Rating: 
Summary: Bad Binding, broke at second read
Review: 5 stars or more to the Lord of the Rings, which I read many, many times.1 star or less to this edition (paperback with faded tower of Gondor on the cover ISBN 0395974682). It broke at second read, inspite of the fact that I treated it very, very gently.
I read this specific volume once and it held up fine. Since then about two years have elapsed and it broke apart almost immediately after opening it. Loose pages everywhere.
I'll have to buy a better edition. Possibly, next time I'll buy three separate volumes because one-volume editions are heavy to read while in bed.
Rating: 
Summary: lord of the rings
Review: I thought this book was outstanding. By about 10 pages into the book i was hooked. I gave this book a five star rating because it is by far the best series of books I've read. The story line is one of a kind with alot of exciting twists and turns. This book was referred to me by many people. I watched the first movie and read the first book. I liked reading the book a little more belive it or not i think i could have visualized the book in my head beter than the movies. All in all this book wasnt too hard to read, and after you get done reading the books you can watch the trilogy on the tube.
Rating:
Summary: Return of the King
Review: I gave this book 5 stars and I would give the whole series 5 stars. The first two books were very interesting and unique. But I think the third and final boook is the best out of all of them.
During this series you will be taken through a world that is real and beautiful. There are so many creative characters. And you relate to some of these characters and you can feel what they feel. And you fall in love with some of the characters.
While reading this book I could not put it down because the story gets better and better as you progress in the book. So when it was the end I was disappointed because it was over. Every time you turn the page there is a new character or story. This book will take you on a ride through imagination and fantasy.
This book is also the kind of book that you could never get sick of so you can read over and over and still discover new plots or stories.
The reason why I enjoyed the books very much was it was very original and gave a fresh perspective to life. The depth and the amount of effort put into was well done. What also fascinates me is that J.R.R. Tolkien wrote his own language in the book. And all the things in the stories you can relate to and you feel the characters feelings. What was very interesting was that the books are supposed to reflect Tolkien's life journey.
One of my favorite characters was Samwise Gamgee one of the hobbits from the Shire. I thought he was very brave and courageous. I also liked the character Gandalf.
I enjoyed the setting and landscaping of the books. The details in the maps. In the appendices it gives details and it makes you believe that this world really could have existed because of the details in the book. It is unpredictable.
I would recommend this book to people of any age because the books are both mystical and educational. If you enjoy fantasy but realism you will find it all in these books.
Rating:
Summary: Great Edition for Money
Review: If, in the past, you tried to read these books, but found them hopelessly complex or difficult, have now fear anymore. I had the same problem with this book when I read it the first time, it is so hard to keep track of character names and places. Now that I have seen the movie, though, I find this book an absolute joy to read again. Passages that once were difficult slogs, are now emminently easy to read. So, if you have seen the movie, but are discouraged from reading the book because of past failed attempts, go for it. You are going to find it much easier than you remembered. There are enough differences between the book and movie versions of the story that the book will remain interesting. This particular edition -- the paperback with a close up of the ring on Sauron's finger -- is a great deal and is my choice for the best paperback edition of the book. The page size is bigger than the small Del Ray versions of the book, but the book is not so big that it is too heavy to hold. In a nice touch, the front and back covers fold out to reveal very nice detailed versions of the maps. These larger scale versions of the maps are MUCH nicer than those usually found in paperback versions and prove to be very helpful reading aids. The paper quality itself is a little bit too much like newsprint, but it will do. There is a hardback version of this edition that uses much nicer quality paper, but being hardback, it is a little heavier.
Rating:
Summary: elegant, illustrated wonderfull epic story
Review: It is not possible to add anything to the review of the story of the "The Lord of the Rings" rather then to say that this is a spectacular epic story of the mythological proportions. Tolkien was motivated by a variety of linguistic, antropological and mythtological factors to bring us the Universe of the Middle Earth. As such this achievement is without a precedence in world literature. To the point of this particular edition. It contains original illustrations by Tolkien himself, with the typesettings simular to the original edition. Although the book is quite large (1000+ pages) it opens and holds well and the paper quality is oustanding for the price.
Rating:
Summary: A monumental work
Review: J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' is one of the few books that I enjoy reading and rereading. It's become a yearly ritual for me. The story is of unparalleled depth, and could get very slow at times (especially in the chapter titled "The Council of Elrond") but is overall just great. Reading "The Hobbit" before this book is essential. Of course, you probably know all this already from other reviews or word of mouth. The real decision is not whether to buy the book or not, it is which edition to buy, among the numerous paperback and hardcover ones available. If you're going for paperback and are primarily going to read at home, I'd suggest the The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings box set, which goes here for $30 and has nice covers illustrated by Alan Lee. The movie cover ones are also pretty nice, but the Alan Lee illustrated ones have a nice classic feel to them. If you're going on the road, the Del Rey versions, which are a lot cheaper and smaller(and use paper of lesser quality) are the better buy. As for the one volume hardcover editions- if you have the money to spare, go for the leatherette collector's edition. Or if it fancies you the one the comes with Sideshow/Weta's awesome Gandalf/Bilbo bookends.(They are both at $52.50- the prices of both shot up $7.50 recently) The leatherette one has no illustrations besides Tolkien's map, so the Alan Lee illustrated one is a better bet.($56) If you you just want a no-frills hardcover, any of the movie cover ones (the most recent one has a shot of Sauron's finger with the ring on it) should suffice.($20) If you really get into the book, you should look in to 'The Silmarillion', which is an account of the First and Second ages and basically sets the stage for The Lord of the Rings. So there you have it!
Rating:
Summary: The best!!
Review: I just finnished The Lord of the Rings and all I have to say is WOW!! But I don't have to tell anyone how great it is. The Collector's edition is beautiful and should be a part of anyone's library. I bought the paperback version just because the collector's edition is huge and heavy. As far as one reviewer on here... If You are going to dog someone's life work (that so many people hold in HIGH reguard) just because You can't follow a story line, then don't bother writing a review. No one cares what a simpleton thinks and that's how you make yourself look. By the way... (No one) is two words not one.
Rating:
Summary: This book rocks!!!
Review: I watched all three of the movies and loved them. But they didn't give the detail the book gives. There are so many details not revealed in the movie that you get in the book. There's not many books I feel are truly worth spending a substantial amount of money on but if you only buy 1 book in your lifetime, I suggest this book. Well, and the Hobbit as well. For without the Hobbit we wouldn't truly understand The Lord of the Rings. Some of you out there have said you don't get it. Well if you don't you must not have read and let your imagination run free.
Rating:
Summary: Lord of the Rings --Leatherette edition
Review: I have read these books at least 3 times each. I purchased the leatherette edition as a birthday gift for my daughter. I found the quality and cost exceptionally well worth it. At 2/3 the actual cost in a book store it was a great investment. I also purchased the Hobbit--leatherette edition as well. It arrives in less time than was anticipated. I would recommend these editions to anyone who is a real fan of the movie and a true Tolkien whether or not you have read them one time or many times.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent COLLECTORS item
Review: This is an excellent collector's item and is of exquisite beauty. However it has no illustrations except those of maps (it also has a fold out map in the back which is good) so those seeking a LOTR edition with illustrations other then maps I would highly recommend getting the hardcover edition that is illustrated by Alan Lee (of course famed for his LOTR art) which will cost you about $52 give or take. Another quarel I have with this book is that it does not have a integrated bookmarker, the book is VERY complete in appendices also such as these: Annals of King and Rulers, Tale of Years, Family Trees, Calendars, Pronunciation of Words and Names and Index of songs, persons, beast, places and such (you get the point). My only recommendation is this, only buy this book if you are an avid LOTR fan / book collector (like myself on both parts). Also on a further note if you seek more exceptional maps you would have to buy the books that cover just the maps of middle earth such as these three: The Atlas of Middle-Earth (Revised Edition), The Maps of Tolkien's Middle-Earth and Maps of Middle Earth: The Lord of the Rings Map Set, also try and pick up The Hobbit (Leatherette Collector's Edition) if you are interested in collector's items as much as me.
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