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Summary: Something for everyone...
Review: I first read the Hobbit and LOTR back in 1972 as a teen. I was interested in the Fantasy/Sci Fi genre, but this really surpassed anything that I'd read. It has elements of mythology, the beauty of a saga, heroes and villains, great joy and sadness...plus the feel of a real world with its use of language and maps. I still reread it when times seem tough for it speaks to me although I am many years older. A beautiful story for the late teen on up. -- The Hobbit is, in comparison, a fairy tale. Great for the younger reader and has a completely different feel to the characters and delivery of this fun tale of goblins, dwarves, dragons, treasure and the war between good and evil.
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Summary: A Fantasy of the Highest Literary Calibre
Review: The well-read English professor/writer J.R.R. Tolkien has created a world, drawn from ancient world mythology, a phenomena and a beloved cycle of legends and stories that will continue to delight generations of adults and young readers for millenia to come. The Hobbit, the prelude to the Lord of the Rings trilogy: Fellowship, Two Towers and Return of the King, begins the adventure with the story of Bilbo Baggins, who manages to take posession of the infamous Ring, who battles and wins against a dragon, and who takest the ring back to the Shire with the rest of his people, the hobbits. It is these furry-footed, agricultural, earthy four-foot men and women who become the focus of much of the stories. Did Tolkien intend to allegorize the Hobbits ? Are they the English before World War I, living a simple, uncomplicated and leisurely life before the great war that is described in gore in the trilogy ? Or are they simply an allegory for humans, for the good in humankind. The Fellowship continues the epic when Frodo, Bilbo's cousin, is given the ring and from then on encounters only danger and high adventure. A gentle, unassuming hero, he represents the noble side to humans, that even the smallest of creatures can rise to glorification. Frodo has stumbled upon an object of desire, a powerful ring that draws the attention of the evil Lord Sauron (who some say is drawn from Satan in Milton's Paradise Lost). The ring itself, which is taken from the same "ring" symbolisms in the Norse Eddas and Nibelungelied, the latter which was made into four operas Ring of the Nibelung by Richard Wagner, represent greed, represent the corruption that power can bring even to one with good intentions. The destruction of the Shire can be a literary parallel to London in ruins after the Blitz in World War II, and thus the series of wars in the Lord of the Rings, represent the two World Wars, that were no doubt fought for power over territories. Even if Tolkien himself admitted that these are not allegories, nor moralistic stories, they can be so intense, an so complex, that the reader may interpret it as such. In the end, is not all great fantasies a comment on good versus evil ? And as all good fantasies, good always triumphs over evil. The most glorious section in all of the novels is the destruction of the ring, and the peace and prosperity it brings to Middle Earth. Frodo has won, good has won, and we close the final page in Tolkiens' saga with a sigh of relief.
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Summary: An excellent paperback edition
Review: This (ISBN 0618002251 4-book oversized paperback set from Houghton Mifflin*) is an excellent paperback edition of the classic Tolkien epic, larger and easier to read than a mass market paperback, especially the maps, and yet light in the hand. High quality, great smooth covers. This edition also does not contain the many typographical errors that riddled the Ballantine Books trade paperback edition (ISBN 0345340426). I have compared both editions of the Fellowship side by side to verify this for each error. The maps have also been painstakingly redrawn and are much clearer, while in nearly the same style as the originals. If you want the set -for the purpose of actually reading it- then this is the one to buy.* After I wrote this review, Amazon apparently attached it to the BAD edition noted above, irritatingly. Therefore I have added the ISBN number to help distinguish the edition I am recommending, and I would advise you to do the same if you ever compare multiple editions of the same work in a review.
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Summary: A Classic and a Page Turner combined, oh my!
Review: A lot of times you here about classics. A Separate Peace, Lord of the Flies, etc. Well they may be classics, but they are boring, and they are also poorly written. The only reason they survive as "classics" is because some kind of message they had that is pretty much out of date. Anyways, LOTR is also considered a classic. But this one is no where near boring! Best book of all time for sure. I got through this one so quickly, it's suprising it's over 1000 pages. I suggest this to anyone. Read it! The characters, the creatures, the locations, and the history. This book sucks you in like nothing else.
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Summary: My daughter loves this set
Review: I read these back in college, but had never forgotten their magic. I recently gave this set to my young daughter and she
quickly emersed herself headlong into the beautiful and bewitching world which Tolkien creates for the reader. Do
the same for your young ones!
Rating:
Summary: Better Than the Best Daydream
Review: I first read the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy when I was 11. Even after many years (I won't be exact) I can still recall the feeling of exhiliration that was with me as I first read the words that are still with me to this day. I'm a librarian...and I can honestly say that Tolkein's books changed my life. The vivid description, action, and characters (who will become your best friends) are the ultimate in fantastic fiction. Highly recommended in the past...present...and future. Tolkein wrote these books in the 50's with the child in mind and every time I read them I am not only taken back in time but also consumed with the need to recommend them to all my friends.
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Summary: The Lord of the Rings
Review: First Tolkien, a linguist, created a language. Then he created a world for that language. The result is one of the seminal works of 20th century literature. This year, the epic has finally and wonderfully been translated to film. I predict a sudden and huge demand for the books, and envy those who will be coming to the written work for the first time. The full, three-dimensional and all-absorbing emersion in Middle Earth is only fully realized with the first reading- I wish I could read it again for the first time. But the work is so textured and rich that subsequent readings, no matter how frequent, can always mine a new detail or nuance previously missed.
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Summary: A must for fantasy lovers
Review: Unlike *some* people, I've always found these books to be the greatest fantasy books ever. Yes, I admit that it is a bit dated, and it shows in some of the characters, but that is the story's only drawback.
From beginning to end the reader is pulled into a world full of magic and wonder. Beautiful landscapes and perilous adventure await you at every turn of the page. It's a classic story of good versus evil and the corruption of man.
Anyone who loves the fantasy genre, but hasn't read these books, should do so now. And for those people who have read the books, now is a good time to reacquaint yourself with Middle Earth!
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Summary: LOTR is an incredible feat.
Review: The LOTR trilogy is an incredible feat. Its predecessor, The Hobbit, was as complete and spellbinding story as could be written.
The LOTR surpassed this. What seemed like a grand adventure in The Hobbit was dwarfed by the sheer breadth of the trilogy.
Tolkien, being a professor in Medieval English in addition to mastering related subjects, shines with his deep knowledge and love of the craft. It is impossible to not be swept away into his imaginary land that somehow leaves the reader a true believer.
The FOTR was a gratifying first book. Two Towers was more difficult to read whatwith the heavy use of antiquated verbage, but enjoyable just the same.
ROTK was rewarding - as any final chapter should be - but I sensed Tolkien increased his marked pace that existed in the first two books. I felt as though he needed to finish this story that consumed him as desperately as the powers of good sought to end Sauron's reign of evil. I read the LOTR to my son, who along with me, at times found it impossible to put down. I remember, more than once, the hoarseness in my voice from reading outloud too many hours on end. I rate the LOTR an excellent 5, but do state that it is not mild reading, and to perservere through The Two Towers as you will be more than thrilled that you did. Excellent story, and in regards to enjoyability factor, easily surpasses the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring and shallow
Review: I read The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring, and The Two Towers. I quit just after the first few chapters of The Return of the King but I think I'm qualified to write a review.
The Hobbit is a good book, a simple, entertaining story for children.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is completely different. It is much more ambitious in scope and filled with historical detail. Tolkien obviously put a lot of effort into world building, it's his main strength. There are many pages filled with historical accounts. Honestly I found it all very boring.
The plot is disappointingly simple and unimaginative. It's simple good vs evil. They must destroy the evil ring. They go from place to place, fighting monsters, making allies, until they succeed. You know that the main characters won't be harmed.
But in my opinion the series' major flaw is its very poor character development. Even a book with a simple plot can shine for me if the characters are well developed. I never liked superheroes vs supervillains. In this case we don't even meet Sauron, and he is just evil, period. The good guys are better but not good enough for me. It is possible to do too much character development and too little world building...
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