Ross Raymond Nunamaker

The second installment of the Big Read addressed the Hobbit Chapter 1, an Unexpected Party, through Chapter 7. There were just under 60 attendees at any given time, down from 72 in the inaugural session.

For those unaware there are two offerings one for each side of the Atlantic. Each has the same presentation and then attendees have breakout rooms to discuss, before returning and sharing the group’s takeaway with everyone.

I listened to the presentation by Clare, a doctoral candidate and co-organizer of the series. I did not remain on for the breakouts this week. I enjoyed her take on narration explaining Tolkien’s own dislike for his choices later in life and her comparison to early works by Austen and Woolf.

I’m enjoying these despite the late hour for me being on the East Coast. I plan to get to more breakouts as meeting fellow members is something I always enjoy doing.