Release Date: 1954
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Source: Bought
Summary
Frodo Baggins knew the Ringwraiths were searching for him - and the Ring of Power he bore that would enable Sauron to destroy all that was good in Middle-earth. Now it was up to Frodo and his faithful servant Sam to carry the Ring to where it could be detroyed - in the very center of Sauron's dark kingdom. (courtesy of Goodreads)
Review
My goal for this summer was to read the entire Lord of the Rings series. I don't think that's going to happen, but I'd like to finish it. I'd read the first book (as well as the second) many years ago, but remembered virtually nothing. I liked it better than I did the first time, but it still probably won't go down on my list of favorite reads.
My main issue with the book is that it's so dense. That's not a criticism of the book. It's more of a personal taste. Sometimes I have time and am in the mood for a complex book that I really have to focus on, but not often. Especially when I have tons of other books to read.
To really get into LOTR, I think you need to delve completely into it. Unlike Harry Potter, it doesn't pull me in. I have to choose to immerse myself into it. This makes sense since LOTR is aimed at a different age of reader than Harry Potter. And fifty years separates the two series.
Fellowship of the Ring is much darker than The Hobbit. I'd read that Tolkien originally intended to write LOTR as a follow-up children's series but realized as it was going that it was more adult. The darkness develops slowly. The beginning has some of the light-hearted fun of The Hobbit. Bilbo and then Frodo leaves The Shire. We meet the big cast of characters and slowly the journey gets started. Very slowly. This book is mostly about the very beginning of the journey. I wanted things to get moving, but I appreciate that a strong foundation will pay off in the end.
I'm glad I re-read Fellowship of the Ring. I enjoyed it, but it often felt like homework. I appreciate the book as much as I like it. I'll continue with the self-imposed assignment and hope that I really click with the series eventually.
Recommendation: Borrow and then Buy if you really like it
Here's How to Buy the Book!
I also really struggled with the density. I am an immense fan of the movies and have seem the twenty times each but had never read the books. When I began The Fellowship I expected it to just like the movie. I took me weeks to read this book but still I am glad I did. I know have even more admiration for Peter Jackson as he managed to stay true to the story without getting lost in the depths of Tolkien. Good luck with the Two Towers!
ReplyDeleteI can understand your feelings. It was a challenge to get through them all at times. Fortunately, I only read a few pages each day and then ready something light and fluffy along side them. It helped immensely!
ReplyDeleteHonstely I am not a fan of these books. I know people think I'm crazy not liking this master piece but like you said, it's so dense! It's dark and it trags on forever! I stopped in the middle of book 2 several times as it got so boring before I could finish the series once.
ReplyDeleteMaybe by rereading it now you are going to like it better? I hope you do!
And .. the movies are phenomenal:)) Just saying! ha
I'm a huge fan of LOTR. I read the 3 books in a few days - I got really immersed into the story and couldn't stop reading.
ReplyDeleteAnd the movies are also amazing. I think that's one of the few cases where the movie is as good as the book :)
What interesting about this is that I have read this series 3 times now. The first two times just loved it. I re-read it in 2007 and that time I think maybe I wasn't in the mood? I just didn't enjoy it that time around. I am due for a re-read again soon.
ReplyDeleteThis is one book I do want to read. I love the movies so yes the book is definitely on my list.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying out the audiobooks for my Tolkien reread experiece - but I think actually reading them like you did would be a totally different experience than listening. I need to do that sometime soon. Glad you enjoyed your reread, even if it IS dense.
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