If anyone here hasn’t checked out Detectorists, written by and starring Mackenzie Crook (bottom right in the meme) as well as Toby Jones (who played Alan Bates in Mr Bates vs. The Post Office), you really, really, really should. Best ever feel good TV.

Despite having owned a copy for a decade, I’ve never read it. I asked Kagi to give me the gist:

• It describes the history and events of Middle-earth from its creation by Iluvatar up until the defeat of Sauron and the downfall of Numenor.
• It introduces many important characters including elves like Feanor, Melian, Thingol, Luthien and Beren as well as men like Turin and Earendil.
• It covers the awakening of elves, their journey to Valinor, the rebellion of Feanor and the exile of the Noldor back to Middle-earth.
• It details events like the slaying of the Two Trees by Ungoliant, the oath of Feanor and the kinslaying at Alqualonde.
• It discusses the rise of powers like Morgoth and Sauron and their corruption and domination over parts of Middle-earth.
• It mentions realms like Doriath, Nargothrond and Gondolin and their eventual downfalls.
• It covers the fate of the silmarils and Beren and Luthien’s quest to retrieve a silmaril from Morgoth’s crown.
• It describes the rise and fall of the great island kingdom of Numenor and its destruction by Iluvatar.
• It discusses the Last Alliance of Elves and Men that defeats Sauron but leaves Middle-earth diminished after the war.
• Overall it provides important background and context for the events in The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien.

Check back in 2034 to see if I finally read it, and to compare.