I was introduced to Tolkein's "The Hobbit" forty years ago. I was in Standard Four (equivalent of Year 6 today) at Marist Brothers Intermediate school in Timaru.
We had a great teacher, a young American woman in NZ for the year: Ruthanne Scofield. (I wonder if anyone knows where she is now? I would love to let her know that of all my teachers, she was one of the best).
Back to The Hobbit: Mrs Scofield would read to us. In the first week of the year she began the book, on many days she would read a little more to us. Before the end of the year together we completed the book. It was a real treat.
Today I still enjoy being read to - even more than watching a movie. For this reason I listen to books downloaded from audible.com as I drive around the Hurunui parishes. I am listening to The Hobbit this week.
It was years later when in Antarctica (for a 3 week Chaplaincy stint) when I moved on to Lord of the Rings.
Tomorrow night Peter Jackson's movie The Hobbit premiers in Wellington. The occasion brings back great memories for me: 1972, relaxing head-on-desk, listening to Mrs Scofield read to us.
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