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Summary: A Legacy for the Ages
Review: This book is the pinnacle masterwork of the twentieth century. From its epic symbolism to its grand scope, Tolkein's legends from Middle Earth are more than just the stories they tell. They are the foundation for all fantasy that has followed them including, but not limited to, media as varied as The Shanarra books by Terry Brooks, and Star Wars by George Lucas. To say that these books have had a profound impact on our society and culture is to underestimate their importance; to herald them as the best of all time is to give credit to an artistic master.
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Summary: The Lord of the Rings with Alan Lee's illustrations
Review: Alan Lee's illustrations put down on paper the images of The Lord of the Rings I had made in my head. A shadowy world in the twilight of the 3rd Age; glory and terror brimming around the edges; moonlight, shadow, mist; everything. He did justice to Aragorn, making him a manly wanderer, but not brawny; to Gandalf, not a comic-book wizard; to Legolas and the elves, manlike but not men; to Galadriel--gorgeous and young, but also ancient and wise, not buxom and commen. Gollum, Fangorn, Tinuviel, Rivendell, I could go on forever. Knowing how horrible it can be to see the real people from the book disgraced by unsympathetic illustrations, this book was wonderful to find! About the Centennial edition of The Lord of the Rings, the one illustrated by Lee: it's a very nice book, nicely bound, has a red ribbon marker, gold embossed title (with tengwar) on cover. I would reccommend putting the dust jacket into one of those plastic covers to keep it nice and keep the golden edging from rubbing off. I only wish it was in three volumes and not one, because I hate to put all that stress on the binding. I have a cheep paperback set to read, I just treasure my Lee one!
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Summary: You call this a book? It's a new world for you to explore.
Review: Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!.....If I keep on saying Wows, it's going to take my forever. Why? This book is just toooooooo awsome to describe. The characters are just toooo perfectly created. The world is tooooooo perfectly imagined. Make sure you have some time to linger over it and ENJOY every single part of it! Don't miss even 1 page! It's like tearing the world apart when you do that. I just hope they have a better version of Lord of Rings the game for computer sooooooooon. Can't wait. WHAT ... ARE YOU WAITING FOR! GET IT AND GET IT NOW! NOW! NOW! NOW! *Warning* Do not buy the hardcover edition. That's how you get ripped off!
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Summary: Of all the books I've read, it's still my favorite.
Review: One might question my motives behind writing a review when many others have written so eloquently. Still, my deep, abiding love for Tolkein's narrative presses me, so that I cannot remain silent. Tolkien represents to us a world of enchantment, a world where all of our adult pretentions are peeled away until the child of years past returns to us. In this age where every book you open is filled with cynicism, illicit sexual acts, and meaningless violence, how refreshing is this tale which extolls virtue and heroic sacrifice. Everyone should read this book. A bit of news to those that haven't yet heard: 'The Fellowship of the Ring,' a live action movie of the first part of Tolkien's masterpiece, will arrive in theatres the fall of 2001. 'The Two Towers' will follow the year after, and 'The Return of the King' arrives 2003.
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Summary: The Fantasy Book of Fantasy Books
Review: No other fantasy author creates the same depth of a world as J.R.R. Tolkien has done. His labor of love took his entire lifetime to blossom into the Lord of the Rings, and the depth and beauty that each word of this timeless classic possess is simply breathtaking. I've read it five times through, and am currently savoring a sixth reading and I find myself appreciating it more and more each time I read it. I especially enjoy opening the book to particular section and re-reading a few lines of Tolkien's beautiful and calm prose; or to reflect on the careful linguistic contruction that Tolkien put in to create his multitude of languages. This is simply a wonderful book, and once you've read it, it is a joy to go back to the Silmarillion and learn of the ancient tales that are only hinted at in this book.
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Summary: A story you will always cherish, and never outgrow.
Review: This book is indeed an excellent read. A very entertaining story that will appeal to the "child" that, hopefully, still lives inside us. The tale that Tolkien tells us is rich in content and background. You can feel while you read that there is more to the story than what you are just reading. It is almost as if, while telling you Frodo's ordeals, Tolkien brings you closer to a rich and imaginative world, full of legends, myths, its own history, and above all, full of characters. All the implicit and explicit references to other heroes, evils, adventures and misadventures add a great deal to the story and to the entertainment it provides. Not only the book is imaginative, but is also well written. So well written that it will compel the curiosity of your "inner child" to keep reading. And if you look at it in a more subtle way, you may even glimpse a sense of humor in Tolkien's imagination (think, for instance, of the differences between the characters and how these differences affect their actions, words, ways of thinking and dealing with their problems). It was a good friend who, while we were all on a holiday trip, shared for a few minutes the book he was eagerly reading. After that my mind was set: I had to, I wanted to read more... And there is indeed more to the story than what you just read. If you've read other books of Tolkien, then you know there is more. But if this is your first Tolkien, then don't be disappointed when you finish because there is more. Yet, in my opinion, "The Lord of the Rings" is Tolkien's best.
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Summary: WOW - SIMPLY AMAZING
Review: About a month back I picked up me a copy of The Lord of The Rings. I could not believe how unbelievable this book unraveled to be. From the very beginning where Bilbo announces his eleventy first birthday, to the end where Gandalf, Frodo, and Bilbo journey to the havens, I was hooked. I found myself staying away from the book with about 50 pages left because I didn't want to end it. If you have not read this, get off your computer and go buy this book now. Gandalf is the man!
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Summary: Tolkiens Trilogy of Middle-earth
Review: Masterful storytelling, epic adventure and unforgetable characters await those who delve into this wonderful book. The story weaves a tapestry of tale through quiet villages, magical forests, thunderous battles and the stronghold of the enemy. Characters are brought to life in the endless struggles of good and evil, fear and heroism, greed and nobility. Part of what makes this story so wonderful is its completeness. Rich in detail, it is a history as well as an adventure. There is a basis given for the actions that unfold and for what will follow. We know that what we have read is just a chapter in the long history of this world. The consequences of deeds and war, both past and present, are seen is how the story develops. It is more like life and history as we live it, knowing what passes today is not the end of the story. Take the time to thoroughly read and enjoy this book and you'll probably do it again and again.
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Summary: One of the best fantasy books written in the 20th Century
Review: What else can be said about Tolkien's epic fantasy that has not already been said by critics more worthy than myself?
Lord of the Rings, for a point of fact is three books, the title referring to the trilogy as a whole. It is also one of the most exciting stories that will ever grip teenager and adult alike. Who needs Harry Potter and friends when we have Frodo Baggins and the fellowship of the ring? The storyline is simple enough. Frodo and his cousins, plus the dim but loveable Sam Gamgee leave the safety of shire to head for adventures and lands unknown. Lead by the mysterious wizard Gandalf, their first task is to find out the origins of the "one ring", a ring with a history as bloody and magnificent as Middle Earth itself. Frodo Baggins is an unlikely hero in every sense of the word, just as his Uncle Bilbo was in the prequel to Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit where the "one ring" makes it first appearance. It is on Frodo's small shoulders that the fate of Middle Earth rests, and when Gandalf is lost along the way, all seems doomed.
I won't say anything more about the plot less I give too much away and annoy potential readers to this wonderful epic of magic, war, music and tragedy.
On a more practical level I just love this chunky one book edition but I will warn you it is VERY heavy to hold so it might be worth investing in the individual books of the triology for ease of read. Let's put it this way I have biceps on my wrists from holding this book up in bed so choose your Lord of the Rings books with care is all I can say!
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Summary: okayyyyy....Cool......
Review: Over and Over i have heard rave reviews on this trilogy as if i were the Bible itself. Granted, this was a good set of books, but Calm Down people! It starts out VERY well. I'll say this. The first book goes along fairly quickly with a sufficient amount of action and a great re-introduction of Gandalf. (The way he goes in and out of the story and dissapear on "mysterious" business stays true to his character.) The 2cd book was alright, but started losing me when they so deeply into politics and King-hood. I just didnt see how that was so critical to the whole plot. Yes, its worth writing about but i think they Tolkien drags the whole war out a bit much. I got impatient to find out what was going on with the characters he started me out with, and didnt care much about the Riders of Rohan or the old sickly king, Eowyn and all. I wanted to know where Frodo was! And the third book...well....i didnt bother with the first part of it, i just skipped on to Frodo and Sams adventures with Gollum and in the Heart of Mordor. These are the scenes which made the book for me. :) Sams protectivness just touched my heart, and Frodo turns out to be braver than even his uncle Bilbo. When he and Frodo were about to die, i swear, the moment between those two.... Naw, i wont spoil it for young readers who havent got it yet. My biggest complaint was that after the whole ordeal was over, and the book should be ending, Tolkien drags it out into 5 or 6 more chapters that i simply thought were unnessesary. Anyway, be prepared to have alot of free time if your going to start this Trilogy. Its a good read but your going to have to struggle through a few bad parts to get to the good ones.
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