First of all I want to tell the story of how I came to know the Tolkien universe. When I was a little girl and did not know yet how to read my mum sat with me every night for long hours reading to me. But she didnt just read whatever books she could find, she did some research first. And she discovered the Hobbit. It was a very ugly Cuban edition (I am from Cuba) and she pronounced all the names in a funny way. But I fell in love with it anyway. When we finished The Hobbit my mother decided to go on with The lord of the rings (in another very very ugly Cuban edition). She thought that maybe I was too young for such a big book but even though at night I didnt want to get off my bed fearing that there might be some dark rider hiding under it I kept asking for her to read more and more. It was then when my mother decided that I was already a big girl (I had just passed the first grade of primary) and was ready to finish it on my own. I still remember going to bed with the book and spending all the night awake because I wasnt able to let it go. I finished the entire book and since then I developed the custom of carrying it (one of the three tomes) wherever I went (you must bear in mind the book was really heavy for a 7 year old) and reading it in the most unusual situations (I even took it with me to the shower). When I became an adolescent it became a token of good luck and strength always in my backpack. Nowadays whenever I have a stressful moment ahead of me or some difficult situation that makes me feel insecure I always take a book as a security kit (It has to be a friendly book, one I know well and love to dive into and no book is better on an occasion like that than Tolkiens)
I learned about the Silmarillion when I was about 15. And it for me was some sort of a mythical book because it was soooo difficult to get (it had never been printed in Cuba and here it is difficult to get books from foreign publishers) and I had heard people talk about it but never actually seen one. I knew several people who had copies but they never lent them because if they did they never returned. So I was forced to dream about the book for several years before I had one in my hands. I remember exactly the day I started reading it. I was in boarding school sitting on the floor of an empty common living room and I opened it and read: En el principio estaba Eru, el unico, que en Arda es llamado Iluvatar and I cried with happiness (up until now nothing but the books I love has made me shed tears of happiness) Later on I rediscovered the books when reading them in English (which was again a unique experience and I cried again :). So even when I dont have a vast knowledge about the Tolkien universe (I have never been able to get my hands on The History of middle earth on digital or printed format) I have millions of passionate opinions and insights about this wonderful books that I would love to share. And I think my enduring love for these books through the course of 15 years is enough to classify me as an experienced fan. What do you think?
-- Edited by Nimwen Esgaledhel on Thursday 24th of March 2011 07:39:52 AM
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"But the dawn is brief and the day full often belies its promise."
Nimwen Esgaledhel, First of all; WELCOME!!!. Second; You have made a good choice for a Tolkien site. Our members are folks with a large variety of experience with Tolkien and are from all over the world. So you will find those of us with extensive academic experience and resources. You find some who come here to make friends so they can share insights and observations of Tolkien's works. You will also find folks who have only seen the movies, love them, and want more of Tolkien. And you find folks who are just like you and want to share. Third; Everyone here loves the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and the posthumous publications released by Christopher Tolkien. Lastly; I loved your introduction. I read the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to my daughter and she loved them. And, as the Papa, I cleared the Nazgul from under the bed. Eventually I made a little night light that was made by Gandalf and Galadriel that repeled all dark creatures. That lasted until she was old enough to have a toy sword and then (after reading the Harry Potter series) she got her own magic wand. Now she is about four years older than you and we still share all sorts of fantasy literature and all kinds of Tolkien insights.
When you browse through the various topics here please don't be intimidated by the date of the last post or the number of posts in the thread. The Forum thrives on fresh opinions and the fact that nothing is too old or stale when it comes to Tolkien.
I am just a member here. Still, if I can help in anyway, with topics or posts, with moving around the site, or in any other way, please just ask. You can make contact through a private message, through posting in a thread, or through the chat box on top of recent activity list.
Again a big WELCOME! See you around the Forums, Bear an Elf-Friend
PS: I would love to know what "Nimwen Esgaledhel" means.
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Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit Called or uncalled, God is present
Out of order examples: esgal 'screen, veil, hiding, roof of leaves' Esgalduin, and edhel 'elf' Adanedhel, and Nim- in compounds 'white' Nimloth, Nimrais, Nimbrethil, and the element -wen in compounds, 'maiden' Arwen
Bear, my Nimwen Esgaledhel means exactly what Galin said. The white maiden (where white represents purity and transparence and light) is the most evident part of my personality, but there is a part in me (as in most beings) that is more elusive and that's where the Esgaledhel comes from. I would have loved to have a dad like you!! Mine is very much into sports and very little into fantastic literature. I tried reading the Silmarillion to him but he fell asleep after a minute (he also told great stories to me as a child but his were always based in facts he knew about the animal life). Thanks very much for everything.
I hope I can overcome the language barrier since my english is rusty because I rarely get opportunities to practice it.
I am currently in a busy time of the year since I am finishing my last year of Architecture and working hard to get my diploma. But this ordeal will be over in less than three months and then I will have plenty of time and energy to post in the forums (I dont mind how old they are, I hope I can rekindle some interesting debates taht have faded)
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"But the dawn is brief and the day full often belies its promise."
Nimwen Esgaledhel, welcome to our little corner of Middle-earth in cyberspace. I know exactly what you mean when you say you are a little rusty. I have been busy on FaceBook since a few school mates from Germany found me and I have to relearn my native German tongue. I have been away from Germany since I was 20 and only was back for like a year before I moved to the US in 1979.
I am one of the humble low level moderators here on the board and I also would like to welcome you. If you have any kind of technical difficulties, like how to join a Kingdom or if your Rank didn't change, just send me a PM and I will see what I can do. Again welcome to the Forums
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Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo! Ring a dong! hop along! fal lal the willow! Tom Bom, Jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!
Welcome, Nimwen Esgaledhel. I enjoyed very much your introduction, which was very insightful. Though I am a new member myself, I concur to what my friends above said - this is a wise choice for a forum because of its peaceful and professional nature (professional through the expertise of the members posting here).
