"And there was Frodo, pale and worn, and yet himself again; and in his eyes there was peace now, neither strain of will, nor madness, nor any fear. His burden was taken away." ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Every year on March 25th people around the world honor the end of Frodo and Sam's journey to destroy Sauron and the One Ring. This celebration, known as Tolkien Reading Day, started by the Tolkien Society in 2003. Here are some ways you can take part in the festivities right here in your own backyard.
- Read the Books! Whether you're returning to Middle-Earth or visiting for the first time. Now is a great time to jump into any of the major works by J.R.R. Tolkien. Want to read how the One Ring came to The Shire in the first place? Start with The Hobbit. If you're ready for an epic journey, then dive right into The Fellowship of the Ring and get swept away!
- Build Your Own Fellowship! Gather up a group of your nearest and dearest (or people you have just met, and you feel an immediate kinship with) and talk about all things Tolkien! Book a room at QPL and read your favorite passages or talk about that time Viggo Mortensen broke his toe.
- Movie Night! Check out the movies and host your own incredible movie marathon. What better way to celebrate the man who spent decades building this world than spending hours watching the movies made about his works? Great way to test the bonds of that new fellowship you created at the library.
- Make the Professor Proud! In addition to writing, Tolkien spent over three decades as a professor at Oxford University. Honor his academic legacy by incorporating his work into your next research project. We can help you gather those resources!
- Create Something New! Tolkien famously created entire languages for different peoples of Middle-Earth. Nobody is saying you have to do all that, but you could absolutely make something that did not exist in the world before. Take inspiration from the art that Tolkien himself made for his stories or try your hand at writing your own fictional story!
It's like Bilbo says, “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” So, step out this Tolkien Reading Day and see where your journey takes you!
