by George Giannakos and Robyn Yager | Slowing down a little and breaking out a good book is never a bad idea. But what to read? You could walk into any bookstore and roll the dice on a recent release, but here’s another option: pick up a book that you last put down 5, 10, or 20 years ago. For the next book in Scout’s Read It (Again) series, we’ve picked J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous Lord Of The Rings series.

Why You Should Read It Again: The Lord Of The Rings – considered one of the best books of the millennium – is as deserving of a second read as Samwise Gamgee is deserving of a second breakfast. Admittedly, the first read can be a bit of a trek, similar to the storyline itself. When it’s read a second time, however, one fully appreciates the finer details in language, song, and character, thus making it a more robust reading experience. The Lord Of The Rings is recognized as more than just a story about destroying “the one ring to rule them all”, it’s about letting go – of the past, of previous identity, of wanting to control everything. These deeper themes in the story can easily go unnoticed among the excitement of a first read. In the same way Bilbo craves a second adventure after returning home from his exploits in The Hobbit, you too will crave the adventure Tolkien brings by reading it again.

Pair It With: We could learn a thing or two from the eating habits of Hobbits. In addition to taking on a harrowing quest to destroy the one ring and the Dark Lord, Hobbits are also talented eaters and drinkers. This leads us to wonder: if Hobbits were to pass through Vancouver, what would they drink and where? We reckon one stop would be Robson’s Forage. With its penchant for only the freshest, most sustainable local ingredients, not only does it sound like the sort of place that Hobbits and Elves would likely frequent, but it also offers a most suitable beverage with which to quench an adventurer’s thirst: The Savory cocktail. It’s made with dill, Okanagan Spirits’ Aquavitus, and Victoria Spirits’ Gin. It looks like something straight out of Middle Earth and tastes that way, too. Though heavy up front in gin botanicals, it ends on notes of fennel and anise with the slightest hint of dill.

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