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bearystarry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Colonisation, Animal cruelty, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, and Confinement
Moderate: Racism and Misogyny
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Minor: Kidnapping, Grief, Confinement, Death, and Violence
squinnittowinit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
2.5 stars mostly because the writing is so unengaging. Plus, it's racist and sexist, as can be expected of its time. The rating would have been lower if not for Andy Serkis, he's that good of a narrator.
Graphic: Violence, Racism, and War
Moderate: Stalking, Kidnapping, Confinement, Grief, and Death
Minor: Cannibalism and Sexism
Starvation, giant spiders, paralysis, fallingmanu_k's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Special shoutout to Sam, who is so gloriously in love, and is honestly one of the more intelligent characters in the story.
Graphic: Death, Violence, War, Kidnapping, and Confinement
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Animal death
ran_sophia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Confinement, Animal cruelty, War, Stalking, Racism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Slavery, Torture, Toxic friendship, and Grief
bexi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Most of this book felt like "wake up, walk, maybe fight, eat, sleep." While it didn't bother me in Fellowship, I think it bothered me in The Two Towers because it seemed like that was the whole plot of this book.
I liked the beginning of the book well enough, especially any chapter with Merry, Pippin, and/or the Ents. The middle of the book was a slog for me and part of the reason I ended up in a two-week reading slump. The end of the book was the best part, and where I think Tolkein's writing shined the most.
Cons: very slow pacing at times, often repetitive, sometimes the dialogue seemed info-dumpy, the historical references to Middle-Earth in this book were confusing, most of the villains from "the race of Men" were darker-skinned or "wild"... which I found odd and a litte off-putting.
Pros: impressive world building, many scenes that drag you into Middle-Earth with the characters, creation of tense and ominous moods, wonderful character work, beautifully written male friendships, Tolkein's sense of humor.
Moderate: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Grief, Violence, and War
Minor: Alcohol, Misogyny, Racism, and Blood