Relations between North Korea and Japan are going to be very strained in the coming months. Those relations have not been the best but will probably more so than usual. Besides the admission to a nuclear program in NK that has everyone upset. The US and Japan have agreed to stop sending fuel to NK because of that nuclear breach. Japanese officials have gone over some old missing person cases and have decided that 70-80 are worthy of investigation of possible NK abductions. Still more, Japan has also told NK that there will be no talks between the countries until the adbuctees, presently in Japan, are reunited with their children in NK.
“The Hobbit” or “There and Back again” is the precursor to the novel “Lord of the Rings”. I would not categorize myself as a fan of fantasy novels, in fact I don’t like fantasies at all. These novels from this author are the exception. Please excuse me, I have to remind myself that this is not a review of the book “The Hobbit” by J.R.R Tolkein. What can I add to the discussion of this book? This book is a true classic in every sense and books have been written to describe and discuss each fine point in the novel. Just because I first read “The Hobbit” when I was 14 years old (23 years ago!) doesn’t give me a right to critique it. I know what you all are saying, “What a geeky kid.” Yes but look how I turned out; a geeky grownup. I love this book and the books that followed and will re-expirence them in any format available. I can’t say each reading adds something new each time but it is so entertaining with such rich, poetic language that I feel that I grow with each reading. I have said this isn’t a review of the book but it is my review of the audiobook. Read by Martin Shaw this was a delight to listen to. Listening to the words of this masterpiece with the rich vocal talent of Mr. Shaw makes me want to listen again but I’ll wait.
I feel as though I’m sitting around a campfire, night before the battle with the Orcs at daybreak. There are a few of use huddled together. Not because of the cold but out of fear for what the daylight will bring. Our chieftan, Martin Shaw, tells us a tale to harden our spirits so that we may fight hard. This tale is about a small creature, a Hobbit. Timid by nature but capable of amazing feats of bravery. We listen to the the story of The Hobbit and we all feel as though we can measure up to this being, we can fight with dignity and honor at the coming of the dawn. Dragons be damned.
“The Hobbit” is the novel that introduced me to Middle-earth and particularly to a race of beings called Hobbits and their odd quirks. There is one among them called Bilbo Baggins, although diminutive in size he is large in stature but of course he doesn’t know that yet. Bilbo proves that he can hold his ground with any champion of the battlefield with grace and dignity. Makes we wish for big hairy feet or at least bigger feat. You know what they say about big feet, big shoes. Back to Mr. Shaw. His voice fits so well with the subject in the book that at times I forgot I was listening to a reading. I thought it was the my voice in my head that I was hearing (and I have so many voices). It was a delight to listen to this on a Tokyo subway. I highly recommend this book to all people of all ages and of all sexes to read or listen to. Just remember to have a stout heart!
Saw an article here(NYT free reg required) on improving balance in the elderly with vibrations. If they speed up the vibrations can I get to work like those old football players in that kid’s games?
The Hobbit
