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4.46 AVERAGE
4.46 AVERAGE
4 stars averaged from each book.
The Fellowship of the rings -3 (book one 2, book two 4)
The two towers - 4.5 ( book three 4, book four 5)
The Return of the King - 4.5 ( book five 4, book six 5)
Happy I read it/them. Happy to be done reading it/them. Tolkien really likes to describe things and build worlds which isn’t really my thing, but the money shots are worth the rest.
The Fellowship of the rings -3 (book one 2, book two 4)
The two towers - 4.5 ( book three 4, book four 5)
The Return of the King - 4.5 ( book five 4, book six 5)
Happy I read it/them. Happy to be done reading it/them. Tolkien really likes to describe things and build worlds which isn’t really my thing, but the money shots are worth the rest.
What can you say about this book that has not already been said? What a huge creative power Tolkien had, that he could create such beautiful worlds (especially the Elves and the Ents are sublime). Basically, of course, it's about the classic struggle between good and evil, about real friendship and sacrifice, perseverance and courage. But it remains well-balanced and beautifully laced with a layer of sophisticated humor and introspection, a blissful panoramic epic that in many ways is reminiscent of the Iliad and the Odyssey, but with its own, slightly medieval references.
Some minor critical comments?: 1. the many songs of course are specific to those imaginative worlds, but unfortunately "work" not so well in ours; 2. women hardly come into the picture and if they do, they hardly transcend the archetype of the virtuous courtly Lady; only in the annexes Tolkien corrects this image slightly.
Ultimately, it is the diversity in the world of the Ring that most enchanted me: all those kinds of people, elves, hobbits, orcs, wizards, etc. with their own language, customs and history, their great and small flaws and defects. It's a rich variety which engenders wonder and interest. The most hopeful message the book gives is that Tolkien illustrates that even those different types beings can find "common ground" and make life more livable. What a glorious performance!
Some minor critical comments?: 1. the many songs of course are specific to those imaginative worlds, but unfortunately "work" not so well in ours; 2. women hardly come into the picture and if they do, they hardly transcend the archetype of the virtuous courtly Lady; only in the annexes Tolkien corrects this image slightly.
Ultimately, it is the diversity in the world of the Ring that most enchanted me: all those kinds of people, elves, hobbits, orcs, wizards, etc. with their own language, customs and history, their great and small flaws and defects. It's a rich variety which engenders wonder and interest. The most hopeful message the book gives is that Tolkien illustrates that even those different types beings can find "common ground" and make life more livable. What a glorious performance!
adventurous
dark
inspiring
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Oh boy, where do I even begin? This is my second read of the Lord of the Rings, and it wasn't until now that I realized Tolkien single-handedly created one of-if not the greatest piece of imaginative literature ever conceived. I say the word 'literature' with high praise because when this book came out in the 50s, early reviews made it sound like a hunk of over-bloated pulp fiction. But The Lord of the Rings is no Conan the Barbarian story (and I love Conan, but it's not literature) because every page is almost overflowing with beautiful prose, thematic depth, metaphor, foreshadowing, and probably to Tolkien's dismay-illusions and allegories I could never have picked up on when I was just a kid reading it for the Battle of the Hornburg and the awesome Siege of Gondor. This is a book that will teach you pity, mercy, make you appreciate nature, and teach you lessons about friendship and courage. Frodo, Samwise, Meriadoc, and Peregrin Took are all heroes but they're not the edgy badass types out there to save the day. They're characters who grow and aren't afraid to ask for help. Sometimes all we need is a little help, and that's virtuous in of itself.
There were some parts I love and some part there were hard getting though. Some part took me be surprised in a good way and others were funny in both ways. I still have some questions I hoped the books could answer as the movie didn't, and get answers some of my questions. Sometimes the book were better and others times the movie I'd it best. So I feel 3 står is a fair overall score for me to give it.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
slow-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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
I can’t keep up with the world building and all the lore tbh but power to Tolkien and the ppl that can. I’m reallllly looking forward to watching the movie!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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:
Complicated