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Summary: Finally a "real" unabridged recording of LOTR
Review: I am not one who usually buys books-on-tape (or CD as in this case) but I have long wanted to obtain the Lord of the Rings so as to hear this incredible story over and over. After having read it several times, my book is in tatters and so I searched for an unabridged audio recording. Many of those that I have seen claim to be "unabridged" but the fact is that they are not complete! They give parts of the books in full but leave out many sections or chapters. This set by Rob Inglis is COMPLETE!!! It is very well read with no drastic voicing of characters. Characters are easily distinguished and thoroughly enjoyable. This set is not full of sound effects and music, so if you are looking for that this is not for you. However, I personally prefer the fact that this is not an over-production and is rather quite focussed on what I wanted in the first place, the characters and the story. Inglis does a marvelous job and I am very happy with this set. Again, not to harp on it but, this is a "complete" package well worth the money!!!
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Summary: Even better than The Hobbit -- Inglis is a master!
Review: In my review of Rob Inglis' reading of The Hobbit, I said it seemed to take me a little while to get into his vocalizations, even though I'm a big fan of audio books (especially those read by a British voice).The Fellowship of the Ring, however, I fell in love with immediately. Rob Inglis' style is perfect for this book. He does the voices well and the story is far richer and more engrossing than that of The Hobbit. (Even though The Hobbit is delightful and unique in its own right.) There really isn't much I can say about these Lord of the Rings audio books that hasn't already been said. This CD edition of The Fellowship of the Ring read by Shakespearean actor Rob Inglis is perfect for you if: 1. You love The Lord of the Rings
2. You're intrigued by all the pre-movie hype and you'd like to discover what Tolkien's book is really all about
3. You have a lot of drive time on your hands and you'd like to fill it with something entertaining and intelligent
4. You can't stand listening to insipid Top 40 or Talk Radio programs
5. You love listening to the British dialect
6. You just want to have a good time hearing one of the greatest novels ever written read to you by a professionally trained actor who makes each character come to life. The sound quality on these CDs is, as it was on The Hobbit, superb. The recording level is perfect. The pace of the reading is just right. I'm about halfway through right now and I'm looking forward to every minute of it. This edition is a very good value for the price.
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Summary: A Beautiful Start
Review: "The Fellowship of the Ring" is the start to what is probably the most loved epic fantasy series ever written. From the first pages when Bilbo Baggins makes his secret departure from Hobbiton, you are drawn in to this lush story. Tolkien tells a wonderful story and is able to do that while keeping the reader hooked from page 1. "Fellowship" is the start of the trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings." In this first installment, Bilbo Baggins leaves Hobbiton and leaves The One Ring in the hands of his cousin, Frodo Baggins. When gandalf the Grey tells of brewing trouble the Hobbit says he's going to move to Buckland. He departs on a quest that will change his life forever. He takes along friends Sam, Merry, and Pippin. The hobbits finally reach Rivendell and an important counsel is held. This is the point in the book where the plot starts to skyrocket. To tell you any more on the plot would most likely ruin your reading. Tolkien's detail on nature and history is astounding and only makes the novel even greater. He is always describing the surroundings and I just couldn't get enough of it. Some may not like this detail because they say Tolkien just drags on and on. This couldn't be furthur from the truth. His detail only adds to this beautiful story. For those of you that are interested in reading this book because you loved the movie need to know what you are getting into. This is the start of one of the biggest and best fantasy epics of all time. Don't think that you're going to be opening a book that anybody can handle. That is not the case. Only people that are willing to make a commitment to a fabulous and sometimes complicated novel should buy this. "The Fellowship of the Ring" is the start to what is most likely the best fantasy epic of our time. There is not enough that one could say about such a riveting novel. I strongly recommend this to anyone that is interested in a wonderful fantasy that is willing to make a commitment. The best thing about "The Fellowship of the Ring" is that there are two more novels that come right after it. Happy Reading!
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Summary: Fantasy, philosophy, fun.
Review: My daughter tells me I should occasionally read fiction. "To be more 'well rounded'," she says. She asked me to read Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. I had tried reading Tolkien about thirty years ago. I just couldn't -- too many odd, invented proper nouns. And worse. Elves, dwarfs, Hobbits, trolls, orcs, Barrow-wights, Dark Riders, wizards, Rangers, a Balrog ("This is a foe beyond any of you"), and even more mysterious beings? Be serious -- not worth the effort, I thought.
Well, I read The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. I had difficulty making my peace with those strange place names and those stranger character names, yet I pressed on. Eventually I found a pretty good story. In truth, I believe the story is something beyond the genre-pioneering work of epic fantasy that critics generally consider Tolkien's Rings books to be. There are certain philosophical and spiritual themes as well. This strong undercurrent is not difficult to find, yet the reader need not recognize it (I'm guessing that many do not) to enjoy the adventurous journey, as Frodo warns his friends: "You speak of danger, but you do not understand. This is no treasure-hunt, no there-and-back journey. I am flying from deadly peril into deadly peril."
Some say the story beneath the story is one of environmental stewardship (I don't know, this wasn't a burning issue in Tolkien's England). Others tend toward the theistic themes of providence (an abstracted 23rd Psalm?) or the relentless conflict between virtue and evil. Some cite social or even political themes -- a bit of a reach on the latter, I'd say. Only a servant of the Dark Lord would deny the theistic themes. The story is rich and deep enough to support all of these ideas, and too much may be made of them; if Tolkien had wished to pen a philosophical dissertation he would have done so. The Fellowship is the first of the highly imaginative Rings trilogy. A good book, even if fiction will never be a genre with which I spend a high percentage of my reading time.
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Summary: The legacy of "The Hobbit"
Review: Following the advice of my good friend (and a much more experienced Tolkien reader), I read "The Hobbit" before tackling the Lord of the Rings trilogy. "The Hobbit" is the prequel that introduces the creatures (hobbits, elves, and dwarves) and their manner of adventuring. This is particularly useful when facing the prologue to "The Fellowship of the Ring" (the first book of the trilogy followed by "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King"). *** Tolkien uses his prologue in "Fellowship" to give more background about hobbits as creatures and their history. You have to delay satisfying your appetite for adventure while Tolkien gives you this important set-up. -- Have patience! You will be rewarded. *** Hobbits and dwarves are physically not unlike people -- except for the height difference and the mortality rates (humans are taller and shorter lived). There is a rustic beauty in Tolkien's cast of creatures. They pass on their stories and traditions through song and folklore. But there is also magic at play -- for good and for evil. *** The basic story is this: There is a Ring, created by dark powers and once thought to be lost, that is now in the innocent possession of a young hobbit named Frodo. The Dark Lord, Sauron, sends his servants, known as the Ringwraiths or the Nine Riders, to reclaim the Ring from Frodo. Thus pursued, Frodo engages the help of three fellow hobbits (including the ever-faithful Sam) and learns that the fate of the Ring will determine the fate of the world itself. *** Tolkien creates a very detailed epic. Admittedly, readers may be discouraged by the prospect of all the names and places. However, the basic story is never lost. A helpful trick is to see yourself in Frodo's shoes. The young hobbit is confused himself, but always in the thick of the action. He meets up with amazing companions like Gandalf the Wizard and the heroic Aragorn, and finds refuge in the idyllic elven realms. *** Danger lurks and strikes in one adventure after the next. Frodo and Co. are in it for the long haul and most readers will be too. If you've made it through to the end of "Fellowship", you'd better have the sequel, "The Two Towers", close at hand!
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Summary: The start of the greatest epic of our time
Review: For the last few years, critics and fans have raved over the new movie trilogy of Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings", but more than half of those people have not picked up the novels that started it all.
The first in the series is "The Fellowship of the Ring" and intoduces us to the cast of characters that we have all grown to love.
This book starts by giving us an in depth history of hobbits and their laid back ways of life and a small history of Middle Earth as well, getting us prepared for the journey not only ahead of the charachters, but ahead of us as well.
For fans of the movie, you are likely not going to be disappointed. The movie follows this book well, but as always, this epic novel is much better than any flick. We get much more personal with the characters and get more in depth conversations and scenes.
The book is fairly long with small fonts and lengthy chapters, but the go by fast, due to the wonderful way of Tolkien tells us this story.
For all that have not read this book for school because they had to, or just for fun, you need to. This book is a masterpiece in literature and it is only the begining of a long journey.
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Summary: The Best Book ...EVER!
Review: "One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them." It may have began a little slow, but as I finished the first few chapters I could NOT put it down.
J.R.R. Tolkien did an amazing job writing this amazing book. He tells you the details needed to take you into the world of middle earth. It may have small print and 398 pages, but all the better! You can just stay in the world of this fantastic novel for a longer time! He takes you to a beautiful world of puzzles, story, love, poetry, song, and exitment. My advise READ THIS BOOK!
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Summary: The Fanciful land of Middle Earth
Review: "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien is an exciting and insightful read. The world which Tolkien creates, called Middle Earth, although fanciful is a place which one cherishes. The world created has clear cut lines between good and evil, leaving us whole-heartedly cheering on Frodo and the Fellowship. However, not only does Tolkien's Middle Earth capture us, we also are taken by Frodo's brave journey. He possesses the One Ring, which if surrendered to the enemy could destroy all that is good in Middle Earth. Frodo is faithfully accompanied by his innocent and vulnerable friends Sam, Pippin and Merry. Their helplessness and doomed quest capture the readers' attention and encourage the reader to complete all three parts Tolkien's spectacular trilogy.
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Summary: Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
Review: Frodo Baggins inherits the One Ring which his uncle stole from Gollum. He thought it was cool to have the "The One Ring". Until Gandalf (the wizard) teaches him a little bit more about the Ring and finds out it makes you grow attached to it and then corrupts you. Gandalf told Frodo to keep it secret until Gandalf returned. Gandalf returns and tells Frodo what it really meant and that it is meant to get thrown into the Cracks of Doom. Which is the only place where it can be destroyed. Out of Frodos the Cracks of Doom are in the middle of the evil kingdom Mordor where Sauron is trying to get back his power, trying to find the one Ring that Frodo has, and destroying all good. Frodo, Pippin, Merry, and Sam journey to Bree where they meet Aragorn the Ranger and eventually to Rivendell, all the while pursued by the Ringwraiths. There in Rivendell the Fellowship was more developed: Gimili the Dwarf, Legolas the Elf, and Borimir of Gondor joined the team. I think with this group they will be able to get the job done. J.R.R. has great writing. And once you finish the first book you want to go onto the second book. I would definitely give "The Fellowship of the Ring" 5 stars. It is fabulous.
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Summary: Classic book masked by a slow beginning
Review: This is the excellent first installment in the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is a story of Middle-Earth, where Men, Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, and all sorts of other races live. Set in a medieval-type setting, with medieval weapons and archetecture while combining fantasy and magic with realistic things. Though this book starts off a little slow, like a marble down an inclined plane it gains momentum til it reaches the suspenseful conclusion (to be continued in The Two Towers). Frodo Baggins (a Hobbit), relative of Bilbo Baggins who found the One Ring and took it from Gollum in "The Hobbit", inherits the Ring from Bilbo. He soon learns that it is a corrupting Ring, the One Ring into which Sauron the Dark Lord poured all his wrath and malice in to. Gandalf the Wizard advises him to 'keep it secret, keep it safe' until he returns. He returns to tell Frodo that the what the One Ring really meant and that it must be thrown into the Cracks of Doom, the one place where it could be destroyed. This happened to be in the middle of the evil kingdom of Mordor where Sauron was regaining power, searching for the Ring, and preparing to destroy all that was good. Frodo, along with Hobbit friends Merry, Pippin, and Sam, journeys to Bree where they meet Aragorn the Ranger and eventually reach Rivendell, all the while pursued by the Ringwraiths. There in Rivendell, the Fellowship that would take the Ring to Mordor to be destroyed was formed: Gimli the Dwarf, Legolas the Elf, Aragorn the Ranger, Gandalf the Wizard, Boromir of Gondor, and Merry, Pippin, Frodo, and Sam. They then embark on there quest: through Moria and Lorien, and many other places wonderful and terrible. Will they ever finish their quest? J.R.R. Tolkien weaves a masterful tale in "The Fellowship of the Ring", to be continued by "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King". His style of writing, plus the constant surprises and happenings, make this a wonderful story, a timeless classic for generations to enjoy.
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