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tamutheshamu's reviews
185 reviews
5.0
"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.
2.0
Yes, I understand that the point of reading Shakespeare isn’t to delve so much into the nit-picky personal aspects of the story; it’s more about understanding the idea of the play and portraying it as a performance to be enjoyed. Unfortunately, it just didn’t have the same appeal and overall charm as “Julius Caesar” did, in my opinion.
5.0
This is so sad. Alexa, play "Despacito".
This novella was so incredibly close to making me cry at 3 a.m., and I don't regret it at all. The underlying themes and morals brought to life in this short little book really pack a punch, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out how meaningful the words are.
"But he answered, "You must get to work now. You must get back to your engine. I'll wait here. Come back tomorrow night." But I wasn't reassured. I remembered the fox. You risk tears if you let yourself be tamed.
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
Amazing work. Truly.
2.0
* 2.5 Stars *
Unfortunately, this was a very nice idea for a book that ended being the same few sentences restated in slightly different ways. I picked this up from the Kindle Prime Reading section because it looked interesting, and for the first one and a half chapters, it was. However, it just lost me at the 55 tips. I think that the recaps at the end basically summed up the entire book in like, two pages. Slightly disappointed, but not truly upset at the book itself. Valiant effort?
4.0
* 4.5 Stars *
Great short by Kafka that includes the contrast between power and meaning.
4.0
(Just a little mad as my friend spoiled the ending, but still great!)