Looking for...A Book on Tolkien

The Company They Keep: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien as Writers in Community by Diana Pavlac Glyer

Glyer debunks the myth of the solitary writer by demonstrating that the Inklings, a literary group that included Lewis, Tolkien, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield and others, exerted more influence on each other's work than previously thought.  Glyer approaches her argument systematically, first defining types of influence and then demonstrating how members of the Inklings practiced each.  Her work challenges the idea that artists must work in isolation in order to achieve greatness.


J. R. R. Tolkien: Author of the Century by Tom Shippey

Shippey examines the ways in which language shaped Tolkien's Middle-earth and helped Tolkien create a new mythology.  He also explores historical, political, and religious influences on Tolkien's work, focusing in particular on the nature of evil in Tolkien's worldview.  A must-read for any fan of the professor.


The Philosophy of Tolkien by Peter Kreeft

Kreeft explores the ways in which Tolkien's Catholicism provides the philosophical underpinning of Middle-earth through a question-and-answer format.  Each of Kreeft's questions receives a three-fold answer: a quote from one of Tolkien's works exemplifying his philosophy, a quote from Tolkien's letters expanding upon it, and a quote from C. S. Lewis clarifying it.  An easy and accessible book, perfect for lengthy reading or for browsing.

 

Looking For...A Valentine's Day Read

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

After discovering that she is the last of her kind, a unicorn sets off a journey to find the others.  Rumor says that the dreaded Red Bull has captured all the unicorns and holds them captive in his castle by the sea.  Added by an inept magician and a bandit's wife, the unicorn will confront the bull, but she cannot return home unchanged.

Confessions by Saint Augustine

In chronicling the story of his conversion to Christianity, Augustine famously wrote, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you."  His book actively reflects on his life explores the process of memory in understanding a life in context of a divine plan.  His works would inspire countless other writers.

The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis

Lewis explores the nature of love in four of its forms: affection, friendship, eros, and charity.  His insights on friendship are especially relevant in a world that seems to place romantic love about all other loves; he suggests that modern people have difficulty appreciating friendship because they have never experienced a true one.

Looking for...Explorations of The Hobbit

The History of the Hobbit by John D. Rateliff

Rateliff chronicles Tolkien's process in writing his 1938 work The Hobbit by providing early manuscript versions and noting the changes made.  He also includes an account of the revision of the famous chapter "Riddles in the Dark" in 1949 to reflect the new information about the One Ring as given in The Lord of the Rings, and an account of Tolkien's attempt to rewrite The Hobbit in the 1960s so the that tone of the book would better match that of The Lord of the Rings.  Also of interest are drawings and unpublished maps by Tolkien.  The work comes in two parts: Mr. Baggins and Return to Bag-End.

Exploring J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit by Corey Olsen

Olsen offers a critical look at The Hobbit as a work in its own right and not only as a prequel to The Lord of Rings by going through the book chapter-by-chapter.  He pays particular attention to the poetry of the work.

The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkied ed. by Humphrey Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien

Tolkien describes his progress through Middle-earth in his own words, addressing such subjects as the meaning behind The Lord of the Rings, the significance of certain characters, and the surprising turns his writing took.  Readers will learn how Middle-earth took shape in Tolkien's mind through the years as well as the author's thoughts on extra-literary matters.

Looking for...An Old-Fashioned Romance

A Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott

Returning hold after two years abroad, Rose Campbell finds herself surrounded by admiring young men—some more interested in her money than in her.  Determined to improve herself before she commits to a relationship, however, Rose actively works to challenge her mind, resist the temptations of her frivolous society, and give of her time and effort to those around her.  The greatest difficulty she faces, however, may be learning to say no to an attractive young man whom she believes she can save from his own temptations.  The sequel to Eight Cousins.

Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace

Emily Webster feels left out when all her old companions leave for college and she must stay behind to care for her grandfather.  She resigns herself to a “lost winter” and soon finds herself withdrawing from the community.  Once she decides to “marshal her wits,” however, and improve herself through personal study while helping those around her, she realizes that Deep Valley holds more than she could have imagined.  A companion book to the Besty-Tacy series.

 

Kilmeny of the Orchard by L. M. Montgomery

Eric Marshall arrives on Prince Edward Island to work as a substitute schoolmaster, but unexpectedly finds himself falling in love.  Kilmeny Gordon is a beautiful young woman who, since she cannot speak, expresses herself through the violin she plays each evening in the orchard.  Eric hopes to win her heart, but various obstacles threaten to tear them apart.

A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter

Elnora Comstock and her cold, neglectful mother live together on the edge of the Limberlost Swamp, where Elnora often escapes to find comfort in the beauty of nature.  She dreams of an education, despite her mother’s desire that she stay home, and works hard to collect specimens from the swamp in order to pay her for her tuition.  Her collection of moths eventually attracts the interest of Phillip Ammon, a wealthy young man attempting to recover from a recent illness.  The two grow close during their rambles through the swamp, but Philip’s previous engagement to another girl keep the two apart.

Looking for...a Clean Court Romance

Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith

On his deathbed, Meliara’s father exhorts a promise that she and her brother will raise an army against the tyrant king and claim their right to the throne.  With little men and fewer resources, the two declare their intent to the country, hoping that others will rally to the cause.  As complicated as war proves, however, nothing can prepare Meliara for the resulting peace.  At court intrigue and treachery hold sway, and Mel does not know whom she can trust.  Her worst enemy, however, may not be anyone at court, but her own reluctance to face her past and admit her mistakes.

The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

Sinda grew up believing that herself the princess and the sole heir to the crown.  On her sixteenth birthday, however, she learns that the king and queen substituted her for their newborn daughter in hopes of diverting a prophecy that foretold the death of the true princess.  Now that the time for the prophecy to be fulfilled has run out, Sinda finds herself cast out of court and into the hard life of a peasant.  Angry and confused, Sinda has to decide who she is and what she really wants from life if she ever wants to find peace. 

Looking for... A Clean Fairy Tale Romance

Entwined by Heath Dixon

The death of their mother leaves Azalea and her eleven sisters trapped in the palace as they observe mourning. Abandoned by their grief-stricken father, the girls despair until they discover a secret passage to a land below.  There they dance each night under the eyes of the handsome and mysterious Keeper.  The Keeper, however, longs to escape his underground prison and orders the princesses to help him.  The fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance as the girls try to determine whom they trust more—the Keeper or the king.  A retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.”

The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine

Timid Addie has always lived in the shadow of her more daring sister Meryl, who dreams of discovering the cure to the deadly plague—the Gray Death—that ravages their kingdom.  When Meryl herself falls victim to the illness, however, Addie knows she must be the one to set forth on the quest.  Though she fears even spiders, Addie will soon find herself battling specters and attempting to outwit dragons.  The answer to a centuries-old riddle, however, may arrive too late to save Meryl.

A True Princess by Diane Zahler

Twelve-year-old Lilia runs away from home in order to avoid service under a cruel master and to find her birth parents.  Her stepbrother and sister, Kai and Karina, travel with her, but along the way Kai falls under the spell of the Elf King's daughter.  Determined to rescue their brother, the girls strike a dangerous bargain: if they can steal a magical jewel, the princess will return Kai.  In order to gain the jewel, however, the girls will first have to unravel the mystery of the test being used to help select a royal bride.  A retelling of "The Princess and the Pea."