One does not simply walk into serious discussion… Fool of a Took Podcast is a show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense!
Enter the Shire-adjacent mind of Chris, your host, guide, and certified Fool of a Took as he sets out to read The Lord of the Rings for the very first time, joined by his book-loving wife RJ, fellow first-time reader and baker Laura, and Laura’s husband Patrick, a devoted Tolkien super-fan.
Fool of a Took is your book-club companion through Middle-earth—whether you’re discovering LOTR for the first time, revisiting it again, or geeking out as a lifelong Tolkien fan.
One does not simply walk into serious discussion… Fool of a Took Podcast is a show where deep lore meets even deeper nonsense!
Enter the Shire-adjacent mind of Chris, your host, guide, and certified Fool of a Took as he sets out to read The Lord of the Rings for the very first time, joined by his book-loving wife RJ, fellow first-time reader and baker Laura, and Laura’s husband Patrick, a devoted Tolkien super-fan.
Fool of a Took is your book-club companion through Middle-earth—whether you’re discovering LOTR for the first time, revisiting it again, or geeking out as a lifelong Tolkien fan.
This week we discuss book 3, chapter 10, "The Voice of Saruman", from The Two Towers.
Conversation Topics:
Understanding the power and magic of Saruman's voice
Gandalf's diplomatic showdown with Saruman at Isengard
The role of manipulation and perception in Tolkien's world
The complexity of Gandalf’s character and his strategic restraint
Pippin's unexpected growth and relevance in the chaos
The literary symbolism of Saruman's downfall and loss of power
Deep dives into Tolkien’s language choices, including "hewed" and "gibbet"
Tolkien's narrative style and use of language in fantasy storytelling
The significance of the Ents and Treebeard's plan for Isengard
Foretelling themes of pride, power, and their consequences
Timestamps:
00:00 - Saruman’s chapter opening, humor with Wormtongue and Old Greg
01:05 - Celebrating the perfect chapter name, "The Voice of Saruman"
01:26 - Saruman’s voice as the epic focus, a new and surprising turn
02:22 - Recap of the previous episode and the fellowship’s journey
03:05 - Explanation of "penultimate" and childhood stories about words
06:11 - Saruman’s deceitful parlay, Gandalf’s warnings, and comparisons to modern politics08:05 - The subtlety of Saruman’s power and his magical influence
10:23 - Gaslighting and psychological manipulation as Saruman’s weapon
15:20 - Saruman’s kindergarten teacher tone with Gimli and the mockery of authority
17:00 - Theoden’s resilience and refusal to buy into Saruman’s lies
28:26 - Saruman’s furious rejection, Gandalf’s final blow, and the staff explosion
30:47 - Gandalf’s ultimatum and Saruman’s rage, the tower’s chain reaction
34:00 - The destruction of Saruman’s staff and the fall into chaos
40:04 - The endless patience of the trees, Saruman’s fate sealed
44:26 - Pippin’s growth, humor, and chaos-making in the chaos
56:32 - Gandalf and Saruman’s contrasting powers of influence
1:04:44 - The significance of Gandalf’s staff and its mythic origins
1:12:40 - Food for Thought: The Sweet and Sour Voice of Saruman
1:17:12 - Teasing the next chapter: "The Palantír"
Today's "Food For Thought": The Sweet and Sour Voice of Saruman
We finally heard Saruman's powers of persuasion, and he always started out sweet but couldn't stifle his true feelings. This week's treat asks the question: Is Saruman sweet & sour, or sweet & salty?
No recipe- just set up a plate with an assortment of sweet & salty and sweet & sour treats. I used:
-chocolate
-covered pretzels
-sour patch kids
-glazed salted nuts