see an art piece like “The Pack”, you know want to go see some of his other stuff!

David Cowles – Art Posters and Prints

http://astore.amazon.com/cns05-mvdc-20/detail/B005F3PA02

 

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