Resilient Seeker Coaching | Ross Raymond Nunamaker

Many family and friends often wonder about my love for Tolkien. Simply put, they don’t quite understand it.

I first encountered Tolkien in sixth grade and read as much of his work as I could through college. None of my friends read Tolkien, and since there was no internet at the time, I had to rely on libraries and bookstores to discover what was available.

I had “The Hobbit,” “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Silmarillion,” “Unfinished Tales,” and “The Book of Lost Tales” volumes 1 and 2. In college, I discovered more of Tolkien’s works, such as “Smith of Wooten Major” and “Leaf by Niggle.”

After college, I didn’t read much Tolkien until my daughter turned five and wanted me to read her the Harry Potter series. I told her I would, but first, we needed to read “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings,” which I did around 2002. 

Reading these books aloud and discussing them during our morning walks to school was a reawakening for me. Not only did I reread the stories, but I also began joining online groups to discuss Tolkien and expand my collection of his works.

In 2020, I had the opportunity to attend the Maker of Middle-earth exhibit in New York City, and in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I participated in the virtual Oxonmoot. There, I met some people who lived nearby, and they had a Facebook group that I joined. We started meeting monthly online to talk about Tolkien. 

On January 1, 2021, I became a member of the Tolkien Society.

Given this background, I often get the question: why do I love Tolkien so much?

Initially, it was the stories and characters that drew me in. However, as I’ve grown older and gained life experience, my perception of these stories has evolved. With each reading, I discovered new elements that captivated my attention—things I hadn’t noticed in earlier readings.

I found myself attracted to themes such as death, fear, hope, despair, and profound philosophical questions like fate versus free will and good versus evil. 

The Tolkien universe, however, is not limited to a small number of books. There are the texts on Middle-earth by Tolkien and those edited by his son Christopher, as well as works by Tolkien scholars and experts on various subjects related to his writings and source material. 

Additionally, there are many art books by Tolkien and others that bring the world to life. I mentioned the small group I belong to; it’s called a Smial, and many similar groups around the world meet both in person and online. 

There are also conferences and events dedicated entirely to Tolkien, as well as fantasy-oriented events that include his works. You can find a wealth of content on YouTube and podcasts, which have their own communities.

There is so much available today that it’s impossible to be involved in all of it.

Ultimately, the writing, stories, characters, settings, themes, and the community surrounding Tolkien’s works all play equal parts in why I love them and invest my time and energy into them. Reflecting on these stories allows me to consider my own life and how I live it, as much of Tolkien’s work offers transferable lessons with universal applications.