As of March 25, I've celebrated J.R.R. Tolkien Reading Day for nearly two decades. I've always been a Tolkien nerd, and I use the pseudo-holiday to reflect on my fanaticism for the Tolkien world.
When The Fellowship of the Rings came out in theaters in 2001, I was amazed at how beautiful the world of Middle-earth was, and the movie captivated me. I imagine this is how children felt when they saw Star Wars first released in theaters in 1977.
But what made all the difference was when my tía (aunt) Liz returned home after completing her degree at UCLA and saw how much I loved reading. She gifted me her copy of The Lord of the Rings with Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf on the cover. I spent that whole summer reading the book multiple times. That love for Tolkien's literature continues to this day, but is much more extensive.
Since moving to Spokane two years ago, I've found a deeper connection to the community thanks to fellow LOTR fans.
For Tolkien Day, I like to splurge and buy a hardcover or lesser-known Tolkien tome, which has been relatively easy to find in an area that loves books. Places I've grown to love include Auntie's Bookstore and Jupiter's Eye Book Cafe in downtown Spokane, and The Well Read Moose in Coeur d'Alene.
Besides great hardcover books, I've also found a place to discuss why Tolkien should be in the classics section. If C.S. Lewis is, why can't Tolkien be included? Highlights include discussions with knowledgeable staff about how great Tolkien's work is.
Working in the news has stressful moments. Thankfully, the region is beautiful with so many nature walk locations that I feel like I'm Frodo and Sam navigating treacherous terrain to destroy the One Ring. (March 25, if you've been wondering, is the date the ring was cast into the fires of Mount Doom.)
Riverside State Park, Antoine Peak Conservation Area, and Q'emiln Park are perfect examples of iconic natural landscapes. They are also great places to decompress and quote scenes from the LOTR movies.
"A red sun rises, blood has been spilled this night." — Legolas Greenleaf
Coming up the weekend of April 10, the Garland Theater is showing the extended editions of the LOTR films, just another example of the local love for the classic films.
There's a sincere love of Tolkien in this area, so I ask: Have you truly lived in Spokane if you haven't checked out the Hobbit hole at the end of Second Avenue in the West Hills neighborhood?
Many people think about movies or books when they think of LOTR, but there are also Magic: The Gathering LOTR cards for the serious nerds. Beautiful works of art in their own right, the special set released in 2023 made international headlines when pop sensation Post Malone purchased a 1/1 serialized edition (the only one made) of the card "The One Ring" for $2 million.
Many local comic and card shops carry cards from the set, like Uncle's Games, The Comic Book Shop, and EntertainMart in Coeur d'Alene. I feel like an art enthusiast, mesmerized by the artwork, and I'm happy to spend my money at these locations for booster packs and single copies.
Finally, a Dungeons & Dragons and Warhammer 40K-esque game called Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game lets players assemble, paint, and recreate battle scenes from the films and books.
Gamer's Haven is a great place to buy products like the Rohirrim miniatures or Morannon Orcs. It's also a great place to learn how to paint miniatures, and on Tuesdays the community comes together to battle or share advice.
Ultimately, there's no shortage of ways to celebrate your love for Tolkien, especially here in the Inland Northwest. In these trying times, we need a space to escape and enjoy what makes our humanity special, and for many like me, that means diving into Middle-earth.
"I wish the Ring had never come to me," Frodo said. "I wish none of this had happened."
"So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide,"Gandalf replied. "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." ♦
