Matthew Distefano has invited us in to reflect on Tolkien, our humanity, and the world around us. He does this through thoughtful, humorous, and sometimes intimate discussions in the form of letters. The questions range from the simple to complex. From how would a Hobbit write a self-help book to the questions of divine intervention.
Throughout the book, Distefano engages in thoughtful, friendly, and even tender discussions with the questions. One feature og Letters I especially appreciate is that Distefano engages in responses to reviewers of his other works. The twenty two letters invite us into conversations with great insight. From the questions of an afterlife in Tolkien’s works to the grand question of good and evil, Distefano engages with tough questions with wit and depth.
When I find myself disappointed that a book has come to an end, it is usually because of a grand story. But in the case of Letters From the Shire I was disappointed because I had no more conversations to look forward to. Rather than a cheap hook, the idea of written letters is deeply human. Similar to the Wisdom of Hobbits I feel that I left Letters much richer than when I began the book. I thank Distefano for sharing the letters and for those who asked the questions, thank you for letting us share in those.