This is very strange...

[Master of maps]

Why hasn't anybody actually started a thread in this section yet???
has anybody even read the book yet?
if you havent, you should probibly get round to it soon, its pretty good. Nevertheless, im going to start a poll to find oout who's read the book, and maybe get some threads going in this section....

[Gordis]

I have read the "Return of the Shadow" and not once. HOME 6-8 are my favorites, because they explain lots of things in LoTR, that otherwise are hard to grasp. The countless versions of the "Long-expected party" are, however, a bit boring.;)

[Ithrynluin]

The reason there are no threads here is that the existing few that would fit in here have not been moved. All these sub-forums have been created fairly recently (relative to the existence of the forum as a whole); Personally, I never really saw the need for having a separate board for each of the HoME volumes.

As for the question at hand, I have read only parts of this book. I remember once setting out to read the whole thing from cover to cover, but lost interest precisely because of the numerous versions (which hardly contain any differences) of some chapters, such as the one mentioned by Gordis.

So I can't vote. :)

[Master of maps]

simple answer
vote yes

[Barliman Butterbur]

Why hasn't anybody actually started a thread in this section yet???
has anybody even read the book yet?
if you havent, you should probibly get round to it soon, its pretty good. Nevertheless, im going to start a poll to find oout who's read the book, and maybe get some threads going in this section....

??? Never heard of it...I think. What's it about? Oh. Never mind, I went on to Amazon and read some of the reviews. Now I see what it is; more stuff that Christopher's been fooling with, gathering it all into chronological order. I might buy a copy, but I'm not into reading drafts any more; I'd rather read what Tolkien chose as final.

This appears to be a book for Tolkien academics, researchers, and historians, yes (and those whose appetites for more and more juicy Tolkien nuggets and tidbits can never be slaked)? I used to be that way: rummaging around through old faded mansucripts in dim corners of library stacks, hoping to unearth heretofore-hidden primary sources! I understand the desire: I used to love to study the early drafts of music written by the greats to see and follow the creative process. Alas, there comes a time when one's time is limited and one must re-prioritize. I now leave all such to the still-frisky young bucks of academe... ;) :p

Barley

[Turgon]

I've read it - but Trotter really freaked me out. I was half expecting him to drive to Rivendell in a yellow three-wheeled van...:o

[redline2200]

Personally, I never really saw the need for having a separate board for each of the HoME volumes.

Me neither...I think an all-encompassing HoME board would work perfectly.