Rating: 
Summary: Great Books
Review: The three-part saga of Lord of the Rings is one of an epic scale, with the lives of all beings in middle earth at stake. This book revolves around the One ring, the token of power forged by the evil Maiar Sauron in the forges of Mount Doom, and how a fellowship of Hobbits, Men, an elf, a dwarf, and an Istari attempt to cast the ring back into its place of making. While this book is clearly and wonderfully written, the books seem lacking in a sense. The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales are more epic, more grand than these books, and contain characters that are superior to those seen in Lord of the Rings. For example, Sauron is portrayed to be omniscient evil in Lord of the Rings whereas Melkor[Morgoth] is the real nemesis of Middle Earth in the Silmarillion. This trilogy of books I highly recommend to all readers along with the *Amazing* A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. Overall, I give this book four and a half stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Storytelling to Perfection
Review: JRR Tolkien has managed to set the standard for perfection in storytelling. I lack the skill to praise this piece of literature to the extent of understanding that I would like to. All I can say is this is the best story I have ever read. I highly recommend this to all readers. Read it yourself, read it to your children, use any reason to read it, but read it. Even if you have seen the films, you should still read the books. They can't match the skill and art put into the written form of this work of art, this work of literature, this work of perfection. I read the stories of Middle-earth for the first time in high school. I went on to do my senior research paper on Tolkien and was happy to read something like twelve books declaring Tolkien's genius. The story told in these books is storytelling to perfection. In addition, you get the Hobbit. I rate this set 5 out of 5 stars. It's a small price for the hours of entertainment you will enjoy as you step out of the metaphorical doorway of your mind.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST BOOK ON EARTH (Or Middle Earth)
Review: These books are great. I love mythical adventure stories. If you do too, buy this book! You will be enchanted by these timeless Tolkien myths. This boxed set includes the Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and Return of the King. Read away!
Rating:
Summary: Without question the greatest story ever told
Review: The Lord of the Rings is the most unbelievable and well written classic tale of good versus evil. It is the one story against which all others are compared. And you don't even have to like fantasy or adventure to enjoy the genius of Tolkien. Since the trilogy was written around the time of WWII, some have said that it is a direct parallel with the Allied and Axis powers of the world in conflict: Germany is Mordor; Sauron is Hitler; the Shire is England; and so on and so forth. That Tolkien created an entire working language simply compounds the wonder of what he achieved with this timeless tale. Those who have not yet read it absolutely should and must do so, and those who refuse to read it are only cheating themselves of the most memorable and astounding tale that has ever been written in the history of mankind.
Rating:
Summary: Tolkien is a Genius! Welcome to Middle-Earth!
Review: I will admit, the movies are what inspired me to read these books. I read all four in less than a month. From the moment I reached "The Flight to the Ford" in "The Fellowship of the Ring" I was hooked. These books are absolutely amazing. Tolkien didn't simply write some books, he created a world, and a fascinating one at that. He has created unforgettable characters, landscapes, visual images and he pushes these things along with what could be considered the greatest story ever told. These are the kind of books I can see myself reading annually. He has packed these books so incredibly full with detail and information that reading them once, or even ten times, hardly scratches the surface. These books took Tolkien over fifteen years to write, and when you read the extensive appendices in the back of "The Return of the King" it is easy to see why. He created Middle-Earth, a place so convincingly really, it seems as if you could visit it some day. This box set is wonderful. It is great to have all four books together. The Hobbit- This book is a solid piece of literature. This was actually originally written as a children's story for his kids, and when he started work on "The Lord of the Rings" he went back and made it a little scarier and more violent. This book tells the story of Bilbo Baggins and his encounter with Gandalf and some Dwarves seeking a treasure. In their adventure, they face flies and spiders and Orcs and the dragon Smaug and the evil creature Gollum. I can read the chapter "Riddles in the Dark" over and over again. Gollum is an ingenious character. This novel lays the groundwork for "LOTR" and is amazing. It is, however, my least favorite in the set. The Fellowship of the Ring- While not my favorite of the four, it isn't my least favorite. I think it has a slow start, just because so much groundwork is laid. The story of the ring and Isildur and Gollum/Smeagol and Frodo and Bilbo are all told in the beginning. Finally, they set off through the "Old Forrest," a scene not included in the movie. It is very interesting. Tom Bombadil is a strong and interesting character, even though the story tends to stray from the ring at this point. By the time the hobbits reach Bree, you will have a very hard time putting this book (or the other two) down. The Two Towers- This is my absolute favorite of the books. I love the battle at Helm's Deep and the tower of Cirith Ungol and it has my all time favorite literary character, Gollum in it a lot. He is one of the most well thought out and executed characters I have ever read about. The story is very strong and the emotion that the reader feels for the characters is very strong. The scenes at Isengard with the Ents are amazing, as well as the plantir scene. Wonderful!! The Return of the King- What I enjoy about the movies is that they tell more about Sam and Rosie and Arwen and Aragorn. Those relationships become important in the end of this book, and they aren't told enough in the books (although detailed in the appendices). This book is great. Eowyn is a strong character and Merry and Pippin really stand out in this novel. The "Scouring of the Shire" is a cool chapter as well. I also really enjoy the climax. It is amazing, and it blew me away. The battles at Minas Tirith are amazing. This is my second favorite, even though the ending is a little lagging, but like "Fellowship" needed the long rising action, it needed the long falling action. In all, I recommend these to anyone, even if you don't like fantasy. I've never been a fan of fantasy, but what sets these apart is the fact that Tolkien built a world and once you're in it, you don't want to leave.
Rating:
Summary: Lord of the rings
Review: It's the best ring of all but, who is going to destort it? I really liked this book, it was one of my favorite books. It was about a small man and a couple of his friends that helped him on his journey to destroy the ring. There were evil demans that were trying to kill him and take the ring. If you want to know the rest read it. I would recommend this book to some one who likes fiction boks.
Rating:
Summary: A heart-felt chronicle.....
Review: A thriving, living, breathing book, I saw the world of Middle-Earth evolve into a powerful reality to create the spectacular story of Frodo Baggins and the Ring of Power. I felt the pain, the sorrow, and the happiness that was so complex in all of the experiences and yet is a simplicity of life and love throughout the chaos of loss and war. This chronicle is a fantastic and beautiful tale that is undescribable. The beauty of the world that Tolkien created is clearly unspeakable in ordinary human tongues. The people and creatures are spanned and told in detailed length, and nothing can be amiss if one reads and understands that great combination of events to overall tell the tale of the Ring. The fair and beautiful Elves, the small and heartening hobbits, the old wizened wizard, the solid strong dwarves, and not least of all, men, who's foundations floundered and exasperated upon Middle-earth. At last, the strong and faithful, were put to the last defense to save Middle-earth. A history, not only a tale was being told, and Tolkien's ability to give the reality and believability of the Lord of the Rings will span time for many decades or even centuries to come. The Lord of the Rings is a powerful and wonderful novel that truly takes you to the center of Middle-Earth. It is a captivating and detailed work of art that can never be duplicated or perfected no less by any other creations. I really recommend this novel to the imaginative reader to be able to encompass the beauty and work of J.R.R. Tolkien.
Rating:
Summary: Worth taking seriously - and not just by children
Review: I loved the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) when I first read it at the age of 11. But is it just a book for children? There is a powerful body of opinion that says yes. I recently read an article by Philip Pullman (whose "Dark Materials" trilogy I admire enormously) in which he contrasts LOTR - unfavourably - with classic realist fiction. Pullman thinks LOTR is thin fare for adults, mainly because the characters are two-dimensional and the moral world simplistic; good and evil are starkly contrasted, with no space for ambiguity. Not one character, he says, has one tenth of the solidity and reality of even a minor character in "Middlemarch". None of the conflicts carry the weight of moral drama of the party scene in "Emma". I don't think you can write off LOTR like that: but I have to make some concessions to Pullman. LOTR is not always well-written; and, on the whole, the characters are indeed two-dimensional. A lot of the writing grates - the pseudo-Biblical archaisms, the inversions (think "Yoda" in "Star Wars"), the embarrassing poetry. Most of the characters are straightforwardly good or evil; though this moral universe does know about the possibility of corruption (Saruman), of internal conflict (Gollum), and of putting oneself in moral hazard to achieve a good end (Frodo). But it's the story that matters - and there are two big things about the story that are compelling. One is the Ring itself: a weapon that has to be un-made, not fought for, because it can only corrupt the user. Think of this aspect of the book as a meditation on the nature of power. And the second is the aching sense of loss: good wins over evil, but the cost is that many of the best things about the world are destroyed. Think of this aspect, perhaps, in deference to Tolkien's Catholicism, as a meditation on the doctrine of the Fall. I'm going to give this 5 stars, not because it's flawless (manifestly it isn't), but because there are big things in this book that are worth engaging with: even 25 years after my first reading.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest achievement of 20th century literatue
Review: The Lord of the Rings first came knocking upon my door four years ago. I had been introduced to the fantasy genre through PC games and board games, but I always wanted to know the source of it all. That source, for the most part, is this book. The Lord of the Rings is compelling in concept, executed perfectly, well paced and very well written. It has an endearing charm to it that will make you smile or laugh, and at times it can be so down right terrifying that you will feel the weight of the 'ring' yourself. You can really get to know the characters, although the story isn't really a character study. It tells the tale of many peoples, races, and a great conflict that they must unite to withstand. Tolkien's novel is so great because it makes you feel like there is no hope, that we are all doomed, and then presents you with a daunting task, quest, something so hard to bear and takes you along. There is no better book written in the past 100 years. This is one story that will be read hundred's of years from now, and will long be remembered as THE novel of the 20th century. Whether you like fantasy or not, if you like a great tale, and want to read something amazing, read this.
Rating:
Summary: For all you fantasy skeptics out there...
Review: After 1000+ reviews, what more could I possibly say about "Lord of the Rings" that hasn't already been said? So, instead, I will try and direct my review to the skeptics out there that don't think fantasy books are worth their time of day. I was one of those people and I am eating my words.
I work in a bookstore and it seemed everyone had read LOTR but me. Finally, I gave in and read it, admittedly after seeing the first movie. I can say that I have never been more drawn in or got more enjoyment from anything I have ever read. Tolkien has created an entire world, complete with landscapes, maps, languages and races all from his imagination. But the morality and heart of this book is the true gift. The characters are so believable and trust me, you will find yourself cheering for the fellowship every step of the way. As far as the "bad guys" go, you will be afraid. No matter what I say, I can never do this book justice. I will be reading it again and again. If you haven't read it yet, I envy you, because you are in for a treat. If you have, no point in saying more, because I am sure you know what I mean.
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