ruraldutchie 's review for:

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Independently, I'd give these books 3-4 stars; but the entire thing, the extra information in the appendix is just... It's mesmemirising and sooo layered, it's insane!!!

I always thought I loved the movies, but having read the books (after several tries; I think 30 y/o does the trick and makes me mature enough to complete the trilogy), I think the movies have some serious faults:

• 
  - esp. how they portrayed Frodo like a whiny little b...
  - Saruman teaming up for/with Barad-dûr rather than doing it all for his own motives
  - the Ents wanting to fight for themselves rather than Merry and Pippin having to seriously convince them of standing up
  - Merry's relationship with Theoden and Eówyn
  - Pippin's relationship with Faramir/Beregond
  - Portrayal of Merry, Pippin, Frodo and Gimli throughout (although sure, Gimli is funny in the movies)
  - Eowyn's depression and finding a reason to live (again) in Faramir
  - Gimli's admiration of Galadriel
  - The sons of Elrond were all over the place lol
  - Arwen pretty insignificant? But what a SAD ending to her story omg
  - Denethor is insane but he does NOT mistakenly believe Faramir's dead but rather hopelessness is on him and he's been manipulated by Sauron because of the palantír he has (Denethor had a palantír???)
  - Celeborn stayed in Middle-Earth after Galadriel left and rebuilt Lothlórien basically and was friendsies with Thranduil??? Then he got bored and went to Rivendell to chill with Elladan and Elrohan??
  -Saruman didn't die in Isengard
  
• the list goes ooooon