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4.48 AVERAGE
4.48 AVERAGE
A really great ending to a phenomenal series. As always, Tolkien’s writing style was a lot for me, but as I read I began to appreciate it more and more. This book was probably my favorite of the series, and really kept me engaged through the book. The climax of the book, while some might argue its rushed, felt right for the story and every plot point had its purpose. The ending was extremely satisfying and very heartbreaking, a hard end on a masterful series where everyone gets what they deserved (: (cough, cough, sharkey)
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A satisfying conclusion to the saga. Book 1 is Tolkien at his best: battles with advantages shifting and unexpected twists/turns, royal drama, and the interplay between Frodo's pity/sympathy for Gollum vs. Sam's hostility coming to a head, although Tolkien leaves meat on the bone for Book 2. I did find Denithor's madness somewhat unsatisfying - I get the symmetry btw Denithor's fall/theoden's rise, the corrupting influence of evil even from afar, etc. But ultimately I just found "this guy who was normal and fought against sauron for decades suddenly decided to kill himself" unsatisfying, and Tolkien didn't get me to suspend my disbelief like he did with everything else.
Book 2 starts off strong: Tolkien builds up the drama well at the Battle of Morannon, and the climax of the entire quest has you wanting to know the answer to the question: will frodo be able to willingly throw away the ring? Unlike with Denethor, I did find the end result (Gollum tries to steal the ring, bites Frodo's finger off, and falls into Mt Doom) to be satisfying and well-motivated. Gollum was always clearly just buying time until he had a chance to get the ring, and it also provided Frodo with the opportunity for heroism without absolving him of desire or turning his human desire for the ring into god-like asceticism/detachment. I also really enjoyed the scouring of the ring -- not giving the hobbits a simple happy ever after was an interesting choice and I think Tolkien pulled it off. But between the climax and the scouring, Book 2 dragged on way too long during the journey home. And an audiobook for the appendix just doesn't work. I should go back and listen to the story of arwen and Aragon, but the history of the hobbits was too boring.
Overall, it was a satisfying end and Tolkien got the important stuff right, but there was some craft and it wasn't quite as engaging as 2 Towers or the Fellowship to me.
Book 2 starts off strong: Tolkien builds up the drama well at the Battle of Morannon, and the climax of the entire quest has you wanting to know the answer to the question: will frodo be able to willingly throw away the ring? Unlike with Denethor, I did find the end result (Gollum tries to steal the ring, bites Frodo's finger off, and falls into Mt Doom) to be satisfying and well-motivated. Gollum was always clearly just buying time until he had a chance to get the ring, and it also provided Frodo with the opportunity for heroism without absolving him of desire or turning his human desire for the ring into god-like asceticism/detachment. I also really enjoyed the scouring of the ring -- not giving the hobbits a simple happy ever after was an interesting choice and I think Tolkien pulled it off. But between the climax and the scouring, Book 2 dragged on way too long during the journey home. And an audiobook for the appendix just doesn't work. I should go back and listen to the story of arwen and Aragon, but the history of the hobbits was too boring.
Overall, it was a satisfying end and Tolkien got the important stuff right, but there was some craft and it wasn't quite as engaging as 2 Towers or the Fellowship to me.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Better than the second book, but not on par with the first one.
Has the same issue as Two Tower when it comes to the Sam x Frodo chapters being a slog. Thank god it was much shorter this time. I was really ready to drop it all had it lasted any longer.
Never thought I'd leave this trilogy with that thought in mind but to me Merry, Pippin, their growths (both physical and psychological), and the intimate relationships they built through their own kindness and bravery with the rulers and people of Gondor and Rohan, was IMO the true heart of this book, and of the trilogy if we include all they did ever since the first pages of the story until now.
Aragorn turning out to be nowhere near the two timing weirdo of the movies was the biggest blessing I received reading this trilogy.
Still as pissed if not more against the films because where were those last chapters in the adaptation? As someone who found a completely new appreciation and respect for the Lord of the Rings after reading it myself, It really feels like the directors didn't really understand the less grandiose core charms and themes of the trilogy. The last chapters were both some of the most whimsical and heartbreaking, I'm so glad I now know the TRUE greatness of the Hobbits and the Shire (esp Merry and Pippin).
Gimli and Legolas were sweet even if much less important than on screen.
I was surprisingly pleased with the way Faramir, Denethor, Eowyn, Eomer, Theoden and Prince Imrahil were characterized here. They really shined in the books.
As disappointed as I am for not enjoying this trilogy more. I do not regret reading it one bit as it helped me better understand its general appeal and cultural worth.
Has the same issue as Two Tower when it comes to the Sam x Frodo chapters being a slog. Thank god it was much shorter this time. I was really ready to drop it all had it lasted any longer.
Never thought I'd leave this trilogy with that thought in mind but to me Merry, Pippin, their growths (both physical and psychological), and the intimate relationships they built through their own kindness and bravery with the rulers and people of Gondor and Rohan, was IMO the true heart of this book, and of the trilogy if we include all they did ever since the first pages of the story until now.
Aragorn turning out to be nowhere near the two timing weirdo of the movies was the biggest blessing I received reading this trilogy.
Still as pissed if not more against the films because where were those last chapters in the adaptation? As someone who found a completely new appreciation and respect for the Lord of the Rings after reading it myself, It really feels like the directors didn't really understand the less grandiose core charms and themes of the trilogy. The last chapters were both some of the most whimsical and heartbreaking, I'm so glad I now know the TRUE greatness of the Hobbits and the Shire (esp Merry and Pippin).
Gimli and Legolas were sweet even if much less important than on screen.
I was surprisingly pleased with the way Faramir, Denethor, Eowyn, Eomer, Theoden and Prince Imrahil were characterized here. They really shined in the books.
As disappointed as I am for not enjoying this trilogy more. I do not regret reading it one bit as it helped me better understand its general appeal and cultural worth.
I really enjoyed the appendices at the end explaining the language and ancestry and everything.
adventurous
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No