Reviews

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

beze0's review against another edition

5.0

I am a broken man. I’m literally obsessed don’t get me wrong this is the kind of book that makes me want to reread it with a notebook in one hand and a middle earth history textbook in the other just to appreciate how much there is and actually catch everything going on but also. Augh endings

lev00's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• 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? No

4.25

frittata's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful slow-paced

• 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? N/A

5.0

whipson's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny lighthearted tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

jodieorange's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I sobbed so hard when I finished this book I genuinely thought I was going to throw up x 

cowmouflage's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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? No

3.75

akki's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

5.0

knaecke23's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

debitoni's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? No

5.0

bernieanderson's review against another edition

5.0

"Well, I'm back."

Sigh. I was almost in tears as I read those words. There is SO much I love about these books, I can't even begin to explain the details. I will make a couple of notes for those who have only watched the movies and have never read the books -- here are a few significant differences, and more reason for you to invest the time to read these.

1. Hobbits are not helpless creatures to be rescued: The fortitude and strength of hobbits are much more pronounced in the books. They stab nazgûl and scour the shire and destroy magic rings of power. Don't let their size deceive you.

2. Eowyn is one of my favorite characters and is nothing like Rapunzel: Yes she was a little smitten with Aragorn in the book -- but not to the point it feels like she was in the movie. And her badassery in the book is profound and inspiring.

3. Aragorn is not a hero's journey trope in the book: He knows who he is from the beginning. He knows his destiny and is always moving toward it. His character in the book is much stronger -- and (in my opinion) more inspiring. One os my least favorite aspects of the movies was their portrayal of Aragorn.

4. The scouring of the Shire is one of the most important chapters in the story: It was not in the movie -- and I get why. (in the same way I "get" why Tom Bombadil wasn't in the movie). But the scouring of the Shire shows the change in the Hobbits and gives a more satisfying fate to Saruman.

All I can say is read. Read these books. Then read them again.