Desert Isle Books

What book would you bring to a desert island? Identify a book and its author [1]. Tell us when you read this book in your life and where you recall reading it mostly [2]. In a sentence each, describe three things that you admire or appreciate or enjoy (or dislike, because that's possible in a book we otherwise enjoy) about the book. [3] [4] [5] It could be the characters and the friendships or relationships between them, the settings, the author's style, the imagery, your choice. Then conclude your introductory paragraph with a "three-part thesis" or mapping sentence. [6] Next, devote a paragraph for each to tell us why you feel or think this way.The Lord of the Rings -- by J.R.R. Tolkien -- by Mr. Chamberlain Growing up, some of my favorite books, actually a series, were The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien [1] Mr. Wylie, my seventh grade English and social studies teacher, read the first half of The Fellowship of the Ring out loud to us in the early afternoons and I was hooked. I read the series three times during seventh and eighth grade. My sister Margie, who is a librarian, gave me a hardbound set of the books, which I still have today, forty years later! The third time I read them I knew I wouldn't do it again, but I remember, as I sat at the large, round kitchen table at our old house on rainy afternoons, regretting how fast I was plowing through them. [2] But Tolkien's books were a world unto themselves and Middle Earth was a compelling, thrilling, and dramatic place. I admired the peaceful, knowing wisdom of Gandalf, and the cautious, discerning way he wields his great power. [3] I admired the grace and skills of Legolas, and how he seemed perfectly at ease, even when in intense situation. [4] I also enjoyed the courage of Frodo in facing his valiant and dangerous quest, as well as the friendships or "fellowships" that Frodo had with Pippin, Merry, and his BFF Sam. But here I'm mostly going to focus on Gandalf and Legolas: the way Gandalf wields his power, his defeat and return, and Legolas's awesome gracefulness, his acrobatic and archery skills. [6]

Gandalf was the grey wizard (at first) who gradually became worried about the ring that Bilbo and later Frodo had. He suspected it was a ring of power, and although he certainly was a wizard who wielded a great power, he wanted none of this ring's power. He noticed the effect it had on Bilbo and Frodo and cautioned them not to wear it but simply to be its guardian. That's one of the hallmarks of wisdom: knowing when it is wise not to use power but to just be yourself. Simple is good. Being simply human is good enough, at least for most of us! One of the saddest and mysterious parts of the books is when Gandalf the Grey faces the dreaded Balrog, and falls, apparently to his death, as he fights the monster, trying to save the others in the Fellowship as they make their way through the mines of Moria. The Balrog is a monstrous creature who is clearly a match for Gandalf's power. The bridge he stands on cracks and the two of them go down, down, far into the earth (Middle Earth, that is) and he disappears. The others are lost and remember his last words, "Fly, you fools!" so they leave, shaken and dismayed that they have lost their leader. He sacrifices himself and faces an enemy that would have destroyed the rest and brought down the quest to destroy the one ring. But in one of the miracles of the book, Gandalf later returns, transformed, transfigured into Gandalf the White. Gandalf returns! He is reborn, with purer powers, but he is just as wise in knowing his limitations and the strengths of their common enemies, and he's the same caring old man. Gandalf returns! Legolas has the lithe grace of an acrobat, the dazzling skills of a master archer. Here he rides an Oliphant during the Battle of Minas Tirith. Don't worry, no animals were hurt during this scene. Legolas Killing an Oliphant Where would Frodo have been without them? Not that they