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4.46 AVERAGE
4.46 AVERAGE
I feel rather conflicted, having finished this trilogy:
It is largely imperfect, but wildly ambitious.
It seems somewhat tired now, but was/is the foundation of a whole genre.
It drags on, but immerses you in a foreign world.
While I prefer the Hobbit, I have been thoroughly impressed (all things considered) and can understand the passion which characterizes the fandom. I’m excited for the movies! 8.5/10
It is largely imperfect, but wildly ambitious.
It seems somewhat tired now, but was/is the foundation of a whole genre.
It drags on, but immerses you in a foreign world.
While I prefer the Hobbit, I have been thoroughly impressed (all things considered) and can understand the passion which characterizes the fandom. I’m excited for the movies! 8.5/10
adventurous
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
What you think of this book will depend on the kind of person you are:
#1. You love world building and mythology and war stories. You will love these books.
#2. You love world building and mythology but aren't so hot on war stories. You will appreciate these books, but you may like The Hobbit more.
#3. You think world building and mythology are boring or beside the point. Stay far, far away.
The best part of these books for me was the relationship between Frodo & Sam. It was the first book I ever read where men loved each other and looked after each other and weren't scared if anyone would think they were gay. What a relief! (The movies actually kept some of this relationship despite eradicating many of the other good things about the books.) The mumakil are kind of awesome (still pretty awesome in the movies). Treebeard is cool (sped up but not bad in the movies). Galadriel & Lothlorien are enchanting (didn't work for me in the movies- too New Agey and not nature-based in the way Tolkien so loved). Saruman is an interesting villain twisted between good and evil (not so in the movies where he comes across as stock evil vizier that was never much good to start with). Merry & Pippin are endearing (turned more into comic relief in the movies). Denethor is tragic (turned into stock decadent aristocrat in the movies). Tom Bombadil is a joy (cut in the movies). Glorfindel is beautiful and inspiring (cut in the movies).
As far as each book individually, The Fellowship is probably the most absorbing, The Two gets pretty windy (it took me a couple tries to get through this one), & The Return is the most grandiose. I loved reading these as a teen, and I think I'd still enjoy them, but not as much as I did then.
#1. You love world building and mythology and war stories. You will love these books.
#2. You love world building and mythology but aren't so hot on war stories. You will appreciate these books, but you may like The Hobbit more.
#3. You think world building and mythology are boring or beside the point. Stay far, far away.
The best part of these books for me was the relationship between Frodo & Sam. It was the first book I ever read where men loved each other and looked after each other and weren't scared if anyone would think they were gay. What a relief! (The movies actually kept some of this relationship despite eradicating many of the other good things about the books.) The mumakil are kind of awesome (still pretty awesome in the movies). Treebeard is cool (sped up but not bad in the movies). Galadriel & Lothlorien are enchanting (didn't work for me in the movies- too New Agey and not nature-based in the way Tolkien so loved). Saruman is an interesting villain twisted between good and evil (not so in the movies where he comes across as stock evil vizier that was never much good to start with). Merry & Pippin are endearing (turned more into comic relief in the movies). Denethor is tragic (turned into stock decadent aristocrat in the movies). Tom Bombadil is a joy (cut in the movies). Glorfindel is beautiful and inspiring (cut in the movies).
As far as each book individually, The Fellowship is probably the most absorbing, The Two gets pretty windy (it took me a couple tries to get through this one), & The Return is the most grandiose. I loved reading these as a teen, and I think I'd still enjoy them, but not as much as I did then.
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
Finally! What a fantastic book. Were there parts that were a real slog to get through? Absolutely. But the great parts more than make up for it. The grand scale of adventure and fantasy and history were so fun to get engrossed in. Having the movies as a supplement to the theater of the mind was a real treat, and I'd still rank them over the books in terms of enjoyment-to-time-investment, but there are many aspects of the book that I prefer. I won't be reading it again any time soon (probably) but when I inevitably do, I'm putting together a collection of my favorite nuggets of wonderful descriptive writing, of which there are many.
Despite the five star review, if you don't like fantasy or taking your time with a book, this ain't it. But if you're on the fence even a little bit, read it! It's a genre-defining masterpiece.
Despite the five star review, if you don't like fantasy or taking your time with a book, this ain't it. But if you're on the fence even a little bit, read it! It's a genre-defining masterpiece.
I loved this book. It took me awhile to read but when I finished it I was glad that I read it. I loved all the descriptions that he put into it. I'm a huge fan of fantasy and this was just one of my favorite fantasies. I am now trying to learn Elvish because of these books. I'm also trying to read the Silmarillion though I never have time to do so.
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
tense
slow-paced