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4.48 AVERAGE
4.48 AVERAGE
The first half of this put me in a reading slump, so much so that I was desperate to finish just so I could read something else. Tolkiens writing style was challenging, there were so many details that I just skipped over because I felt lost. However, the series proved to be a whimsical and cozy journey that I couldn’t turn away from. Will I ever read the series again? No, probably not, but I’m glad that I did.
These books have such an elevated level in my mind that it was almost disappointing reading them again and finding out they do indeed have flaws. Still, the level of detail, beauty, sadness, history, heroism, and overall worldbuilding in the Lord of the Rings is just on another plane of existence.
I was also struck again by how brilliant the Peter Jackson changes were in the movies. He adds conflict where its lacking, he cuts many long-winded scenes, he changes some of the orc dialogue that felt silly and dated, he expands many of the more exciting scenes, and he, ahem, cuts the scouring of the Shire...which feels really tacked on and unimportant at the end. HE ALSO ADDS IN THE ARAGORN AND ARWEN SCENES WHICH ONLY SHOW UP IN THE APPENDICES!!! It's unfortunate he could not replicate his ability to make positive changes with the Hobbit movies...
Again, re-reading them I did find the flaws mentioned above, but I'm still rating ROTK 5 stars because it's that amazing.
I was also struck again by how brilliant the Peter Jackson changes were in the movies. He adds conflict where its lacking, he cuts many long-winded scenes, he changes some of the orc dialogue that felt silly and dated, he expands many of the more exciting scenes, and he, ahem, cuts the scouring of the Shire...which feels really tacked on and unimportant at the end. HE ALSO ADDS IN THE ARAGORN AND ARWEN SCENES WHICH ONLY SHOW UP IN THE APPENDICES!!! It's unfortunate he could not replicate his ability to make positive changes with the Hobbit movies...
Again, re-reading them I did find the flaws mentioned above, but I'm still rating ROTK 5 stars because it's that amazing.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Love, love, love the series. Can’t tell if I love or hate the bittersweet ending.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My five-year old son and I have spent a lot of time together this summer. He and I went on an 18-hour road trip together (just us two) as well as a handful of other, smaller road trips with the rest of the family. One of the highlights for us both was listening to the Lord of the Rings trilogy on audiobook, narrated by Andy Serkis. He and I were totally enthralled. The rocketed to the top of his growing list of favorite books and I was reminded why I cherish this story so much. We are lucky to live at a point in time in which we can read these masterpieces.
"The Return of the King" is just a flawless novel. It encompasses a thrilling climax, a satisfying conclusion, and one of the best final sentences of any novel I've read. It's hard to even write a review for so perfect a book. Suffice it to say that I judge "The Return of the King" to be perfect--higher than any rating.
One of my favorite things about the Lord of the Rings is how thoroughly rural English it is. It is also indicative of just how easily our own biases and judgments seep into our creative works and imaginations. Tolkien's life was filled with fascinating epochs. He was a distinguished professor of Anglo-Saxon, a veteran of some of the hardest fighting witnessed in the First World War, and a child of British colonials in South Africa. All of these experiences are reflected in his masterwork. But his quintessential English-ness is reflected in The Lord of the Rings above all else. Tolkien also clearly subscribed to the popular English belief around the turn of the century that the Industrial Revolution spoiled the natural beauty that had previously abounded in England. (There's an entire chapter dedicated to the rise of this belief system in Robert Tombs' "The English and Their History.")
I love this book and its author. It transcends generations, cultures, and languages. For that alone, Tolkien should be revered. But the story contained within the six books of The Lord of the Rings is a classic tale of the fight between good and evil and the costs that it imposes on those that engage.
"The Return of the King" is just a flawless novel. It encompasses a thrilling climax, a satisfying conclusion, and one of the best final sentences of any novel I've read. It's hard to even write a review for so perfect a book. Suffice it to say that I judge "The Return of the King" to be perfect--higher than any rating.
One of my favorite things about the Lord of the Rings is how thoroughly rural English it is. It is also indicative of just how easily our own biases and judgments seep into our creative works and imaginations. Tolkien's life was filled with fascinating epochs. He was a distinguished professor of Anglo-Saxon, a veteran of some of the hardest fighting witnessed in the First World War, and a child of British colonials in South Africa. All of these experiences are reflected in his masterwork. But his quintessential English-ness is reflected in The Lord of the Rings above all else. Tolkien also clearly subscribed to the popular English belief around the turn of the century that the Industrial Revolution spoiled the natural beauty that had previously abounded in England. (There's an entire chapter dedicated to the rise of this belief system in Robert Tombs' "The English and Their History.")
I love this book and its author. It transcends generations, cultures, and languages. For that alone, Tolkien should be revered. But the story contained within the six books of The Lord of the Rings is a classic tale of the fight between good and evil and the costs that it imposes on those that engage.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I know I'm going to reread this when I'm older and pour over every single word, but as much as I appreciate this series endlessly, I didn't enjoy myself while reading volume 5 (the first half of this installment). Volume 6, when we follow Sam and Frodo destroying the Ring, was the most enthralled I've been in the entire series, thanks in part to my undying love for Sam, one of the best characters in literature and you can't change my mind. I do think it's really interesting what parts of the story Tolkien decides to focus on compared to what is focused on nowadays. One day I'll be a die-hard LOTR fan, I swear! Time to go watch the movies :)