Back at Home

I've finally returned home three days later than expected. I am overwhelmed with school work to make up. I am usually quite busy anyway without the extra load, but oh well I'll manage. On the way home I did manage to get some reading done...the most in such a short time since the summer. I read Jane Austen's Persuasion as well as Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman; both contained some depth as well as some good points and messages. Persuasion I read for my own pleasure and though somewhat engaging, it was not nearly as interesting as a story as Pride and Prejudice, but I enjoyed it far more than Death of a Salesman which I read as an assignment for school. I found it too gloomy and strange and to me Miller's The Crucible is much better. By the way Cousin of the Puddle, I finally got the chance to look up that name that's been torturing me for three days: Iarwain. I should like to know if anyone with a knowledge of The Silmarillion has any idea who or what this Tom Bombadil character really is. I'm interested in any theories you may have.