Sidekick Showcase is a monthly bookish meme, hosted here by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! I will post my Sidekicks on the first Saturday of the month, then whichever day during the month that you would like to post yours, you can put your link in on my page. Just do the following:
• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in the week's topic
• Share a picture (if you can) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• The day of your post, click the 'Sidekicks' link in my header and enter the link for your post. Here, you can also see anyone else that posted during the month to visit their Sidekick Showcase's as well.
Topic ideas for November are Soldier (November 10 is the birthday of the United States Marine Corps), Children (National Homeless Youth Awareness Month) or bearded folk (No Shave November).That being said and since I rock a beard myself I chose my favorite bearded sidekick.
My choice is Balin
from The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
My choice is Balin
from The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
from The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
You may be wondering what makes him standout from the other dwarves in the fellowship. Well despite being the second oldest in the group he is the first to accept Bilbo and start showing him respect. Balin has a good heart and is loyal as he is the only one willing to accompany Bilbo down the secret passage to Smaug. Of all the dwarves he is the only one that is mentioned to visit him at Bag End. He also has a great sense of humor and shows it when Bilbo explains how he used the ring to turn invisible and so sneak up on the group after escaping the goblins.
Quotes:
“Gollum! Well I’m blest! So that’s how he sneaked past me, is it? Now I know! Just crept quietly along did you, Mr. Baggins? Buttons all over the doorstep! Good old Bilbo—Bilbo—Bilbo—bo-bo-bo—“ And then he fell asleep, and there was complete silence for a long while.
"Well it is the first time that even a mouse has crept along carefully and quietly under my very nose and not been spottted," said Ballin," and I take off my hood to you." Which he did.
Balin: Wouldn't bother, lad. Swords are named for the great deeds they do in war.
Bilbo Baggins: What are you saying? That my sword hasn't seen battle?
Balin: Not actually sure it is a sword. More of a letter opener, really.
I agree, he is pretty awesome.
ReplyDeleteThat he was, :D no shave November's ideal candidate. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteI read The Hobbit when I was a kid and I was not a good reader back then, but the Shire and the small homes and gardens stuck with me all this time. I love the movies though. Balin is a perfect choice. I don't think I'll choose a bearded character this month because I suddenly can't remember a singly hairy sidekick.
ReplyDeleteLol well Jaclyn did have me pick other options beside bearded. I just had to give a shout out to no shave November :p but yeah I love Balin.
ReplyDeleteGreat choice, Matt. I hadn't really thought about how he was the first to show respect to Bilbo. :)
ReplyDeleteI guess he was second in command for more reason's then just his age. Balin may have been the wisest one in the group by a wide margin.
ReplyDelete