Strongly disagree about the dialogue. I reread the novels for the first time in 20 years just last year and I was struck by how naturalistic and often hilarious the dialogue is, especially between hobbits.

Picture? I don't see one and didn't intentionally upload one.

EDIT: ah, I see it on mobile. Not sure why it's there or how to get rid of it.

Digressions about friendship and family make up the bulk of the series. I'm using the essay a bit as a mirror to the novels to make a point about the novels.

It seems to be a stylistic disagreement here, which isn't especially fruitful.

You not liking the essay is not the same thing as it being off-topic, but I don't suppose your mind will be changed

I think I make it clear in the essay that both of those elements are also about the book series. Call it an analogy.

I'm discussing a book series here.