Justin Tse
@jkhtse.bsky.social
grounded theologies | spellcheck 'public' for 'l' | full fathom five thy father lies | http://bit.ly/2OizjHC | views mine | rt =/= endorse
I must confess that Bach’s sonatas and partitas for solo violin contain the ache that tugs at so much that has become what might be called my spirituality, and I do not even play the violin.
August 29, 2025 at 8:26 AM
I must confess that Bach’s sonatas and partitas for solo violin contain the ache that tugs at so much that has become what might be called my spirituality, and I do not even play the violin.
I was whistling Mahler 8 in my regalia yesterday.
August 16, 2025 at 9:43 AM
I was whistling Mahler 8 in my regalia yesterday.
I read somewhere that some consider Mahler vulgar, and I liked that.
August 10, 2025 at 7:04 AM
I read somewhere that some consider Mahler vulgar, and I liked that.
I used to be so confused between the Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion because of two words: ring and doom.
They’re used so differently between the First and Third Ages, but then again, the question is, are they really?
They’re used so differently between the First and Third Ages, but then again, the question is, are they really?
August 8, 2025 at 9:08 AM
I used to be so confused between the Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion because of two words: ring and doom.
They’re used so differently between the First and Third Ages, but then again, the question is, are they really?
They’re used so differently between the First and Third Ages, but then again, the question is, are they really?
Man, Beren is like a video game character. He just keeps dying!
August 8, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Man, Beren is like a video game character. He just keeps dying!
I think the problem between me and the Silmarillion when I was eleven was that I did not have much capacity for tragedy then, just like the characters in the story also do not. Tragedy — doom — just happens to them.
August 6, 2025 at 11:01 AM
I think the problem between me and the Silmarillion when I was eleven was that I did not have much capacity for tragedy then, just like the characters in the story also do not. Tragedy — doom — just happens to them.
I love that Stephen Colbert can name all the Valar and Maiar without referring to a Valaquenta cheatsheet.
August 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I love that Stephen Colbert can name all the Valar and Maiar without referring to a Valaquenta cheatsheet.
From now on, I shall refer to those who do not come along with me on my agenda as Moriquendi.
August 5, 2025 at 4:14 PM
From now on, I shall refer to those who do not come along with me on my agenda as Moriquendi.
I’m beginning to think that Tolkien served the purpose of 武俠小說 for me growing up. The long hair and flying around is pretty similar, actually.
August 5, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I’m beginning to think that Tolkien served the purpose of 武俠小說 for me growing up. The long hair and flying around is pretty similar, actually.
I don’t know why I didn’t see this when I was eleven, but The Silmarillion has truly been edited into a coherent narrative. I can see why people do Tolkien form crit now.
August 5, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I don’t know why I didn’t see this when I was eleven, but The Silmarillion has truly been edited into a coherent narrative. I can see why people do Tolkien form crit now.
The repentance of Maedhros, in the context of his friendship with Fingon, is truly moving.
August 5, 2025 at 11:58 AM
The repentance of Maedhros, in the context of his friendship with Fingon, is truly moving.
Reading the Silmarillion, I am starting to think that the rift between Wagner and Tolkien grows ever thinner.
August 5, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Reading the Silmarillion, I am starting to think that the rift between Wagner and Tolkien grows ever thinner.
Did Galadriel think of Fëanor when she passed the test at her mirror?
August 5, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Did Galadriel think of Fëanor when she passed the test at her mirror?
Reading about the Kinslaying at Alqualondë did make me wonder if Galadriel was complicit in it. Though her father Finarfin quietly resisted Fëanor's charms, she was very much part of the rebellion.
August 5, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Reading about the Kinslaying at Alqualondë did make me wonder if Galadriel was complicit in it. Though her father Finarfin quietly resisted Fëanor's charms, she was very much part of the rebellion.
Fëanor is such a complex character. In some ways, he is like Melkor in his rebellion against the Valar. But he curses Melkor with the name Morgoth, and his creations are actually beautiful, unlike Melkor's.
August 5, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Fëanor is such a complex character. In some ways, he is like Melkor in his rebellion against the Valar. But he curses Melkor with the name Morgoth, and his creations are actually beautiful, unlike Melkor's.
Twitter really was better as a streams of consciousness reading log. I suppose that's what I'm here for now.
August 5, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Twitter really was better as a streams of consciousness reading log. I suppose that's what I'm here for now.
I was today years old when I learned that Utumno's other name was Udûn, which is why it is that a Balrog of Morgoth is a flame of Udûn.
August 5, 2025 at 11:40 AM
I was today years old when I learned that Utumno's other name was Udûn, which is why it is that a Balrog of Morgoth is a flame of Udûn.
Oh, to think that Durin’s Bane was the same kind of thing that killed Fëanor.
August 5, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Oh, to think that Durin’s Bane was the same kind of thing that killed Fëanor.
I had thought to take notes for this revisitation of The Silmarillion, but as I plan to have an annual Tolkien reread now, I feel that the need for notes is not at all urgent.
August 5, 2025 at 11:25 AM
I had thought to take notes for this revisitation of The Silmarillion, but as I plan to have an annual Tolkien reread now, I feel that the need for notes is not at all urgent.
I think a lot about what James Alison said about the ethics of being Catholic when I read Dostoevsky. To paraphrase, I also don’t know anyone who’s read Dostoevsky for ethical reasons.
August 5, 2025 at 10:46 AM
I think a lot about what James Alison said about the ethics of being Catholic when I read Dostoevsky. To paraphrase, I also don’t know anyone who’s read Dostoevsky for ethical reasons.
I think part of the reason I haven’t been able to get through my reread of Crime and Punishment for the last year is that I can’t help but think that when he’s punning on the Raskolniks, he includes a Greek Catholic like me — which, rude.
August 5, 2025 at 10:44 AM
I think part of the reason I haven’t been able to get through my reread of Crime and Punishment for the last year is that I can’t help but think that when he’s punning on the Raskolniks, he includes a Greek Catholic like me — which, rude.
I think it’s quite interesting how much of the existentialism of modern theology is more or less commentary on Dostoevsky’s rather problematic account of Orthodoxy.
August 5, 2025 at 10:43 AM
I think it’s quite interesting how much of the existentialism of modern theology is more or less commentary on Dostoevsky’s rather problematic account of Orthodoxy.
The other day I was wondering why I didn’t have any modern theology in my current reading diet, and as I sought to correct the problem, I remembered that I’m supposed to be reading Dostoevsky.
August 5, 2025 at 10:38 AM
The other day I was wondering why I didn’t have any modern theology in my current reading diet, and as I sought to correct the problem, I remembered that I’m supposed to be reading Dostoevsky.
At last, I think I am back to using Bluesky the same way I used to use Twitter. It’s a place for my random miscellany about occasional reading that is tangential to my actual work.
August 5, 2025 at 10:37 AM
At last, I think I am back to using Bluesky the same way I used to use Twitter. It’s a place for my random miscellany about occasional reading that is tangential to my actual work.
I aspire to be as much a legendarium superfan as Stephen Colbert and freely admit that is why I am seriously rereading The Silmarillion. If only I could tell myself not to have sold my copy of the Unfinished Tales when I moved.
August 5, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I aspire to be as much a legendarium superfan as Stephen Colbert and freely admit that is why I am seriously rereading The Silmarillion. If only I could tell myself not to have sold my copy of the Unfinished Tales when I moved.