Welcome to the Curiosity Coven Book Club! We're a community of witches and environmentalists who share a commitment to living more consciously—making choices that honor our bodies, our health, and the planet we all share. Follow along for monthly book recommendations and reading discussions.
May Book Club Pick: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
Our May pick is The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien—the first volume of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. If you've never read it, here's your chance to experience it with the coven.
In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him.
After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit.
In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task in this classic tale of good vs evil, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.
What begins as a quest with eight unlikely companions becomes an epic tale of courage, friendship, and the battle between good and evil.
Your Reading Companion: Goldberry Incense
Named for the river goddess from Tolkien's pages, Goldberry is a muse to artists and adventurers far and wide.
This vibrant blend is an afternoon soak in a sunlit stream beneath the branches of a blossomed lemon tree. Light sparkles on the water, and sweet music drifts along a summer's breeze.
Ignite this scent to transport yourself into the house of Tom Bombadil as you traipse across the pages of our young hobbits' journey out of the Shire and toward the crags of Mount Doom.
Book Club Discussion Questions: The Fellowship of the Ring
- How does Tolkien use the destruction of nature to represent the corrupting influence of power, such as with Saruman?
- Should the Tom Bombadil chapters have been kept in the movie? What do they add to the narrative, and how does his exclusion change the story?
- How does the Ring affect Bilbo, and why is it essential that he gives it up?
- Gandalf suggests Bilbo was "meant" to find the Ring. Do you agree that the characters are chosen, or is it merely chance?
- What makes the Ring dangerous to even the wisest characters?
Join the Conversation
Please support your local library or independent bookstore to find the book! Once you've finished, join the discussion in the comments below, or continue the conversation on Instagram or Reddit.
If you loved it, continue the rest of the series (and check out the blockbuster movies, if you haven't already).
Happy reading!
—The Sea Witches
