Rating: 
Summary: Judge for yourself!
Review: After finishing the Fellowship, I have to admit being amazed. I now consider Tolkein a true creative master. I found a mystical, enchanting quality about the book, concerning everything from the ring to Lothlorien. Speaking of Lothlorien, I would love to live there! A place where time is null, the trees are resplendent, and you are surrounded with the fascinating elves led by strong Galadriel, who wields such power for good. I could get carried away and drone about the elves for a long time(they are my favorite of Tolkein's creatures)but a hobbit is indeed the main character. I should add that I have never been a fantasy fan; I suppose I consider this book to be magical, not fantasy. I found the quest to be engaging, and the journey of the Nine quite entertaining. Tolkien includes numerous songs and histories in between, which can be quite tedious if you do not stop to wonder at his creativity. Tolkien fashioned another world so complex, so steeped in history and information that it's hard to believe the world of Middle Earth does not exist. Of course, the most interesting thing is questioning what will happen to Frodo and his Company. This is certainly not a static book; you can make it as deep as you want. Therefore, I recommend that people read this book who want to read Tolkein, and not really to those who solely want to find out what the hype is about. There is always going to be hype surrounding a classic, which in my opinion, the Lord of the Rings is.
Rating: 
Summary: setting?
Review: I had heard about this book that the plot was slow, but it was a good book anyway because the setting and the "world" the characters are placed in was so good. Personally, I couldn't see anything special in the setting. It reminded me of the setting in almost every other fantasy book I've ever read. This is not because other authors used Tolkien's ideas, it's simply that it's not a very imaginative world.
Rating: 
Summary: And so Frodo's adventure begins...
Review: The Lord of the Rings trilogy was my favorite reading as a child, and so with the release of the movies I decided to reread the classics.
The Fellowship of the Rings, although slow at times, is the timeless introduction to Frodo's ringbearing adventures. The story is truly wonderful and original, and I highly recommend this book to all!
Rating:
Summary: THE Bar by which ALL Fantay is judged--and rightfully so
Review: What can one say about the beginning to this series that hasn't already been said? I shall try to throw in MY two cents anyway.
I have long considered Fantasy to be my all-time favorite genre, but have found pitifully few fantasy books that for me seemed to 'click' with what I was looking for. I was introduced to 'The Sword of Shannara' and for years felt that IT was the Bar to be judged by--despite the nay-sayers who claimed that Brooks had borrowed shamelessly from Tolkien's works--but I refuted that over and over again, even though I had as yet never once read anything written BY Tolkien. Oh I had tried. I felt that the style was too weird for me, and somewhat childish when I gave it a go some 20 years ago. I never once even attempted to realize that Tolkien had created a world based in part on his own studies of history, and imagined a complex society filled with different races, and from scratch he weaves a story that combined historical speech patterns with his own fantasy world...
in short, something entirely different, original AND totally entertaining. To say that Tolkien was a genius doesn't even begin to describe his character and imaginiative abilities. 'The Fellowship of the Ring' begins the Lord of the Rings by bringing us to the Shire of Middle Earth with Bilbo Baggins celebrating his Eleventy-First birthday. Shortly thereafter, he disappears (literally) leaving most of what he has to Frodo. Before long the One Ring becomes the central point of what he has left to the poor unknowing Frodo. Gandalf the Wizard informs him of the historical nature of the One Ring and of the impending danger that awaits every living creature of Middle Earth because Sauron wants it back and the Ring itself WANTS to be found. Frodo quite obviously does not want this charge, but accepts it anyway, and before you know it, he is set upon with Samwise Gamgee on a quest that he believes will be a rather short adventure--and it turns out to be more, a LOT more. From being chased by the Black Riders and Orcs to seeing sights he had never imagined and putting his life on the line more than he had ever thought possible, 'The Fellowship of the Ring' begins what is arguably the grandest Fantasy adventure ever written. One cannot fully appreciate the detail of this magificent story without reading it yourself. I imagine the release of the 1st movie in the Trilogy will spurn an interest in these books that hasn't been seen in several decades--or more. If history is any indication, it should (the release of Dune in the 80's alone sold an additional million copies). ANY person who enjoys Hard Fantasy owes it to themselves to see why The Lord of the Rings is so beloved and why it IS the Bar by which ALL Fantasy is judged. As much as I enjoyed 'The Sword of Shannara', it doesn't even begin to reach the originality that Tolkien created so long ago...books that hold up now as good as they did when first published in the early 50's. Once you have immersed yourself into this amazingly creative world, you will feel cheated unless you finish the tales that continue in 'The Two Towers' and 'Return of the King' (I recommend buying all 3 together, or getting the 3-in-1 volume so you won't have to agonize over what happens next when you finish the first part).
Finally, I feel as though I cheated myself all these years by not only ignoring these books, but by claiming that they were pale in comparison to Terry Brooks' 'Shannara' (which I still like, by the way). Do NOT make MY mistake. Pick these up and if nothing else, see the movie which will compell you to read the story to see how well the movie measures up (which by the way, is surprisingly good in My
opinion). Read and enjoy. This truly IS Fantasy at its all-time best.
Rating:
Summary: The first part of the GREATEST fantasy ever....
Review: Lord of the Rings is truly monumental fiction. I've read fantasy from many, many different authors, including Terry Brooks, Piers Anthony, Stephen R. Donaldson, Terry Goodkind, Robert Jordan, to name only a few, and I have come to the conclusion that every fantasy author in the last fifty years has borrowed from Tolkein to one extent or another. The basic plot of the book is fairly simple. Frodo Baggins is a hobbit who inherits a Ring of Power form his uncle Bilbo Baggins. At first glance, the Ring seems to be a good thing, posessing the power to turn its wearer invisible (a power which saved uncle Bilbo several times during his own adventure, chronicled in The Hobbit). However, the wizard Gandalf learns that the Ring is in fact the One Ring, created millenia ago by the evil Dark Lord Sauron, and removed from his posession by thr forces of good. Sauron was weakened by his loss, but now he has recovered strength and wants his Ring back. Once he gets it, he will have the power to conquer the world. The only way to keep the Ring from his grasp is to destroy it, and this can only be done by casting the Ring into the fires of Mount Doom, where it was originally created. Naturally, Mount Doom lies in the very heart of Sauron's realm in Mordor, so the quest is fraught with peril. Frodo and his faithful servant Sam, along with others, take on the task of the destruction of the Ring and the salvation of Middle-Earth. Fellowship of the Ring chronicles the first part of this story, which concludes with The Two Towers and Return of the King. If that was all there was to this book, it would be mo more than a first-rate work of fantasy. But, what lifts this book out of the realm of "fantasy" and into the realm of classic literature is the backstory. Lord of the Rings is essentially the conclusion of an incredible mythology that stretches back for over 7,000 Years of the Sun, and for who knows how many millenia before that. Tolkein worked on this mythology for several decades before Lord of the Rings was published, and references to it are sprinkled liberally throughout. The language and songs of the Elves are the best example of this, but there are many others. The pace of the book does slow a little in places, but that is only becuase several long expository sections are essential to give the reader the full story behind the Ring and how it made its journey from the hand of Sauron to the posession of Frodo. But, the book nevertheless has the power to draw you in. I've read this book over 20 times since I first discovered it in the early 1980's, and I still have not gotten tired of the wonder of this book. I do want to make one comment on the latest version of the book, however. I've noticed that many people have criticized the maps in the book as too difficult to read. I've looked at some of the newer copies, and I have to agree with this. I would like to point out that the map in these new copies is NOT the original map drawn by Tolkein himself, nor is it the revised map drawn by his son. The older maps are much better drawn, though the text is a little small. Frankly, if the new maps (drawn by Shelly Shapiro) bother you, I would suggest that you prowl through a local used bookstore and pick up an older copy of the trilogy, preferably the beautifully done Ballantine paperbacks of the early-to-mid 1980's. In addition to much better maps, the cover art on those books is beautiful. The one-volume red hardback version is also very nice, and you should be able to find a nice copy of it new. Books like the Harry Potter series are OK. They are light and enjoyable reading, but 100 years from now, they will be forgotten. Not The Lord of the Rings. It's a major classic of English literature, and it is THE classic of fantasy fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Tolkien at his best!
Review: The Fellowship of the Ring is a masterfully written tale of fantasy written for people of intelligence by a master of languages. This is my all-time favorite book. I do not know how many times I have read it, but each time I am swept away by multi-dimensional characters battling as best they can against a powerful evil. Tolkien was a humble man who was glad to make corrections in his books as each edition was published and many true fans like to look for changes from one edition to the next. The attention to detail and vivid imagery are part of what makes this series of books the standard by which all of fantasy is measured.
Rating:
Summary: Middle Earth - Hats off to JRR Tolkien
Review: I started reading Tolkien 7 years ago, and of course I didn't appreciate his works like I do now.
Many seem to believe we should read the book because it was made as a movie, and publishers are milking this classic (LOTR stood the test of time, because it is an attractive story and it attacks social issues that can be identified by mankind for all time. I should add that it stereotypes, but only because of the time in which it was written.)for all it is worth and publishing a dozen different editions. Everyone has seem to forgotten that Tolkien never wanted 'The Lord Of The Rings' separated, not even as three novels. Now, it is being sold as a box set! In separate books! I don't think he would be pleased. Tolkien is a genius. His imagination gave us a separate universe, but not one beyond belief. Read the book because it is worth your time. But don't expect everything to go as you expect. The language is not complicated, save the prose. There are certain glitches - sometimes the people act out of character. You'll LOVE them, though. You will criticize this book, because you should with every work you read. But trust the legions of fans out there, and experience it. Don't shun it when you haven't read it, and by reading it I mean to the end. It's insulting to everyone when you give a comment on something you don't fully understand because you don't have the patience to. That's bias. And I would just like to add that Alan Lee is a wonderful illustrator, and made Tolkien's works that much more entertaining. I own the hard cover edition binding 'THE LORD OF THE RINGS' in its entirety. I really recommend that edition to add to your library.
As for the movie, Jackson held true to the story, his movie is one of the best I've seen. Great cast as well. I'm very happy that fans like me won't feel cheated and sorry to one of our favourite authors for having his mark in history smudged by Hollywood.
Rating:
Summary: A great book for anyone
Review: I am 16 years-old and NOT a big fan of reading but this book sparked my intrest. I was staying up to 1 in the morning with a flashlight under the covers, just to see what would happen. And in class I place "fellowship"in my school book. (not a good idea if you have a big final coming up) If you read only one book in the new year, make to one of J.R.R. Tolkien's books, you WILL love it.
Rating:
Summary: the definition of imagery
Review: i've read many of the reviews on this series to some dismay. it seems to be understandable for people to not enjoy this story because of it's intricacy, but to call it poorly written literature is, in my opinion, unreasonable. I understand that many of the ideas being conveyed are somewhat dated, and as one review said, overly conservative, but one must keep in mind that JRR was born in 1892, so the author probably didn't have much of a choice as to weather his writing style was conservative or not. on another note, the story should be considered a great classic for all readers to at least make an attempt at. although it is a long story, there is not a word that i would remove. this book makes use of imagery in all its forms, cleverly written so as to be detailed while not seeming too wordy. An excellent story combined with memorable characters makes this a fantistic book.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST BEST BOOK
Review: I read the Lord of the Rings series after hearing that it was really bad - usually when people say books are bad it's because they're to dumb to understand its importance. I absolutely loved the entire book - it kept me occupied for over a month - I read it three times over. It has action, it has plot, it has many, many themes, and it has this undefinable aura which makes it unforgettable - quite unlike Harry Potter, who wasted his time whining to Sirius about his stupid, superficial scar. (...)
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