The Adventures of Tom Bombadil - JRR Tolkien

⭐ 8.0/10

(Originally written by Joseph)

This is not really a story, but a collection of Tolkien poetry and only a few are related to ol' Tom. Most of the poems are related to Middle-earth in some way though, and several also found their way into the books in some form.

I'm not big on poetry, and when I was a kid I'd usually just skip over the songs in LOTR. I think I've come to a better appreciation of them now. I also think it's easier to enjoy Tolkien's poetry because it is often less deep and typically tells a tale. A few are just for laughs, and some are written for children. I really liked a good number of these - especially the ones that were in LOTR and I could hear the audiobook reader singing them in my head.

One poem that really stuck with me is "The Sea-Bell" which is about a man finding a mystical island, loving it, then being cursed by it, and then being forever scarred. I didn't catch it when I read it, but commentaries have suggested it parallels Tolkien's experience in WW1. I just thought the whole thing was pretty brilliant and haunting.

The collection also includes my all-time favorite song (any genre, any artist) and that is "The Stone Troll," which is recited by Sam in Fellowship. Kills me every time.

'For a couple o' pins,' says Troll, and grins,

'I'll eat thee too, and gnaw thy shin.

A bit o' fresh meat will go down sweet!

I'll try my teeth on thee now.

Hee now! See now!

I'm tired o' gnawing old bones and skins;

I've a mind to dine on thee now.'

This poem also uses the word "boner" in case you were still on the fence.