Rating: 
Summary: Contains a little something for everyone
Review: Not really planned by Tolkien himself, A Tolkien Reader is more properly a Tolkien Sampler. It combines two of his shorter books (The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Farmer Giles of Ham) with other material Tolkien wrote through the years, including the dark and autobiographical allegory "Leaf by Niggle".Tolkien commentators usually hold out this book as a resource for his "On Fairy-stories" essay (actually the transcript of a lecture Tolkien delivered in the 1930s) and "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son". Both works are of narrow appeal, however, as they require a minimal knowledge of some scholarly details on the reader's part. "On Fairy-stories" and "Leaf by Niggle" were originally published as Tree and Leaf in 1964, but they don't really explain how Tolkien achieved The Lord of the Rings. He admitted that the story took on a life of its own, and he ended up incorporating several disparate works into the new mythology he was creating. LoTR fans who want to know more about Middle-earth will find the only relevant material is in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, a collection of several poems (of which only the first two actually deal with Tom). Tolkien included some explanatory notes. The Bombadil book was originally composed and produced so Tolkien could present his beloved aging aunt with a special volume in the last year of her life. She died only a few months after it was published.
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely mandatory for anyone serious about Tolkien
Review: The short works contained in this book provide a variety helping of Tolkien's lesser known writings. They range from lighthearted fun (Farmer Giles of Ham) to his scholarly essay, On Fairy Stories, which provides the best written, best reasoned, justification for the genre of the fairy story ever presented in an academic setting. Read the short story "Leaf by Niggle", then the essay. Then read "Leaf by Niggle" again. You will, perhaps, understand a bit of what I'm trying to convey. A delightful collection, well worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely mandatory for anyone serious about Tolkien
Review: The short works contained in this book provide a variety helping of Tolkien's lesser known writings. They range from lighthearted fun (Farmer Giles of Ham) to his scholarly essay, On Fairy Stories, which provides the best written, best reasoned, justification for the genre of the fairy story ever presented in an academic setting. Read the short story "Leaf by Niggle", then the essay. Then read "Leaf by Niggle" again. You will, perhaps, understand a bit of what I'm trying to convey. A delightful collection, well worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: An Essential Anthology of Tolkien's Shorter Works
Review: This book contain's Tolkien's shorter fiction and works, including a play and Leaf by Niggle. There are four works in total: 1. The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, Beorhthelm's Son: a play dealing with two men after the Battle of Maldon. Interesting, and shows more of the scholarly side of Tolkien. 2. Tree and Leaf: This is a book consisting of two things: his essay on faerie tales, and Leaf By Niggle. Tolkien's essay is now considered one of the main centerpieces of literature defending and validating fantasy and faerie tale (as if THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE HOBBIT weren't enough). Leaf By Niggle is a very deep work, and basically it deals with his despair of mortality and not being able to finish his mythology, his great work. However, in the end Tolkien shows his glorious hope. 3. Farmer Giles of Ham: a mock medieval story. Everything that THE LORD OF THE RINGS represents, this story pokes fun at and parodies. Very funny story, and shows Tolkien's sense of humour. This was written originally for his children (as much of his stuff was). 4. The Adventures of Tom Bombadil: This is a very misleading title. It is a collection of poetry, and only the first two poems have anything to do with Bombadil. The rest of the poetry deals with Middle-earth, or set therein. It is a nice selection of his verse. Overall, a well put together anthology. However, it would have been better had it included SMITH OF WOOTTON MAJOR. That, along with the two works constituting TREE AND LEAF, is the closest thing to autobiography he ever wrote, and all three are vitally important in any serious study of Tolkien.
Rating:
Summary: An Essential Anthology of Tolkien's Shorter Works
Review: This book contain's Tolkien's shorter fiction and works, including a play and Leaf by Niggle. There are four works in total: 1. The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, Beorhthelm's Son: a play dealing with two men after the Battle of Maldon. Interesting, and shows more of the scholarly side of Tolkien. 2. Tree and Leaf: This is a book consisting of two things: his essay on faerie tales, and Leaf By Niggle. Tolkien's essay is now considered one of the main centerpieces of literature defending and validating fantasy and faerie tale (as if THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE HOBBIT weren't enough). Leaf By Niggle is a very deep work, and basically it deals with his despair of mortality and not being able to finish his mythology, his great work. However, in the end Tolkien shows his glorious hope. 3. Farmer Giles of Ham: a mock medieval story. Everything that THE LORD OF THE RINGS represents, this story pokes fun at and parodies. Very funny story, and shows Tolkien's sense of humour. This was written originally for his children (as much of his stuff was). 4. The Adventures of Tom Bombadil: This is a very misleading title. It is a collection of poetry, and only the first two poems have anything to do with Bombadil. The rest of the poetry deals with Middle-earth, or set therein. It is a nice selection of his verse. Overall, a well put together anthology. However, it would have been better had it included SMITH OF WOOTTON MAJOR. That, along with the two works constituting TREE AND LEAF, is the closest thing to autobiography he ever wrote, and all three are vitally important in any serious study of Tolkien.
Rating:
Summary: nice addition to Tolkien library
Review: This book is well done, full of several wonderful short stories, an essay, and even a poem or two. It's really not something to read all at once, but more of a selective reading volume. It also has excellent illustrations.
Rating:
Summary: Tolkien's Poetry and Other Worlds
Review: This is the book one should read after they have finished "Lord of the Rings" and just before they are about start "The Silmarillion" or "Unfinished Tales". With the film of "Fellowship..." to come out in December 2001, it is clear that there will be an increased interest in the canon of Tolkien's works. Peter S. Beagle introduces the book with an essay in which he gives a good analysis of Gollum's character; notice how the creature always spoke in first-person plural. "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son" is so far Tolkien's only attempt at a play (brief though it is) and at writing something of his own that has the feeling of Beowulf. It is an addendum to what happened after the historical Battle of Maldon when the Danes invaded England. Tolkien was the type who would have felt at home in medieval northern Europe, and probably would have been a scribe like Snorri Sturluson. The collection called "Tree and Leaf" is another side of Tolkien. "Farmer Giles..." is a non-Middle-earth tale about a medieval knight off to fight a dragon, and "Leaf By Niggle" is a Borges-type of magical realism about a painter trying to create reality out of his art. It is the closest piece, I believe, that Tolkien came to writing what snobs consider "literary".
It stands on its own, as does the classic essay "On Fairy Stories", in which he shows that fairy and/or faery tales are worth the attention of adults. To quote, he believes that fantasy is a higher form of Art, the most pure form and the most potent. He shows that fantasy works very well when it presents themes on recovery, escape, and consolation. Now for the poetry. Ever wonder who Tom Bombadil really was? He's a bit Falstaffian for a Maia, and I doubt he will be in the film, but somehow Tolkien believed it necessary to include him as part of Frodo's journey to Rivendell. "The Adventures of TB" include Goldberry and Old Man Willow and quite a helping of Hey Come derry-do, merry-dol my darling! These poems begin what is known as The Red Book of Westmarch, originally written by Bilbo Baggins and Sam Gamgee (Tolkien only compiled them). Most of the songs which are about animals, trolls, and the Man-in-the-Moon, seem suited to the ears of children. The poems which stand out, however, are the narratives like "Errantry", "The Hoard", and "The Sea-Bell". Tolkien's poetry is in the classic traditional style of rhyme and meter. There's is nothing "modern" about it, and that is its quality. One who is inclined to reading T.S. Eliot or Wallace Stevens may not enjoy
Tolkien's old-fashioned style. But to readers of Kipling, Masefield, Graves, Sassoon, and Houseman, Tolkien's poetry is a delight, refreshing, and a fine conclusion to a collection of works by one of the best writers of the 20th century.
Rating:
Summary: Tolkien's Poetry and Other Worlds
Review: This is the book one should read after they have finished "Lord of the Rings" and just before they are about start "The Silmarillion" or "Unfinished Tales". With the film of "Fellowship..." to come out in December 2001, it is clear that there will be an increased interest in the canon of Tolkien's works. Peter S. Beagle introduces the book with an essay in which he gives a good analysis of Gollum's character; notice how the creature always spoke in first-person plural. "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son" is so far Tolkien's only attempt at a play (brief though it is) and at writing something of his own that has the feeling of Beowulf. It is an addendum to what happened after the historical Battle of Maldon when the Danes invaded England. Tolkien was the type who would have felt at home in medieval northern Europe, and probably would have been a scribe like Snorri Sturluson. The collection called "Tree and Leaf" is another side of Tolkien. "Farmer Giles..." is a non-Middle-earth tale about a medieval knight off to fight a dragon, and "Leaf By Niggle" is a Borges-type of magical realism about a painter trying to create reality out of his art. It is the closest piece, I believe, that Tolkien came to writing what snobs consider "literary".
It stands on its own, as does the classic essay "On Fairy Stories", in which he shows that fairy and/or faery tales are worth the attention of adults. To quote, he believes that fantasy is a higher form of Art, the most pure form and the most potent. He shows that fantasy works very well when it presents themes on recovery, escape, and consolation. Now for the poetry. Ever wonder who Tom Bombadil really was? He's a bit Falstaffian for a Maia, and I doubt he will be in the film, but somehow Tolkien believed it necessary to include him as part of Frodo's journey to Rivendell. "The Adventures of TB" include Goldberry and Old Man Willow and quite a helping of Hey Come derry-do, merry-dol my darling! These poems begin what is known as The Red Book of Westmarch, originally written by Bilbo Baggins and Sam Gamgee (Tolkien only compiled them). Most of the songs which are about animals, trolls, and the Man-in-the-Moon, seem suited to the ears of children. The poems which stand out, however, are the narratives like "Errantry", "The Hoard", and "The Sea-Bell". Tolkien's poetry is in the classic traditional style of rhyme and meter. There's is nothing "modern" about it, and that is its quality. One who is inclined to reading T.S. Eliot or Wallace Stevens may not enjoy
Tolkien's old-fashioned style. But to readers of Kipling, Masefield, Graves, Sassoon, and Houseman, Tolkien's poetry is a delight, refreshing, and a fine conclusion to a collection of works by one of the best writers of the 20th century.
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