Fantasy

Chosen: The Journeys of Bilbo and Frodo of the Shire (ebook)

Anne Marie Gazzolo Posted on by

There are many journeys the souls of Hobbits, Elves, Men, and Dwarves take during the War of the Ring. None are darker or more illuminating than Frodo's trial of love. The light of this shines through, just as light and love shine through Bilbo's.

J. R. R. Tolkien mentioned in a letter to Milt Waldman The Lord of the Rings is seen through the eyes of hobbits "to exemplify most clearly a recurrent theme: the place in 'world politics' of the unforeseen and unforeseeable acts of will, and deeds of virtue of the apparently small, ungreat, forgotten in the places of the Wise and Great (good as well as evil)."

But not all the Wise and Great are ignorant of the special value hobbits have. Gandalf in particular knows of their great worth.

Enjoy this journey to learn more about how marvelous these people are!

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Moments of Grace and Spiritual Warfare in The Lord of the Rings

Anne Marie Gazzolo Posted on by

In J. R. R. Tolkien’s desire to create a mythology for his homeland, he actually made one for every person, every land, and every age. The Lord of the Rings is a catechism of spiritual warfare cleverly disguised as a fantasy. The struggle against evil that takes place inside its pages is the same one that occurs even now within the soul of each person.

As we cannot leave the field of battle until death takes us from it, we should learn as much as we can about how to fight from those who have labored before us. Certainly the Red Book of Westmarch is one source to use. We may not have to sacrifice ourselves as does Gandalf, but we can learn from him and his wise counsels and from the others who he taught. Frodo guides us as well, as he makes his torturous journey to Mount Doom and endures the Ring’s unceasing temptations. With him, we see that sometimes we overcome our temptations, and at other times they overwhelm us. We also learn, as he and Boromir do, to get back up and start the struggle anew. Sam shows us the height of hope and the depth of devotion. In fact, everyone in the tale, good as well as evil, has something to teach us.

Anne Marie Gazzolo hopes that you will find inspiration within to apply to your life.

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The Gathering Storm

Anne Marie Gazzolo Posted on by

The first book in this fantasy series, The Storm Chronicles, begins the epic struggle of mortals and immortals against an ancient evil as it rises again. It focuses on the immortals in the land of Afallon and the dark night that falls upon them as they struggle against their old adversary, called once brother and friend, who seeks to continue his quest to dominate all the mortal worlds and ensnares some of his kin to join him.

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