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Summary: "I will take the Ring, though I do not know the way"
Review: It is quite difficult to review a book which is generally acknowledged as a masterpiece; there is the danger of merely repeating the praises heaped on the book by earlier reviewers, and there is also the difficulty of doing justice to the book's greatness. Fortunately, the release of Peter Jackson's excellent film adaptation of "The Fellowship of the Ring" gives me a fresh perspective from which to review J.R.R. Tolkien's novel.If you enjoyed the movie, you should read the book, which you will almost certainly also enjoy, even if in a different way. One of the glories of Jackson's film is its great richness and depth, the feeling it gives the viewer of stepping into an unfamiliar but real world with a long history. The reason Jackson's film is able to produce this effect is that the world in which it takes place had already been created, and imagined in almost unbelievable detail, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Far more even than the movie, Tolkien's book lets the reader share the hobbits' experience of wandering out of their doors into a world with a detailed and believable history, a multitude of different mortal and immortal races with distinct cultures and languages, and a well-defined geography (maps are included in the book). I must place special emphasis on the linguistic depth of Tolkien's world: Tolkien, a distinguished philologist, invented around fifteen languages for the inhabitants of his imaginary world to speak. (The "Star Trek" Universe, by contrast, contains only one language, Klingon, which has been devised in any detail.) Moreover, as with any cinematic adaptation of a work of literature, Jackson's movie leaves out characters, events and scenes from the book. These elements are waiting in Tolkien's text for fans of the movie to discover them. In particular, the chapters involving a character named Tom Bombadil are among the best parts of the book, although they had to be left out of the movie to keep it down to a reasonable length. Anyone who has not yet seen the movie should certainly read the book first; it's best if you imagine the characters and events of the book yourself and then compare your visions to the movie version. Like the movie, Tolkien's book is often astonishingly relevant to our post-September 11 world. The film's exchange between Frodo and Gandalf in which Frodo wishes the Shadow of evil had not arisen in his time comes directly from the book, which also contains a few other moments that resonate strongly with the current world situation. Tolkien was writing "The Lord of the Rings" during World War II, but he did not intend it as an allegory of that war or of any other specific situation; rather, he hoped that readers would feel free to find his work applicable to any scenario they might see reflected in it. "The Fellowship of the Ring" is, in fact, not a novel, but the first volume of the three-part novel "The Lord of the Rings." Anyone who reads the book and sees the movie of "Fellowship" will surely want to read the two subsequent volumes, "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King," to find out what happens to the characters without having to wait for the release of the two subsequent movies at Christmas in 2002 and 2003.
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Summary: The Journey starts, but does it end?
Review: "The Fellowship of The Ring" is about how a small hobbit named Frodo receives a ring. The only thing he doesn't know is that this is the ring of evil power, the one in which evil could engulf the entire world under the power of the Dark Lord. The story is about Frodo's journey with eight companions to destroy the ring. Though people may die on the way, the fellowship still holds up but faces dangers. In the book there is a suspenseful paragraph about the beginning of the story. "Three rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, one for the Dark Lord on his dark throne in the land of Mordor where the shadows lie. One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them in the land of Mordor where the shadows lie."
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Summary: Epic
Review: I read a great deal of books. When I first purchased this book, I was asked if I have ever read this book. My answer was no. I was told that I could never be consider a reader until I read this series. After reading fellowship, I understood why. I really like Tolkein's imagination. The characters (especially Legolas and Tom Bombadill) are incredibly interesting. Also, I can see that there are two storylines brewing, which makes this story all the more captivating.
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Summary: Hobbits, Wizards, Deep Literature, Oh My!
Review: This is an amazing book... If you've seen the movie, see how much it deviates from the original story (hint: it's a lot)! 'Tis a wondrous tale, that deserves recognition, the world over. Not much I can say, other than "It's the best thing you've read. Buy it now."
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Summary: Differences between book and movie
Review: In my personal opinion "Fellowship of the Rings" was a good book. It was better than the movie because of its depth in everything. I saw the movie first and after seeing it I decided that I had to read the trilogy. The book went into greater detail with many of the events and it helped explain why some things were the way they were in the movie. There were a few flaws to the book however. First its length, the book is approximately 450 pages long and it can take a while to read. Second, it can become very hard to remember all the names and places which the book is heavy on. What I thought was weird when comparing the movie and the book was how a part of the book that would take 2-3 chapters, might have only taken 5-10 minutes in the movie. Where as with the action parts the movie might take 20 minutes whenever the book only covers it for a couple of pages. Overall the book is definitely worth reading even if you have seen the movie. My only suggestion would be that you go and read the "Hobbit" first, because it contains some background information that would help out quite a bit and also because it is a great book in its own right.
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Summary: The loooooong journey from a master bard
Review: A while back I read the Hobbit, one of those stay-up-late books because you can't put it down. Well, of course, then I had to read "The Fellowship of the Ring". I was rather disappointed at the time and never finished it. A month or two ago I decided to give it another try in anticipation of the movie. This time I did finish it, but I can understand why I never did the first time. First of all, Tolkien is a exceptional writer. He weaves a fantasy world of elves, demons, and magic full of color and life. His style, concepts, and general quest-type plot have become a much copied model for fantasy writing. However, his style is rather long winded. Although his writing is clear, sometimes I would get really tired of page after page of what the forest looked like. Sometimes I'd scan ahead and skip pages. Some of my friends, it turned out, admitted they did the same. Every once in a while it'd be problematic because I'd miss some detail and have to go back to pick up on it later. I can understand why I didn't have the patience at 12 years old to finish the book. Think of a bard, sitting by the fire with a circle of children around him. His story is good, but as he must last the entire night, he adds detailed descriptions of everything. Some of the kinderlings fall asleep. But everybody does come back for more tomorrow. (I am, by the way, currently reading "The Two Towers.")
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Summary: Totally awesome!!!!!
Review: I thought it was great book. I've read all four books already and really love this series. I just wish there were more books in the series. Like if the Elves and Wizards were more involved and if it ended a little different. I think that it is a good book if you like books that leave you wondering what will happen next.
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Summary: The best of Tolkien wouldn't be what I'd call it.
Review: I have just yesterday finished reading the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "the Hobbit". After being incredibly intrigued by
"the Hobbit", I can honestly say this book disappointed me. A precaution though: I loved "the Two Towers" and "the Return of the King", but "the Fellowship of the Ring" is the worst book in the series. To begin with, lots of stuff we learn in the beginning seems irrelevent. I confess, I eventually gave up on the seemingly inconsequential prologue and skipped right to chapter 1. While this problem doesn't taint the rest of the book too much, the prologue is just too long and showcases this flaw too much to just ignore. Even once the story begins, you still have to deal with the slow pace that I'm sure you've read about in the negative reviews. Tolkien just takes too much time describing things. Basically, the problem runs through almost the whole book, but especially in the early going. I realize some description is needed, but "the Hobbit" was just as descriptive, yet had far less space devoted to descriptions. But there's good stuff as well, Namely the charactor interactions. Scenes like Gandalf revealing the truth about the Ring to Frodo and Frodo's chat with Gimli's father Gloin really redeem this book. But that doesn't change the fact that this is the worst of the trilogy. I'd give it 31/2 stars, rounded down. It is true "the Fellowship of the Ring" will be remembered as the book that started the original fantasy series, but being there first only holds so much credibility. Thankfully though, "the Two Towers" and "the Return of the King" were giant steps up from this book.
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Summary: "The Fellowship of the Ring" receives 5 Stars!
Review: I was encouraged to read the book after I had seen the preview of the movie on tv a million times. Reading the first page of the book got me hooked completely! Lord of the rings is much 'better' than 'Harry Potter' J.K. Rowling better watch out! Even though Mr. Tolkien is dead, he is, to me,Mr. Tolkein is the greatest author of Fantasy/Sci-fiction novels of all time!!!! My father has read the movie and he loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am reading Two Towers now and I have already seen the movie! The movie was a job well-done and I can't wait to see Two Towers in theaters this December. Mr. Tolkein's son, Christopher Tolkein also I must applaud him on the most wonderful book ever, Silmarillion!!!!!! I can't wait to read It! I own the trilogy myself and I tell you, Tolkein's work is truely a treasure to keep!!!!!!!!!!!
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Summary: The Fellowship of the Ring
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed how Tolkien gave vivid descriptoins of every character and every thing, from the most important cahracter to the least eventful setting. I thought the general plot was original and exciting. At some points I had to force myself to put it down and go to sleep. I really enjoyed how Tolkien makes you wonder what happens at the end of the series and leaves you wanting more.
In my personal opinion, the best part of the book is when Frodo Baggins, the main character, and his companions Sam, Merry, Pippen, and Strider are being persued by the Ringwraiths, evil servants of Sauron. The whole first half of the book they are fleeing to Rivindell and wondering what became of the wizard, Gandalf.
I enjoyed the conflict of good versus evil that went on throughout the book. All the way from the Shire and and into the next book in the series. The journey of Frodo is filled with peril, from the Orcs of Mordor down to the slinking menace, Gollum, who stalks Frodo for "his Precious". The resolution of the book leaves you wondering what will happen inthe next book. All I'll say, not to give away the ending, that the Fellowship is broken and each remnant will play theri own part in the second book in this epic trilogy, The Two Towers.
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