Tolkien Reading Day 2005

Here is a report on one Tolkien Reading Day event.

Enjoy a hot toasted bun, a warm drink and a Good Book in hobbitish comfort. This year 25th March is Good Friday and also Tolkien Reading Day.

Tolkien Reading Day is an event launched in 2003 to encourage the use of Tolkien's works in education and library reading groups. Of course as this year the 25th March is Good Friday most schools and libraries will be closed. Thus this year the emphasis is on enjoying a good read in comfort and fellowship with other fans in other venues.

Although JRR Tolkien was a devout Roman Catholic it is only calendrical circumstance that means this year's Good Friday falls on the same date as Tolkien Reading Day.

Have a Tolkien Reading Party or Dinner.

Have a group of people gather to read aloud. As this year's Reading Day is Good Friday, schools and libraries may be closed but pubs, cafes, youth clubs, restaurants and other places won't be. Members of the public (and libraries or schools wishing to hold an event near to rather than on the 25th) can contact the Society for free posters, bookmarks and help with publicising their event.

Other Tolkien Reading Day related events include:

New York Tolkien Society's "Ringbearers' Day" March 19th, Marymount Manhattan College. Tolkien-inspired Italian band Lingalad will be making their first New York appearance. Tolkien Scholar Michael Drout, (editor of Tolkien Studies) will be speaking about Tolkien and taking part in a Panel Discussion: Honoring Tolkien: 50 Years of The Lord of the Rings. Master metal smiths Joe Piela and Jenna Brocious of The Lonely Mountain Forge will be there, plus favorite readings from Tolkien's works by the Heren Istarion staff and honoured guests, Ringbearers Day Young Adult bards and minstrels Sing Along, scholarly discussions and trivia contests. A portion of the proceeds will be going to Tsunami Relief
efforts via The White Tree Fund www.whitetreefund.org


Eastercon: Paragon 2 (56th British National Science Fiction Convention) 25th - 28th March, Hinckley Island Hotel, Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK. Eastercon will host a Reading Day group reading on Friday afternoon an area of the hotel to be announced at the event. Come and share your favourite bits of Tolkien, and contribute to a world-wide celebration of the 50th anniversary of publication of the complete The Lord of the Rings.

More about Tolkien Reading Day.