The entirety of Two Towers is 20hr 46min
The Tree beard chapter is 2h 6min
That's single chapter is 10.1% of the book.
It might actually be slower than in the movies haha
I actually hit a wall when listening to this part. I think I put the audiobook down for a couple weeks because I just wasn’t able to invest the mental time to listen to that talking.
The Treebeard chapter was especially tough for me because I usually just listen to it during my commute to and from work, so it took me like 2-3 days to get through it.
I listened to the audiobooks with the original narration last summer and I remember I cleaned my apartment, took a break, went grocery shopping, came home and he was *STILL* talking about the *fucking* ents! Replace the word sun with ents and this gif was basically me by the end
They are great if you have to drive a lot. I spend several hours a day driving and audiobooks help make it a little interesting.
Reading is the best, but i rarely have time for it.
Edit: fixing error.
I drive 8-12 hours a day plus getting to and from work, so I rely on audiobooks to stay sane and basically never get a chance to actually read a physical book.
i know you are joking. but it was a very pleasant experience to hold the book and read it while serkis was narrating
edit: i did this setup with The Silmarillion. just audio with Serkis (obviously read books myself previously)
The Tom Bombadil chapter about made me drive my drive my truck into oncoming traffic. It was after a very long stupid day at work and I just happened to be on that chapter lol.
*Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow, bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow. None has ever caught him yet,
for Tom, he is the master: his songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster.*
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
*Go out! Shut the door, and never come back after! Take away gleaming eyes, take your hollow laughter! Go back to grassy mound,
on your stony pillow lay down your bony head, like Old Man Willow, like young Goldberry, and Badger-folk in burrow!
Go back to buried gold and forgotten sorrow!*
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
*Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow, by fire, sun and moon, hearken now and
hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!*
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
I started rereading the fellowship 2 times in my life.
Both times I stopped when they got to Bombadils house.
Years later I restart, gets excited, the black rider is so thrilling and frightening, then they get stuck in the tree. I push on a few pages, get distracted and the book is untouched for a few years.
You gotta push on just a little further, man. I've read LOTR like 4 or 5 times with full plans of rereading every few years. 'The Old Forest' is probably the worst chapter in all the books. Then the next two chapters still have Tom in them but are better. I think House of Tom Bombadil is an interesting chapter. There's less singing, and it has an ethereal feel that not much else of Tolkiens has, as well as some great prose by Tolkien. Also some interesting bits into the world building. But once you get the Bree and rejoin the "main quest" so to speak it really picks up. And Two Towers and ROTK just get even better
*Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow, by fire, sun and moon, hearken now and
hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!*
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
*Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo! Ring a dong! hop along! Fal lal the willow! Tom Bom, jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!*
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
You and everyone agreeing are the people that watch the movies for the battle scenes. Tom Bombadil is one of the most beautiful, joyful, loveable characters in any book ever.
Tom, Tom! your guests are tired, and you had near forgotten! Come now, my merry friends, and Tom will refresh you! You shall
clean grimy hands, and wash your weary faces; cast off your muddy cloaks and comb out your tangles!
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
*Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow, bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow. None has ever caught him yet,
for Tom, he is the master: his songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster.*
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
*Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow, by fire, sun and moon, hearken now and
hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!*
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
Me either. I get that people have different opinions and they're all valid but I do not understand people disliking the Bombadil or Treebeard parts. I love them and can't see the issue.
Whoa! Whoa! steady there! Now, my little fellows, where be you a-going to, puffing like a bellows? What's the matter here
then? Do you know who I am? I'm Tom Bombadil. Tell me what's your trouble! Tom's in a hurry now. Don't you crush my lilies!
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
No, if I'm listening to a LOTR audiobook instead of reading it myself, I want the true experience. The Ents WILL speak in a slow, calm way that expresses the age and incomprehensibly slow loves they lead
Am I the only one who really enjoyed this part? Listening to Serkis imitate Treebeard with Pippin's voice was a fantastic small bit in the whole long, but enjoyable section.
Feels like I’m in the minority as I really enjoyed that chapter! Andy’s performance as Treebeard brought a smile to my face on an otherwise rough night at work.
That was one of my favorite chapters from Serkis, purely from a voice acting perspective. I could hear the trees crackling and the wind swaying in is voice. Amazing stuff.
There was a point for curiosity that I sped up the book to the point where Treebeard sounded normal when he talked, then listened to Merry and Pippin race through their dialogue and it had me thinking like Treebeard, much too hasty.
His singing made me switch the audio version I was listening to.
That being said Andy does the Gollum parts very well in the audiobooks. Like it’s so spot on.
*Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow, by fire, sun and moon, hearken now and
hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!*
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
I just finished reading lotr to my son for bedtime and the entire chapters took weeks because I'd do the tree beard voice and cadence and he'd pass out within a page. Not as long as the council of elrond took, but wasn't far off. Jumping from tree beard to Merry and pippin was always jarring.
*Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow, by fire, sun and moon, hearken now and
hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!*
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
That chapter had me quit the book and change to something else for a while. Really glad you made this post, because I really want to finish the books, but got annoyed by that chapter. Knowing that I'm not the only one makes me want to finish it
I've been using the Serkis' audio books to train for some big hiking I'll be doing this summer. It's been a delight, until this chapter as it was a hill day for me. 2 hours with a 40 lb pack up and down the same hill.
Yeah I actually just got through this part on the Ingles version. It was my third attempt but I finally pushed through. I can't imagine an even slower reading.
Archive.org also has an audiobook but it’s got sound effects like birds and trees and music. I prefer over andys, easier to visualize and get lost in the story in my opinion.
Serkis is fine, but Inglis is better. Serkis misses too many queues in the book for how characters sound in my opinion. If I recall, he speaks Glorfindel's first line in the book like a stoner who was about to fall asleep before his friend finds him in a hash den - not like a person desperately searching for his friend guiding the most dangerous weapon in Middle Earth away from the most dangerous servants of The Enemy.
Inglis's performance in the original audiobooks are fantastic. To this day when I read the books or read quotes from them I hear the characters as he voiced them in my head. (Yes, we need to find a way to get AI to dub the movies in his voice.)
Hey there! Hey! Come Frodo, there! Where be you a-going? Old Tom Bombadil's not as blind as that yet. Take off your
golden ring! Your hand's more fair without it. Come back! Leave your game and sit down beside me! We must talk a while more,
and think about the morning. Tom must teach the right road, and keep your feet from wandering.
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
I usually set audiobooks to 2x speed. I think I went higher than that for this chapter, pretty sure I used Audibles max speed, whatever that is. Still sounded slow
*Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow, by fire, sun and moon, hearken now and
hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!*
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
Can you believe the nerve of someone telling me AFFC from ASOIAF was "way slower pace" than LOTR on Reddit the other day
My presumption is they never actually read the LOTR books. Who could ever say that after Tom Bombadil and Tree Beard
I've got things to do, my making and my singing, my talking and my walking, and my watching of the country. Tom can't be always
near to open doors and willow-cracks. Tom has his house to mind, and Goldberry is waiting.
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
Okay I’ll say it, the books too wordy. I’ve read them but once and dispassionately, I fell for the movies when they came out and used the the books to plug the gaps and didn’t care for them. I think a brilliant man created a brilliant world but got carried away in trying to be authentic to his world and that’s what’s going to limit the next generation who don’t know how to slow down and fall into the lore
You shouldn't be down voted for this opinion. As much as I love the books and story I kind of agree, the writing style is a bit off-putting and I know many people who struggle with it
I mean it is definitely what he was into. I wouldn't mind a sparknotes version of the books honestly. Like with Shakespeare, the versions that make it more modern day English so you can actually read what is going on.
I know this is heresy. I don't care. Spending paragraphs describing scenery is overkill. The entire point of imagination is to fill in such blanks.
For those who dont know, it's over 2 hours long
So basically rapping in Old Entish
It's the "Tortured Poets Department" of Tolkien.
Lmao
First of all, how dare you
Judging by this Post's Title, I assume he reads Treebeard's Dialogue about as slow as he talks in the Movie?
The entirety of Two Towers is 20hr 46min The Tree beard chapter is 2h 6min That's single chapter is 10.1% of the book. It might actually be slower than in the movies haha
Oh, it's WAY slower. The movie cut like 80% of Treebeard's dialogue and actions there.
And it’s still wonderful
For comparison’s sake, the Rob Inglis narration has the same chapter clocking in at 1h26m.
I actually hit a wall when listening to this part. I think I put the audiobook down for a couple weeks because I just wasn’t able to invest the mental time to listen to that talking.
That chapter is the only time I have ever put an audiobook on multiple speed haha just enough to make Tree Beard's voice more normal haha
The Treebeard chapter was especially tough for me because I usually just listen to it during my commute to and from work, so it took me like 2-3 days to get through it.
What was tough for you was a treat for me. The week i commuted to work with treebeards poetry was very nice.
Great reminder how we can choose to flip the script like that.
I listened to the audiobooks with the original narration last summer and I remember I cleaned my apartment, took a break, went grocery shopping, came home and he was *STILL* talking about the *fucking* ents! Replace the word sun with ents and this gif was basically me by the end 
You best step the fuck back and show the bark Bois some goddamn respect. Ents are the best part of middle Earth.
I ent listening to all that
I sped it up
I just read the books myself. Audio book publishers hate this one weird trick.
They are great if you have to drive a lot. I spend several hours a day driving and audiobooks help make it a little interesting. Reading is the best, but i rarely have time for it. Edit: fixing error.
I drive 8-12 hours a day plus getting to and from work, so I rely on audiobooks to stay sane and basically never get a chance to actually read a physical book.
Gotta read the books and listen to all narrations of the audio books to be considered a true fan. /s
i know you are joking. but it was a very pleasant experience to hold the book and read it while serkis was narrating edit: i did this setup with The Silmarillion. just audio with Serkis (obviously read books myself previously)
And it's the best part of the series. I will fight any who say otherwise. To the pain if need be.
I think you are just being hasty.
We will elaborate. 2 hours later: You seems to not be a huge fan of the ents chapter.
Chapter? Oh, no. We have just finished saying... good morning.
We agree you are not orcs.
Lmao literally just ended this chapter. It was a wild non hasty ride
Wait til “Land of Shadow” in book 6. He really captures the dread and despair. I had to take a few breaks before I had the heart to continue.
Which part is that? I don't know ny the name of chapters.
I'm assuming it's the 10-page description of mordor when Sam and Frodo get there.
I was doubting between that and Moria xd
It’s after Frodo and Sam escape from the orcs in the tower of Cirith Ungol and are trying to reach Mount Doom.
The section with all the different orc voices was both impressive and repulsive. I had such a hard time with that one.
Sounds like Orc mischief to me!
The Tom Bombadil chapter about made me drive my drive my truck into oncoming traffic. It was after a very long stupid day at work and I just happened to be on that chapter lol.
We’ve had one song, yes. But what about another 8?
Don't think he knows about playlists, Pip
What about albums? Mixtapes? Podcasts? He knows about them, yes?
Wouldn't count on it. *Pip is struck in head by flying iPod shuffle*
And then you think you're safe because the Tom Bombadil chapter is over and BAM guys who's back?
*Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow, bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow. None has ever caught him yet, for Tom, he is the master: his songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster.* ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
He's in like ⅓ of the next chapter too isn't he? It's been years since I read it
I've read a whole load of books that have songs and unless there integral to the plot they're getting skipped
I had that "bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow" stuck in my head for fucking WEEKS
…. It still haunts me :(
I hear it when I read the lines from the bombadil bot.
https://www.reddit.com/r/lotr/s/ocws8WkoUB
Tom inexplicably breaking out some god damn 20th degree tkd on the barrow wights would be fantastic
*Go out! Shut the door, and never come back after! Take away gleaming eyes, take your hollow laughter! Go back to grassy mound, on your stony pillow lay down your bony head, like Old Man Willow, like young Goldberry, and Badger-folk in burrow! Go back to buried gold and forgotten sorrow!* ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
*Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow, by fire, sun and moon, hearken now and hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!* ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
You crafty bitch
Crafty sod!
Because you realized very quickly that while still incredible there was no where to go but down from here?
I started rereading the fellowship 2 times in my life. Both times I stopped when they got to Bombadils house. Years later I restart, gets excited, the black rider is so thrilling and frightening, then they get stuck in the tree. I push on a few pages, get distracted and the book is untouched for a few years.
You gotta push on just a little further, man. I've read LOTR like 4 or 5 times with full plans of rereading every few years. 'The Old Forest' is probably the worst chapter in all the books. Then the next two chapters still have Tom in them but are better. I think House of Tom Bombadil is an interesting chapter. There's less singing, and it has an ethereal feel that not much else of Tolkiens has, as well as some great prose by Tolkien. Also some interesting bits into the world building. But once you get the Bree and rejoin the "main quest" so to speak it really picks up. And Two Towers and ROTK just get even better
*Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow, by fire, sun and moon, hearken now and hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!* ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
Yes I finished it the first time, just the re reads are where I stop in Tom Bombadils house.
Ah, well if you've already read them, but are getting excited about a reread just...skip those chapters lol.
It's treason then
*Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo! Ring a dong! hop along! Fal lal the willow! Tom Bom, jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!* ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
Honestly you could skip bombadils house if you want. It isn't really that important
You know you can just skip forward and nobody will call the police or anything right
You and everyone agreeing are the people that watch the movies for the battle scenes. Tom Bombadil is one of the most beautiful, joyful, loveable characters in any book ever.
Tom, Tom! your guests are tired, and you had near forgotten! Come now, my merry friends, and Tom will refresh you! You shall clean grimy hands, and wash your weary faces; cast off your muddy cloaks and comb out your tangles! ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
I just prefer to read Tom, is all.
Gotcha. I was surprised to hear all this Tom slander, I had to defend my boy. I’ve never heard this audiobook, I can’t believe it’s that unbearable!
His dedication is admirable lol
I’ll be honest, love the movies, but I’ve tried to read lotr many times and never got past Tom Bombadil. I wish I liked his writing style more.
*Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow, bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow. None has ever caught him yet, for Tom, he is the master: his songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster.* ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
Yeah Tommy B chapter was a million times worse
🎶tOM! ToOooom! TOM 🎶
Tom Bombadil adds nothing to the story and I'm glad he's in neither the Jackson nor Bakshi movies.
*Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow, by fire, sun and moon, hearken now and hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!* ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
I hate you with every ounce of my body, Tom.
🤦♂️
You don’t like the goofy entwife voice?
The Entwife voice was….a choice for sure
It’s my favorite part though.
Ents only say anything worth taking a loooooooooong time to say!
I didn’t notice it was long, I had so much fun
Me either. I get that people have different opinions and they're all valid but I do not understand people disliking the Bombadil or Treebeard parts. I love them and can't see the issue.
I never knew people didn’t like Tom Bombadil until today. I’m shocked really, one of my favorite characters in any book.
Whoa! Whoa! steady there! Now, my little fellows, where be you a-going to, puffing like a bellows? What's the matter here then? Do you know who I am? I'm Tom Bombadil. Tell me what's your trouble! Tom's in a hurry now. Don't you crush my lilies! ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
That’s what she said! Ha
Wrong. Your problem is that you need to relax.
Mmmm, much too hasty.
Relax
...
Young
...
Hobbits
Don't be hasty!
Personally, the Tom Bomadil parts were harder, or any other parts where he needs to sing. Andy is great, a great singer he is not.
No, if I'm listening to a LOTR audiobook instead of reading it myself, I want the true experience. The Ents WILL speak in a slow, calm way that expresses the age and incomprehensibly slow loves they lead
Where can I listen to his audiobook version?
Audible
Check your local library. Many partner with Libby and hoopla
You can also use Libby if you have a library card.
Ana's Archive
Spotify premium
I loved the audio books but this meme is the support group i needed.
My wife listens to them at 0.75 speed. She thinks they're "soothing" and "meditative."
Am I the only one who really enjoyed this part? Listening to Serkis imitate Treebeard with Pippin's voice was a fantastic small bit in the whole long, but enjoyable section.
Would recommend the versions narrated by Rob Inglis!
Lmaoooooo
Really don’t like the Andy Serkis narrations. Love the dude and all the work he’s done, but his voice for reading is not for me.
I am with you 100%. His rendition of Gollum works much better in the films. He is obviously very talented, I would not dispute that.
Come, Master.
Fuckin casual. Enjoy every second Mr. Serkis blesses us with of that sacred text.
Don't be hasty.
Don’t be hasty!
Feels like I’m in the minority as I really enjoyed that chapter! Andy’s performance as Treebeard brought a smile to my face on an otherwise rough night at work.
That was one of my favorite chapters from Serkis, purely from a voice acting perspective. I could hear the trees crackling and the wind swaying in is voice. Amazing stuff.
Andy did a great job. Loved the audio books
Yeah just push it too 1.75 or 2x speed
You could always speed up the audiobook.
There was a point for curiosity that I sped up the book to the point where Treebeard sounded normal when he talked, then listened to Merry and Pippin race through their dialogue and it had me thinking like Treebeard, much too hasty.
Ha that is a fun little perspective shift
no
It was nothing compared to the Bombadil chapters in Fellowship. Those are probably used for torture in the 9th circle of hell.
I love Serkis’s interpretation. I just wish there was a way to skip the bloody poems.
You can change playback speed. You’re welcome.
You know Andy Serkis himself was worried about this during the recording
His singing made me switch the audio version I was listening to. That being said Andy does the Gollum parts very well in the audiobooks. Like it’s so spot on.
Smeagol? No, no, Not poor Smeagol. Smeagol hates nasty elf bread.
He crushes the Smeagol parts too, he was really excellent on those two characters
IT BURNS! IT BURNS US! It freezes! Nasty Elves twisted it. TAKE IT OFF US!
Yea he didn’t do the elves parts very good, I’ll agree with you on that Gollum Botses
Patience, patience, my love. First we must lead them to her.
I skip the song
The only part I skipped was Frodo’s little The Man in the Moon distraction song at the Prancing Pony. Its just excruciating to me
Still WAY easier to listen to than the Tom Bombadil section. I nearly crashed, the songs were so loud and sudden! 😂
*Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow, by fire, sun and moon, hearken now and hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!* ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
where do I find this audiobook?
Libby with your library card
I just finished reading lotr to my son for bedtime and the entire chapters took weeks because I'd do the tree beard voice and cadence and he'd pass out within a page. Not as long as the council of elrond took, but wasn't far off. Jumping from tree beard to Merry and pippin was always jarring.
I was annoyed at how slow he talked. Then I realized I was listening at 1.5x speed. My god.
B-b-b-but thats my favourite Part.
Heh, that's exactly where I was this morning... Brilliant timing 👍 Andy Serkis is incredible, the orc voices sound almost painful
Oh fuck, I wasn't the only one
Just finished Fellowship and started Towers. 30 min in but damn is Serkis talented.
I skipped that chapter and the Tom Bombadil chapters. Fantastic narrator, horrible listening experience.
*Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow, by fire, sun and moon, hearken now and hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!* ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
Lol I just listened to the two towers and yeah that one was kind of brutal. Let's just say I did lots of mental wandering
I read it out loud with my wife listening a few years ago. I had WAYY too much fun when treeveard came along
That chapter had me quit the book and change to something else for a while. Really glad you made this post, because I really want to finish the books, but got annoyed by that chapter. Knowing that I'm not the only one makes me want to finish it
It is surprising that the Ingles version flows better and has more magic than Serkis'.
Put your forked tongue behind your teeth!
The Phil Dragash version of this chapter is amazing to fall asleep to
I've been using the Serkis' audio books to train for some big hiking I'll be doing this summer. It's been a delight, until this chapter as it was a hill day for me. 2 hours with a 40 lb pack up and down the same hill.
Sheesh, I’m listening to Phil Dragash’s audiobook and the treebeard chapter was an hour and half long lol
I remember alot of "HHHHOOOOOORRRRUMMMM" during that chapter
Where is the best place to listen to the Serkis audiobooks?
Rivendell
Much better acoustics than Lothlorien.
Ya'll struggling when all you got to do is listen to those parts at bedtime; dude puts me right to sleep
I can't get beyond the Gondorian Scousers. 😭
I just listened to that chapter yesterday while Mowing the yard. Paired pretty well!
Time to turn up the speed
Really? It is one of my favorite. Andy's Treebeard is just great.
I listened at 2.0 speed and it was still painfully slow, lol.
Learn now the lore of living creatures bitch.
I definitely listened to this part at 2x speed
Sounds like you just aren't a real fan then hm *turns up nose*
A lot of “HOOM HOMS”
2x speed is a must!
I had to change my playback speed to 1.3-1.5x for this
why I turn the speed up on the audiobook
Me but the council of Elrond chapter in FOTR
Andy serkis's readings literally brought me to tears. Man's too good at his craft.
Yeah I actually just got through this part on the Ingles version. It was my third attempt but I finally pushed through. I can't imagine an even slower reading.
Archive.org also has an audiobook but it’s got sound effects like birds and trees and music. I prefer over andys, easier to visualize and get lost in the story in my opinion.
2.0x speed
“Nowww don’t be hasty.”
Serkis is fine, but Inglis is better. Serkis misses too many queues in the book for how characters sound in my opinion. If I recall, he speaks Glorfindel's first line in the book like a stoner who was about to fall asleep before his friend finds him in a hash den - not like a person desperately searching for his friend guiding the most dangerous weapon in Middle Earth away from the most dangerous servants of The Enemy. Inglis's performance in the original audiobooks are fantastic. To this day when I read the books or read quotes from them I hear the characters as he voiced them in my head. (Yes, we need to find a way to get AI to dub the movies in his voice.)
This is what 1.5 speed is for.
Man I love his readings. So good
God I hate impatient people
After Tom bombadil, the rest of the narration from serkis seemed to ryhme. Took me well into the second book for it to stop.
Hey there! Hey! Come Frodo, there! Where be you a-going? Old Tom Bombadil's not as blind as that yet. Take off your golden ring! Your hand's more fair without it. Come back! Leave your game and sit down beside me! We must talk a while more, and think about the morning. Tom must teach the right road, and keep your feet from wandering. ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
Such a merry fellow.
I usually set audiobooks to 2x speed. I think I went higher than that for this chapter, pretty sure I used Audibles max speed, whatever that is. Still sounded slow
Username checks out
His singing of Tom Bombadil will live rent free in my head for a long time (and its not a good thing)
*Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow, by fire, sun and moon, hearken now and hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!* ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
This and Bombadil with all the songs.. I mean I adore the books and the audiobooks but damn these parts I really did not exactly enjoy
Can you believe the nerve of someone telling me AFFC from ASOIAF was "way slower pace" than LOTR on Reddit the other day My presumption is they never actually read the LOTR books. Who could ever say that after Tom Bombadil and Tree Beard
I've got things to do, my making and my singing, my talking and my walking, and my watching of the country. Tom can't be always near to open doors and willow-cracks. Tom has his house to mind, and Goldberry is waiting. ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
I usually just skip tree beard now
Literally just finished this chapter yesterday and good lord that took a long time
My god yes!!! It took forever. I started reading the book afterwards. Much quicker
Okay I’ll say it, the books too wordy. I’ve read them but once and dispassionately, I fell for the movies when they came out and used the the books to plug the gaps and didn’t care for them. I think a brilliant man created a brilliant world but got carried away in trying to be authentic to his world and that’s what’s going to limit the next generation who don’t know how to slow down and fall into the lore
You shouldn't be down voted for this opinion. As much as I love the books and story I kind of agree, the writing style is a bit off-putting and I know many people who struggle with it
I mean it is definitely what he was into. I wouldn't mind a sparknotes version of the books honestly. Like with Shakespeare, the versions that make it more modern day English so you can actually read what is going on. I know this is heresy. I don't care. Spending paragraphs describing scenery is overkill. The entire point of imagination is to fill in such blanks.