Hobbits, Elves, and Wizards: Exploring the Wonders and Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings"

Rating:
Summary: Dry as Death Valley Sand
Review: This book is remarkably dry. Considering the subject matter I would've thought that was impossible but Michael Stanton has proved me wrong.The writing is dull and workmanlike.It's very much like a literary text book.

The best thing I can say for Elves, Hobbits and Wizards is that it gives the casual Tolkien fan an almost encyclopedic view of the characters and ideas of the books.

If you are planning on writing a term paper on Lord of the Rings this is a useful reference text but if fun is what you're after, pass this one by.

Rating:
Summary: Superb Insight Into the Themes behind the Stories!
Review: You'd think someone who had taught Tolkien at the university level for decades might have a keen insight into this wonderful fantasy world. And if you want some of the most insightful commentary on Tolkien’s world, you won’t find a much better book than this--it's great!

Stanton's strength is not merely insight, but the organization of that insight. The book is neatly divided into separate discussions of elves ("...elves are men made perfect"), dwarves, men, orks, hobbits, etc. In each discussion, the author provides thoughtful information as only someone who knows Tolkien this well is able. There is also a very helpful background to Middle Earth, which was of great assistance to me in understanding the story.

Other chapters are devoted to summary of the "Lord of the Rings" series--a very helpful inclusion for those of us that became most familiar with the story through the film. The film itself is also discussed, with excellent analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of both cast and script. Stanton includes answers to some of the most often asked questions about the movie.

Finally, Stanton includes an interpretation of Tolkien’s literary techniques in discussions on parallelism, religious theme (excellent), and use of language. He also mentions interesting inconsistencies in the stories, as well as unresolved issues, which have become sources of great trivia, e.g., what happened to the Ent Wives, Gimli's occupation, etc.

If you just love the story, know it by heart, and care little for themes and characterizationsâ€"you might want to pass on this book. However, if you're fairly familiar with the “Lord of the Rings”, and would like to delve beneath the surface of the story, this book is wonderful! It's an easy read, is organized nicely, and is written by someone who understands the master--probably even better than Tolkien’s own son. Highly recommended!