Thinking about buying a (recent) Hardback edition...any recommendations?

actually you are all wrong. As its rather hot in Ithilien due to Sauron Warming, The Heffalump flops down on Sam's taters, squishing them into mush, thus inventing mashed potaters.

Forest Shepherd wrote:
I don't recall the bit about Gollum sneezing, but now I'm not sure.

It may just be spluttering but I seem to recall sneezing. In either case Gollum doesn't "relish" the smell of flowers. Shall have to take a look.

Maybe this?

It seemed to the Hobbits that the fragrance of the air grew (at one point): "... and from the blowing and muttering of Gollum it seemed that he noticed it too, and did not relish it."

That was it. Not clearly sneezing.

This girl I know just found the Hobbit + LotR boxed paperback Alan Lee set in pretty much new condition outside of a library in the free box! WTF what luck. Meanwhile I have the ripped-in-half film tie-in copy from 2001 or whatever bound with cardboard and red book-tape on the ends. I mean, it's my beloved copy, but I'd snatch up a find like that before I even knew what my hands were doing!

Did you snatch it away from her?

No, she even offered it to me because she knows how much I enjoy Tolkien, but I wanted her to have it.

Next time!

You wanted her to have it. I sense a future in this young female.

Yeah I didn't say anything like how Malickfan did but I guess we're kind of dating. She lives two-and-a-half hours away now, moved right after we finally did something about our ten-month-long-mutual crushes. She was in my RPG group. I saw her at the convention two weeks ago, and we have plans to take turns driving over on the weekends. I guess we'll see how it goes. First time for me so I'm very much feeling it out as I go along. Sure wish distance wasn't involved, but oh well.

An appropriate distance can be your friend. Keeps things special. Also gives you an excuse to explore any places at the halfway point together.

Awwwwwwww!