I read The Lord of the Rings in 1991, and it completely changed how I saw storytelling.

Tolkien’s world was vast, alive, and deeply immersive. I remember feeling like I had crossed into something much bigger than just a fantasy novel—this was a mythology, a history, a living world full of ancient songs, brave friendships, and real stakes.

The journey from the Shire to Mordor was slow at times, but never dull. I found myself deeply connected to Frodo and Sam, and in awe of characters like Gandalf and Aragorn. The depth of the lore and language was unlike anything I’d read before.

Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”
That line stayed with me for years—and still does.

It wasn’t just a book. It was a rite of passage into fantasy. A story I carried with me long after I turned the last page.