Weighing in...

On that whole "Tolkien rejected for a Nobel prize" thing. Here's what the Professor himself had to say about his critics:

"Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible; and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kinds of writing that they evidently prefer. But even from the points of view of many who have enjoyed my story there is much that fails to please. It is perhaps not possible in a long tale to please everybody at all points, nor to displease everybody at the same points; for I find from the letters that I have received that the passages or chapters that are to some a blemish are all by others specially approved. The most critical reader of all, myself, now finds many defects, minor and major, but being fortunately under no obligation either to review the book or to write it again, he will pass over these in silence, except one that has been noted by others: the book is too short."

I think that about covers it. I imagine C.S. Lewis, who nominated him, was more incensed over the rejection than JRRT was.

Weighing in...

On that whole "Tolkien rejected for a Nobel prize" thing. Here's what the Professor himself had to say about his critics:

"Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible; and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kinds of writing that they evidently prefer. But even from the points of view of many who have enjoyed my story there is much that fails to please. It is perhaps not possible in a long tale to please everybody at all points, nor to displease everybody at the same points; for I find from the letters that I have received that the passages or chapters that are to some a blemish are all by others specially approved. The most critical reader of all, myself, now finds many defects, minor and major, but being fortunately under no obligation either to review the book or to write it again, he will pass over these in silence, except one that has been noted by others: the book is too short."

I think that about covers it. I imagine C.S. Lewis, who nominated him, was more incensed over the rejection than JRRT was.

Rats!

I'm expired, so I can't upload some pics of the furbabies. Oh well. It has to wait till payday.

I'm very proud of them, though. They were home alone while I was at work, and the house was still intact and they didn't kill each other while I was gone. They've had several go-rounds since I got home. Bell is funny. She growls and hisses and spits at Sophie, and she smacks her-- smacks her hard! But mostly without using her stickersclaws. And she doesn't like it if Sophie gets distracted while chasing her. She'll go up and smack her again to get her attention.

So far Sophie still seems to think it's all just a game.

I think I temporarily wore Sophie out-- we had a very intense game of chase the bone for a while, and now she is sleeping.

BTW: can anyone reccommend a really TOUGH squeaky toy? She LOVES them, but she tears them up quickly. We tried one brand that was supposed to be quite durable--and the first one lasted nearly two weeks, but I bought her another just like it, and she chewed through to the squeaker in just two days. Of course, then it squeaks no more.

Rats!

I'm expired, so I can't upload some pics of the furbabies. Oh well. It has to wait till payday.

I'm very proud of them, though. They were home alone while I was at work, and the house was still intact and they didn't kill each other while I was gone. They've had several go-rounds since I got home. Bell is funny. She growls and hisses and spits at Sophie, and she smacks her-- smacks her hard! But mostly without using her stickersclaws. And she doesn't like it if Sophie gets distracted while chasing her. She'll go up and smack her again to get her attention.

So far Sophie still seems to think it's all just a game.

I think I temporarily wore Sophie out-- we had a very intense game of chase the bone for a while, and now she is sleeping.

BTW: can anyone reccommend a really TOUGH squeaky toy? She LOVES them, but she tears them up quickly. We tried one brand that was supposed to be quite durable--and the first one lasted nearly two weeks, but I bought her another just like it, and she chewed through to the squeaker in just two days. Of course, then it squeaks no more.