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A review by tamutheshamu
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
5.0
This is my analysis/review of The Fellowship of the Ring: if you have not read this book yet, I would advise to read just the first paragraph of this review and leave the rest for later.
Many would label the Lord of the Rings series as one of the best fantasy epics of all time, and they would be truly correct in doing so. The Fellowship of the Ring is written in such beautiful prose form, and after watching all of the Lord of the Rings movies multiple times, it's a breath of fresh air to finally read the book(s) that inspired it all.
The journey at the beginning of the story from the Shire in Hobbiton all the way to Lothlorien and across the Great River is just a whirlwind of "wow". Some may say that the book was boring, a response to Tolkien's long and drawn out descriptions of the setting and character thoughts. However, that is just what makes the story so intriguing. Tolkien manages to draw you so deeply into the world of Middle-Earth that you can't even remember what day it is or where you actually are. All your focus belongs to the story, and that is exactly what makes an excellent story.
I have read lots of reviews and comments about the chapters concerning the character Tom Bombadil, who was left out of the movie adaptations, but played a role in some of the beginning chapters of the book. In response, I would just like to point out that Bombadil wasn't there for some simple comedic relief; he represented a character (one of the only ones so far, in fact) that was resistant, or indifferent to the power of the One [Ring]. It showed that not everything in Middle-Earth could be corrupted, regardless of the ever-growing evil sweeping through the lands in the form of shadows and dark beings. There was still some purity in the midst of all this darkness, and above all that, Bombadil's chapters with his wife Goldberry were pretty entertaining to read anyways!
One more thing I would like to address would be Tolkien's consistent use of poetry throughout the story. If you aren't used to reading poetry or Tolkien-styled prose, you may feel a bit confused and maybe even slightly annoyed at the constant mentions of song and chants from the characters of Middle-Earth and the Fellowship. However, it's this intertwining of poetic writing and regular prose that brings the lore and overall story of the history of Middle-Earth to light. It allows the reader to explore more than just the simple plot elements as you delve deep into the beginnings of Middle-Earth, how the great cities of the world were built and the parallels between characters of old and new.
In short, The Fellowship of the Ring is nothing short of an incredible fantasy novel that deserves all the recognition it can get.
Here's a meme to spice your day up.
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost."
Many would label the Lord of the Rings series as one of the best fantasy epics of all time, and they would be truly correct in doing so. The Fellowship of the Ring is written in such beautiful prose form, and after watching all of the Lord of the Rings movies multiple times, it's a breath of fresh air to finally read the book(s) that inspired it all.
The journey at the beginning of the story from the Shire in Hobbiton all the way to Lothlorien and across the Great River is just a whirlwind of "wow". Some may say that the book was boring, a response to Tolkien's long and drawn out descriptions of the setting and character thoughts. However, that is just what makes the story so intriguing. Tolkien manages to draw you so deeply into the world of Middle-Earth that you can't even remember what day it is or where you actually are. All your focus belongs to the story, and that is exactly what makes an excellent story.
I have read lots of reviews and comments about the chapters concerning the character Tom Bombadil, who was left out of the movie adaptations, but played a role in some of the beginning chapters of the book. In response, I would just like to point out that Bombadil wasn't there for some simple comedic relief; he represented a character (one of the only ones so far, in fact) that was resistant, or indifferent to the power of the One [Ring]. It showed that not everything in Middle-Earth could be corrupted, regardless of the ever-growing evil sweeping through the lands in the form of shadows and dark beings. There was still some purity in the midst of all this darkness, and above all that, Bombadil's chapters with his wife Goldberry were pretty entertaining to read anyways!
One more thing I would like to address would be Tolkien's consistent use of poetry throughout the story. If you aren't used to reading poetry or Tolkien-styled prose, you may feel a bit confused and maybe even slightly annoyed at the constant mentions of song and chants from the characters of Middle-Earth and the Fellowship. However, it's this intertwining of poetic writing and regular prose that brings the lore and overall story of the history of Middle-Earth to light. It allows the reader to explore more than just the simple plot elements as you delve deep into the beginnings of Middle-Earth, how the great cities of the world were built and the parallels between characters of old and new.
In short, The Fellowship of the Ring is nothing short of an incredible fantasy novel that deserves all the recognition it can get.
Here's a meme to spice your day up.