237 – Should I Stew or Should I Go Now

While Frodo rests, Gollum is away hunting for something to eat besides lembas. He returns with two rabbits, which Sam is happy to make a meal out of — but two cooks in this kitchen is too many, and Gollum objects to Sam’s plan to stew the rabbits instead of eating them raw… not to mention build a fire to do so, and make Gollum do all the grocery shopping. We discuss Sam’s love for Frodo (not for the last time), learn the fascinating history of the word coney, and recount the unfortunate tale of Lalia Took. But first, author Simonetta Carr joins us to talk about her new book, J.R.R. Tolkien for Kids.

Recommended Reading:

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings (Mariner Books, paperback) “Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit”, pp. 638-42

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings (Mariner Books, paperback)

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings (Mariner Books, paperback)

Tolkien, J. R. R. (Christopher Tolkien, ed.) The Children of Húrin (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, paperback)

Carpenter, Humphrey, ed. The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien (Mariner Books, paperback)

Hammond, Wayne G. and Christina Scull. The Lord of the Rings: A Reader’s Companion (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, hardcover)

Judd, Walter S., and Graham A. Judd. Flora of Middle-Earth: Plants of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Legendarium (Oxford University Press, hardcover)

Simonetta Carr J.R.R. Tolkien for Kids (Chicago Review Press, paperback)

Join the discussion

2 comments
  • Enjoyed your discussion of the nature of the light Sam sees shining in Frodo while he sleeps. There is certainly a relationship between being an Elf-Friend and shining with the light. It may be a chicken-and-egg thing, but I’m reminded of Goldberry’s observation in the house of Tom Bombadil: “I see that you are an elf-friend; the light in your eyes and the ring in your voice tells it.”

  • Oh my! You mentioned my name and my question in this episode about Frodo’s light! Thank you! Baliman maybe late but he never miss.

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