A review by studiomikarts
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This audiobook narrated by Andy Serkis isn't just a reading of J.R.R. Tolkien's work, it's a world-class performance 🤩 I've always been moved by the epic nature of this tale, but never before have I felt the emotion in it so keenly. Something especially effective in the narration is the use of drawn-out pauses, the intake of breath, the volume and cadence of speech, etc., to bring the scenes to life. It was as if the characters were saying these things for the first time ever, the conversations developing organically, with no hint of the fact that their words were decided decades ago, and have been repeated countless times since. A film grander than the Peter Jackson adaptations played in my mind's eye as I listened to this masterful delivery. Even when, in future, I properly read the books for the Nth time, Andy Serkis's brilliant interpretation will forever inspire my own inner voice. My experience of The Fellowship of the Ring has been permanently altered for the better by this audiobook. I had no idea, as a lifelong fan of Middle Earth, that such a thing was possible!