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Summary: Essential literature
Review: There are very, very few works of literature of which I could honestly say that everyone should read. The Lord of The Rings is most assuredly one of them. Such epic, inventive, and downright imaginative storytelling deserves to be read and praised. The writing is immaculate, wonderful, and epic in scope. Tolkien's prose is the smoothest and most beautiful I have ever come across. Amongst modern writers, he is unparalled in sheer storytelling ability and narrative drive. This series belongs with the classics. His prose has that deft touch, which is so rare, where it almost feels like your reading poetry - so beautiful is it - but it is just simply his great writing. Many people refer to the series as an allegory, and many read it as such. Tolkien himself seems not privy to this view: he says he was just writing a story. But the fact remains that, whether you take this series as a metaphorical representation of events of unparalled importance, or merely take it at face value, it is still a masterpiece, such is the sheer storytelling drive. There are very few books that I would reccommend on the strength of the story alone, but this is a rare exception. It is a masterpiece. Your life will be enriched by reading it. Such is its power, its drive, and its simple uncanny greatness that the series demands itself as one that everybody needs to be able to say that they've read. It just screams to be read. Analysis of it is both unnecessary and beside the point: interpretations, personal opinions, and and kind of factual dissertation are irrevelant to the greatness of The Lord of The Rings. It has a life of its own. It has to be read, to be experienced, to believe. If you haven't yet done so, you owe it to yourself to do so now. Your life in reading simply isn't complete if you haven't done so.
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Summary: Read this to your children before the movie!
Review: These are marvellous, marvellous works of classic chivalry and virtue all wrapped up in adventure and fantasy. Prof Tolkien's works deserve to be READ and imagined before the (admittedly very fine) movie images indelibly imprint themselves on the brain.I was fortunate to read (and re-read, and re-read) these books in the 1970's and 1980's when there were fewer artists renderings available (and they were more divergent from each other). You could really imagine your own hobbits, elves, wizards, dwarves and demons. Now, with the blockbuster movie out (did I say that the movie is pretty brilliant, too?) it will be difficult to imagine anything but Frodo as a be-wigged Elijah Wood, Legolas with blond hair and brown eyes, Boromir with light brown hair (rather than both with the dark hair JRRT described) and Saruman as a crazed-eyed Christopher Lee. Sooo, if you children are just old enough for the movie, or a bit too young yet for the terrifying black-oil-sweating Ringwraith horses and orc decapitations shown on film, give them a treat. Read the book aloud to them (or buy the BBC audiocassettes). I did this with my children 8 & 10 years old the summer of 2001, and they are safe with their own personal images of the characters Tolkien created.
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Summary: Hooked
Review: I just wanted everyone to know that these books are great. I have never read the books before until after I saw the Lord Of The Rings movie. There's so much history, background and character development in the books that you don't want to miss. You won't be disappointed.
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Summary: Best ever!
Review: This triology are the best books I've ever read, they have it all. Fantacy, humor,a great story, wonderful caracters, everything! If you've read, Harry Potter, The forgotten beasts of eld? you'll sertenly LOVE these. okey, they are a bit long, but their worth it, everything! the most wonderful expirience you can have, (my meaning) is reading, you'll never put them down. you'll want to climb into Tolkiens world, and stay there, I totaly recomend this book, I loved it!
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Summary: Excellent read
Review: A wonderful story filled with wonderful characters. Its not an easy reading book, but it does "grab" you & immerse you, so that you feel you are there with the characters.
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Summary: The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy-Including The Hobbit
Review: This Book Is Masterful.There Is No Other Like It.All Other Books Seem Horrible Once You Read This Because Its So Good.From Gandalf's Fall Into The Abyss To When A Wizard Takes Over The Shire To The Dramatic Ending To Bilbo's Finding Of the Ring.Next I am reading The War Of The Ring,The Ending Of The Third Age,The Simalliaron,(All By John Ronald Reul Tolkien With An Intraduction By Christopher Tolkien(His Son))and All The Other Middle-Earth Books.Ialso Give The Movie 5 Stars Because That Was An Excellent Movie.I Would Recommend It To Any One.I think The Best Of The 4 Is The Fellowship Of The Ring But My Brother Likes The Two Towers.The Return Of The King And The Hobbit Are Also Great.This Is A MUST-READ!!!
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Summary: An absolutely phenomenal book by the greatest author ever !
Review: The Lord of the Rings is, without a doubt, MY favorite book. It is NOT , however, right for everyone. You either worship it, or despise it. But don't worry, most people enjoy it. You don't have to love fantasy to love this book, but you certainly need endurance. There are some parts in The Lord of the Rings that are rather long and detailed. But I guarantee that reading through these parts is well worth it. Exciting, heart stopping parts in the book plentiful. So getting through the "boring" stuff is easy enough. Especially because you are dying to see what happens next!
The story takes place in a forgotten era thousands of years in the past, in a place called Middle-earth. Hobbits, Elves, Men, Wizards, Dwarves, Ents, Orcs, Uruk-hai, and Trolls are the races that dwell there. (But I don't expect you to memorize this.) The main character is a Hobbit, Frodo Baggins. His cousin Bilbo Baggins (main character in The Hobbit) goes off to explore and leaves Frodo the magical ring he aquired from Gollum, a nasty, froglike creature living in the depths of the earth. Gandalf the Grey, a kind (and powerful) wizard tells Frodo the Ring he posesses is, in fact, the One Ring. A Ring forged by the evil Sauron to destroy Middle-earth. So Frodo, along with his friends Sam, Merry, and Pippin, sets out to destroy the Ring. The only way this can be done is to go into Mordor, Sauron's desolate relm, and cast the Ring into Mount Doom which is hundreds of miles away. Along the way, countless new characters come into play. Like Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, Galadriel, Eowyn, Eomer, etc.
You will love and adore the characters. And when the book ends, you'll probably go back and reread your favorite parts until you feel satisfied. Tolkien's writing is so overflowing with emotion, you'll feel depressed when the characters are depressed, and you'll be glad when the characters are glad. I can't express enough how real Middle-earth is because of Tolkiens style.
You MUST read The Lord of the Rings. There is something in it for everyone, and the story is just SO amazing (having been backed up by a ton of research on the ancient world by J.R.R. Tolkien). It is the kind of book that neither you nor humankind will never tire of. PLEASE read it at least ONCE.
This copy of the book has lovely pictures on the front covers and on the case. There are very well organized maps in the back of each book. But I do think that I will eventually have to buy a hardback edition.
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Summary: The Best Book For Years
Review: I have read the Hobbit, off + on for the past 28 years. I have a boxed set I bought in Germany, in 1976 that I bought while my ex was stationed there, it brought me much pleasure then, as well as now. Although I have bought a new set, as the old set is in good, but very worn condition, I am very glad that this book is still being read by many. And now the movie, well, what more could we ask for? Just a big thank you to all who are involved with the re-publication, + continuation of this masterpiece.
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Summary: A review of The Hobbit
Review: Bilbo Baggins was just a normal hobbit living in the comfort of his "hobbit hole" until a wizard named Gandalf came along. And with him an amazing adventure. There was a dragon of the name of Smaug who would come down from Lonly Mountian to steal the riches from towns and cities and bring them to his layer. For their task is to slay the beast and take back the treasures of years ago. But on the way is an adventure itself. For on the way Bilbo and his company of dwarfs incounter trolls, goblins, elves, dragons and more. And as thier adventure progresses, it can only get worse.
I thought this book was great. J.R.R. Tolkien did a wonderful job of writing it. Now I didn't really like the parts when there are battles and they only last for 1 page, but it makes up for it as it goes. Torwords the end, there is a whole chapter on one battle which is very exciting if I say so myself. He also made it sound as if he was actualy telling us this story while we sat right by him. He also gave great detail on the characters. For example when he told us about Bilbo's house. He got as detailed as telling us the color of Bilbo's front door. But at the same time he didn't over do it by tell us everything, but only teling us all the important and interesting information. Not only did he give good detail on the charactors, but the history of this world and its life too. The history about hobbits on the opening of the book is fastinating and you feel like you know it all after you read only this section. But believe me, you havn't skimed the surface. So this concludes my review of The Hobbit. I recomend you reading this book soon.
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Summary: These books are facinating!!!!
Review: I love these books! They are great for pretty much all ages. If you like fantasy stories with magical creatures, wizards, and dark sorcerors you should definatly read these books! In the stories you follow Bilbo and Frodo Baggins through their adventures with dragons, orcs, and and spiders. They are on a difficult journey to destroy the One Ring. There's lots of suspense, I could hardly put it down! I also recomend seeing The Lord of the Ringd:Fellowship of the Ring movie, its also excellent!!!!
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