“The rule of no realm is mine, neither of Gondor nor any other, great or small. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I also am a steward. Did you not know?”
Gandalf to Denethor, Steward of Gondor, in The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
I love Gandalf.
Yesterday, the 22nd, was Bilbo’s (and Frodo’s) birthday, the day of year my dad always starts reading Lord of the Rings once again, and I’m joining him this year. I love reading, in addition to loving Gandalf.
I don’t think I know any other book which inspires the same passion for annual re-reading!
Agreed.
Ah yes, Lord of the Rings, such a plethora of good quotes… 🙂 I knew some people in college who threw a birthday party for the Bagginses, with some attendees wearing Hobbit cloaks (I didn’t go, but they were the same people who had the Extended Version LOTR marathon I did go to, which was quite the weekend!) Sadly, I had a busy weekend and was recuperating instead of remembering birthdays this year. 😛 I haven’t read LOTR in too long.
As for annual re-reading, it’s not nearly on the same scale, but for the past several years I have read The Hogfather during the holidays. It’s just fun. 🙂
An extended-version marathon – whew! I think I’m doing well if I watch the whole BBC Pride & Prejudice in one sitting.
It’s been far too long since I read LOTR too – something I must amend!
No, thankfully it was one extended version each night, Friday-Saturday-Sunday, instead of all in a row. We still went through an incredible amount of popcorn. 🙂
I can imagine!