Noble Smith

The author uses examples from Tolkien's work to illustrate how we'd all be happier if we lived like hobbits, and I don't disagree, especially as I am myself much more like a hobbit than an elf. I was hoping for an uplifting, joyous read like I found in Tolkien's Ordinary Virtues : Exploring the Spiritual Themes of the Lord of the Rings, but this one had the vibe of a cranky old boomer grumping about kids these days doing it wrong when we should act like they did in the good old days instead.

I didn't finish.

Audiobook, borrowed from the Audible Plus catalog.… (más)

History remembers Thermopylae (the 300 movie), the battle of Marathon (reason why a marathon is 26.2 miles), and maybe Salamis. The lesser known but still significant Battle of Platea gets pretty much ignored.

Noble Smith aims to share the story with a historical fiction trilogy. The story's protagonist if Nikias and his noble family, his romantic interest ... and them trying to save their city. There were a lot of characters. Maybe a list of characters in the beginning would have helped?

It was easy for me to cheer on Chusor the wily smith and Kolax the Skythian boy.

… (más)

This is a gentle little book that will, of course, especially appeal to fans of Tolkien. As a lifelong tree-hugger who values a unity-based approach to life, so many of the reflections here resonated with me. I had never thought about The Hobbit in this way, and of course what I am desperate to do now is... a reread! No wonder I loved these books so much when so much contained within their worlds aligns with my own beliefs and hopes. This book is especially timely right now, given the increase in quietude and simple pursuits since April 2020.… (más)