Yes, that’s The Hobbit in Latin on my side table! (next to my plasma globe “palantir” and my plush Peter Pettigrew rat from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter…) It was a great surprise in my mail today. I can’t wait to read it! What better way to prepare for the film – the first installation of the trilogy, at least – than by reading this classic of fantasy literature in a classic language?
To be honest, my Latin is getting a little rusty. I don’t teach it any more, and for various reasons, I mostly pray my breviary in English nowadays. Most of the time I offer Mass in the parish, in either English or Portuguese, so not much Latin there either. This will be a welcome opportunity to enjoy and refresh my memory of both both a great book and a great language!
Thanks to my parents, who I believe are the ones who bought this for me off my Amazon wishlist!
Perpetual Learner 
Yes, your parents wanted you to have a couple things in hand to celebrate your ordination anniversary, the start of Advent, and just because.