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Summary: The beggining of fantasy...
Review: The Lord of the rings is a good book.
It is the beggining of fantasy...BUT, even with the massive advertisment it is not THE BEST book ever... There is no best book. LotR is a good book for younger readers, but after re-reading it a few times one notices gaps... For example Gandalf is supposed to be a great wizard, but he never really shows power except when fighting the Balrog, and we learn about that from him. Also, we never understand the origins of his power... He Is ... Powerful isn't exactly an answer. Another thing. As much as I like hobbits, it isn't logical or realistic to give the ring to one of them. They have neither power nor strenght... I agree that the author does a good job with explaining why, but one still gets the feeling that he does it because the book is a sequel to the childish the Hobbit. More... The Battle for the city in part 3 is described in the way ancient historians describe battles. "And then our (good) forces met the masses of evil forces and even though they were less they won". That is hardly interesting. So our heroes are good and the humans working for Sauron are 'bad'. This, sadly, isn't the way the world works. All in all, LotR is one entertaining but not necesarry deep book. A must read for a young reader though. Nothing more.
Rating:
Summary: Good compared to other editions
Review: I'm not writing a review about the story, but about the physical quality of this edition. If you're like me, the number of editions available makes it hard to choose one. I decided I wanted a hardback since I imagine this is a book I'd eventually give to my kids when they grow up. Therefore I wanted something that would last, and a 1000+ page paperback will probably fall apart like an old phone book after a couple years of use. I don't want to shell-out a lot of money for an enlightened manuscript either, so cost was an issue in my decision. I found several hardcover editions (still available) to choose from. I went to a couple of bookstores to compare them. I chose this one because it was the best 'deal'. I.e.- some of the other editions are higher quality, but they cost considerably more. This book seems to have good binding, the paper (while not archive quality) is bright and not too light-weight, and the printing is clean. Personally, I don't care for the dust jacket. While I _LOVE_ the movie, I think the use of tie-in cover art is cheesy. Thankfully, the cover beneath the dust jacket is attractive (although quite plain compared to the more expensive editions). Here are some of the others (by ISBN) and my comments: 0395595118 the 1991 centenary edition Probably the best single-volume edition available with up-to-date revisions/corrections. Also has new artwork. Costs twice as much as this one though- ouch! 0395193958 leatherette collector's edition Looks great, and other reviewers have said it is a really durable book. It also includes a large fold-out map attached to the back cover- pretty nifty. However, it's based on the 1974 edition so the later revisions/corrections are not included. Costs about the same as the centenary edition. 0395489326 boxed set of 3 hardback volumes Published in 1988, it is more up-to-date than the 1974 editions, but still not quite current. If you want a hardback set, rather than a single volume, this is a very attractive set. The books have a nice size- smaller than the collector's edition but easily bigger than a paperback. Each volume also includes a fold-out map. It also costs about the same as the two editions mentioned above. There are more recent hardback sets available, but they have the tacky movie tie-in cover art. 0618129014 same as this one but released in June 2001 As far as I could tell, it just has different cover art on the dust jacket. That's it :) If you are interested in any of these other editions, you can find all of these on Amazon (put the ISBN in the search field).
Rating: 
Summary: need an incentive to read this ?
Review: think about it... It has sparked an entire genre and has been used as a benchmark for any writer trying the Fantasy genre, it has also created a tremendous following in the game industry (Dungeons and Dragons) plus countless books, biographies, companions, movies and drawings...
It simply cannot be that bad even if you're allergic to everything that remotely involves fantastic.
The book is simply beautiful, rich and well built, peppered with poetry and action.
You, like many, will be sad when you turn the last page.
Rating: 
Summary: Two Towers is good
Review: I read this as a kid and here's my general recollection: The first book is insanely and unnecessarily tedious. The second book is quite good, easily the best of the series. The third book is so-so; I never finished it, though. The Hobbit is better than all of them. Tolkien was a below-average writer with an above-average imagination.
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Summary: I'm not going to bother with a review of the book
Review: There are more than enough reviews on this site already, and in any case "The Lord of the Rings" is not a book that can be usefully reviewed. You will either find Tolkien's world a wonderfully transporting experience or a waste of time. Nothing I could say would change your opinion and it is better to judge for yourself. Instead what I am going to do is review this particular edition, which is the one I own and the one in which I first encountered Middle-Earth. The book is a remarkable aide to the imagination. Everything about it, from the slightly off-white color of the pages to the wonderful though likely artificial smell of age and the almost indestructable imitation leather binding, was designed to give the impression that it was an artifact from some lost and ancient library, not something bought at discount price ... Indeed, with its Elvish-style lettering and crimson cover it does recall the Red Book of Westmarch, the ancient tome in which Tolkien claimed his story was first transcribed. Tolkien always intended "The Lord of the Rings" to be read as a single novel, not as a trilogy, and here we get the book in its true form, with none of the showy illustrations he so detested. The book is heavy enough and large enough to feel appropriately medieval, yet light and portable enough to be read on a beach. The pages do not tear, but the spine does come loose, requiring the occasional dab of paper glue. I have owned this book for 12 years now and have skimmed it countless times, yet somehow it has survived. Ponderous and awkward though it might first appear, it is remarkably versitile and durable. Forget its "collectors' value;" there are countless numbers of this edition out there, but it is by far the best edition of "The Lord of the Rings" you could buy.
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Summary: Highest quality edition
Review: The Centenary Edition of The Lord of the Rings is wonderfully done. From the cloth hardcover to the awesomely detailed color plates done by Alan Lee, who also was hired by Peter Jackson to sketch out the scenes for the live action movie. The typeset is easy to read and paper quality is high. I have no doubt that this edition will survive many readings.
Rating:
Summary: Well worth the investment!
Review: It goes without saying that The Lord of the Rings is wonderful reading, and this edition is really beautiful. The leather binding and embossed designs are much prettier in person than they look in the photograph. Yeah, it's a little pricey, but it looks so great on your bookcase! Perfect idea for a gift...or as a replacement for your old paperback copies that are wearing out from frequent reading. :)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent...For all ages!
Review: There are no words to describe how good this is. I am in no way actually a fantasy story fan. In fact, by and large, I don't care for that genre (but that's just me), but this by far is the best thing I have ever read. The movie is what inspired me to buy the book. I now own the movie and this book (which contains the trilogy), and it's unreal how good this story is, for all ages. Don't deprive yourself the experience of a lifetime, read the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: The BEST fantasy epic EVER!
Review: Lord of the Rings is the best fantasy epic ever written. J.R.R. Tolkien used much more than any other author in the creation of this story. It all stems back to the fact that he created an entire world, not just this story. While reading this you feel the angst of Middle-Earth as all of its beings are drawn into a struggle against evil. You can detect how some are swayed to try to use the One Ring to save good even though it will in the end betray and corrupt them. The setting of the story gives a feeling of being in a forgotten world or a forgotten time in our own history. It almost is soothing, for it puts you in a possition where you are no longer in the midst of the hustle and bustle of our world. Indeed, you are taken into a world where the only hustle is to destroy the Ring. The many references to the history of Middle-Earth make the book even deeper as you see that there is much more to this world than meets your eye at first glance. The depth of the world makes Middle-Earth more than a world... it makes it your world. I suggest this book to everyone!
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Summary: If you're going to read this book,don't make any other plans
Review: Tolkien was a genius, there's no two bits about that. What he did with this work is extraordinary in that it forever defined the fantasy genre. Who can mention wizards without having an old man with a long beard and pointy hat come to mind? The same could be said for Dwarves, Elves, and Orcs--when you mention the name, you picture them in your head the way Tolkien defined them. This is how you can say he was revolutionary; his creatures, races, and ideas have been used over and over again since these books first made their appearance.
Every genre has it's pioneer, the one who established the boundaries to be used for generations after. In the fantasy genre, this pioneer was J.R.R. Tolkien.
As for the books, they are set in middle-earth, a world so elaborate and intriguing that you would never be able to explore it all, though you have a great desire to. The characters are many, and they are all masterfully developed, each having his role in this classic depiction of good versus evil. While some aspects of the reading (poems, extensive detail, etc) are a little heavy for children, this is a timeless story, infinitely intriguing. The one flaw of the book is that you will not be able to put it down, and it will quite possibly disrupt every other aspect of your life until you finish it.
This is a classic which will endure the strains of time and entertain for generations to come.
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