These are two very enjoyable stories, but nothing too far out of the ordinary. If you're a big fan of Tolkien I'd recommend you seek these out and read them, but if not, it's probably not really worth the trouble. ( )

Two enjoyable stories from Tolkien. For those not familiar with it but familiar with his LoTR or Hobbit, it's not as weighty as Book of Lost Tales or his other Middle Earth works. I'd say it compares to those works like Tales of Beedle the Bard from Rowling compares to the Harry Potter series. ( )

This book contains two short tales by J.R.R. Tolkien featuring somewhat silly protagonists in reasonably standard fairy tale situations. Tolkien loved fairy stories, and hated that the genre had been transformed into little more than children's literature. The result was some very well-told fairy stories that draw upon the English tradition.

Smith of Wootton Major, the first story, centers on cakes, fairy stars, and the gaps between our world and the land of fairy. The tale isn't world-shattering in scope, and there is little threat to be dealt with other than vanity, arrogance, and pig-headedness, which doesn't ultimately feature much in the story anyway. It remains interesting in a dream-like manner - in some ways, reading Smith of Wootton Major feels a little like reading an account of a dream.

The second story, Farmer Giles of Ham, is a tale about an accidental hero. Farmer Giles doesn't intend to drive away a giant, but does so. he doesn't intend to be viewed as a dragon-slayer, but is. It is comical, absurd, and in some ways, it seems to be a variation of Jack the Giant Killer.

In the end, both stories are quite enjoyable, although they are entirely unlike The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, or The Silmarillion, so if you are looking for a book like those, this is not it. If you like fairy tales, this book will probably be right up your alley. ( )

Warning: These stories are nothing like Lord of the Rings. If you saw the movie, and think you are getting more of the same here, prepare to have your expectations shattered.

On the other hand, these are both delightful stories. Tolkien's style can be a bit wooden at times, but that does not come through here. These are not a "must have" but if you wanted to read more by Tolkien, but could not make it through the Similrian, this might be the book for you. ( )

2 wonderful stories, in slightly different modes than LOTR. ( )