Awesome Book! This is my fav book in Lord Of The Rings. This book is full of adventures and a beautiful scenery. My fav characters are Prince Aragorn and Legolas. An introduction to the LOTR series. The beginning of the story. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy and the Middle Ages. But also all others. Because its fantastic book, which will take you to the world of dreams. You definitely won't be bored while reading this book :)

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

What can you say about a book that has been so foundational to an entire genre and shaped so many readers? This is a story I’ve wanted to read my entire life, something I’ve always considered one of my “bucket list” reads. I’ve tried multiple times, but I never made it much more than a third of the way in before I lost all momentum and put it down. I don’t know why I struggled so much, but I never gave up hope that I would finish it one day. It seems as though the fifth time was the charm for me, because when I started it this time, it finally clicked. I ended up enjoying The Lord of the Rings just as much as I always hoped I would. Better late than never, I suppose.

Because I feel as though nearly everyone has a basic knowledge of this book’s plot due to its classic status and the Peter Jackson films, this is going to be less of a coherent review and more of sharing of my thoughts and feelings from my personal reading experience. In other words, I apologize in advance for the following word vomit. I’m just so thrilled to have actually completed something that has been a goal for so much of my life that I can’t seem to get said thoughts and feelings into any kind of respectable order. Consider yourself warned, and thank you in advance to any readers who stick around and wade through the randomness below.

This was my fifth time reading The Fellowship of the Ring. Yes, fifth. But for some reason, I always get bogged down in the Treebeard chapter (despite my fascination with the Ents) and tap out 50 or so pages into The Two Towers. But this time I was determined not to give up, and I’m so glad I pushed through. From there, things started picking up a bit, but the story really snapped into place for me with, strangely enough, the introduction of Faramir. I’m not sure why that was what made the story really click for me, but there we are. Something about Frodo’s interaction with Faramir just entranced me, and I was fully invested for the rest of the book.

I think the reasons I’ve struggled with Tolkien in the past are the very reasons he’s beloved by so many. The world building of Middle-earth is so lush and dense that it feels self-indulgent, especially when it comes to chapters regarding Tom Bombadil or Treebeard or the like. Tolkien can lose himself so thoroughly in the world itself that the plot takes a backseat for chunks of the book. Also, while the writing grew on me over the course of the novel, the prose tends to be flowery bordering on purple, and the style feels somewhat archaic. Don’t get me wrong; this style definitely works for the story in the long run. And I can see how much it has shaped fantasy as a genre. But those were some of the reasons I initially had a hard time connecting to the narrative; the writing got in the way until I acclimated to it.

I’ve always thought that the Peter Jackson films were exquisite, and they seemed like very faithful adaptations. I stand by that, but even with the length of the extended editions, some things obviously had to be cut for time’s sake. For instance, I had no idea there was a full-on hobbit war when Frodo and company returned to the Shire at the end. And more context was given to the final parting scene in the book, which made it both more respectable a decision and far more poignant to me. I also loved that Tolkien took so much time to revel in victory. I feel like that’s not something we get very often in fantasy. We tend to see the final battle being fought and won, and sometimes get a brief epilogue tacked on showing that world so many months or years later. Not so, here. We get to witness all of the celebrations and the reaping of rewards. I found that refreshing.

Speaking of the films, I found it fascinating to compare the changed made to certain characters. Some characters, such as Frodo and Faramir, were in my opinion infinitely more noble and likable in the book. Others, like Aragorn and Arwen, are more compelling to me by far in the films. But nothing I encountered changed my favorite character: Samwise Gamgee. He’s equally wonderful on page and on screen, and is to my mind the true hero of the entire tale. He’s simply one of the bravest, most loyal, purest of heart beings to ever be penned, in my opinion.

After completing The Lord of the Rings in its entirety, I understand why Tolkien was so persistent that it was one long book, not a trilogy. This is definitely meant to be read in one go, and I think that’s why I failed to complete it in the past. Treating it as one contained work instead really helped me to stick with it, even when I was feeling a bit bogged down. Another thing that helped tremendously was deciding to tandem read the physical with the new audio versions, narrated by Andy Serkis. His audio made all the difference. Once that decision was made, I was never tempted to put this down again. His range as a reader is astounding. Not only does he perfectly voice Sméagol, the character he played in the films, he brilliantly captures the rest of the cast, the majority of whom sound amazingly like the actors who portrayed them. I was captivated by him as a narrator, and having him in my ear as I read along was one of the most immersive experiences of my life as a reader.

I’ve seen Christians call Tolkien’s writings an allegory for Christianity, which has always cracked me up as Tolkien had a distinct distaste for allegories as a whole and wrote as much in the prologue to The Lord of the Rings. Lewis’s Narnia? Yes, definitely an allegory about Christ? Middle-earth? Absolutely not. However, it is very easy to see that Tolkien had a Christian worldview and wrote through that lens. Obviously it’s not explicitly Christian in any way; but it feels Christian somehow, in its portrayal of good and evil. I love when such a worldview subtly permeates a work not because the author has any kind of agenda, but because that’s simply how they see the world and it was impossible for them to divorce their art from it.

I think I’ve rambled on long enough. Suffice it to say, I enjoyed my journey through The Lord of the Rings so much more than I expected, especially considering my past attempts. I can also see myself revisiting it in the future, which surprises me more than I can express. This ended up being more than the checklist item it had become, and I’m so pleased by that fact. Because of my earlier struggles, I feel like I can’t give this a 5 star rating for personal experience, but it was a solid 4. For cultural significance, it’s obviously a blazingly bright 5 stars. So I decided to cut that in the middle and give it a 4.5 star rating. That feels right for me. Middle-earth has also been a beautiful world to me because of the films, and the original source material has made it even richer and given it an even firmer foothold in my heart.

5 beautiful gold stars.
I only wish I could give it more.

Writing a review of this masterpiece is impossible. I can’t do it.

There’s too much to talk about and I love it far too much to articulate my thoughts in a normal way. So instead I’ve picked one element of each book that I liked the most (taken from my list of ten on each review) and added them here. It’s the best I can do, though I know many goodreads users share my difficulty when reviewing this book.

Anyway, here’s my top three:

1.Finding your courage- The Fellowship of the Ring

Not all the party have been fully tested. With them travel four young hobbits, the most unlikely of companions for such a journey. They are the overlooked, the forgotten about, the race that is casually discarded and considered insignificant in the wider world. And perhaps this has been the downfall of society in middle earth previously. The forces of darkness exploit everything they can get their hands on, from giant spiders to rampaging trolls, from dragons to orcs, from men of the east to the undead, Sauron tries to wield it all. This is something the forces of good have not fully considered until recently. Within the bosom of the hobbit beats a strong heart of fortitude and resilience.

“My dear Frodo!’ exclaimed Gandalf. ‘Hobbits really are amazing creatures, as I have said before. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you at a pinch.”

They carry with them the key to destroying the dark. Bilbo showed them how he could resist the ring. The hobbits are an almost incorruptible race, and because of this they are Sauron’s doom. It is something he has overlooked.

“It would be the death of you to come with me, Sam," said Frodo, "and I could not have borne that."

"Not as certain as being left behind," said Sam.

"But I am going to Mordor."

"I know that well enough, Mr. Frodo. Of course you are. And I'm coming with you.”



2. Gandalf the White - The Two Towers

“Do I not say truly, Gandalf,' said Aragorn at last, 'that you could go whithersoever you wished quicker than I? And this I also say: you are our captain and our banner. The Dark Lord has Nine. But we have One, mightier than they: the White Rider. He has passed through the fire and the abyss, and they shall fear him. We will go where he leads.

Gandalf the Grey was charming and quirky; he was everybody’s friend and advisor. But he was also a great wonderer and a great quester. He was an unearther of dark secrets and mysteries. And Middle-Earth no longer needs such a figure, darkness is now on her doorstep; it is no longer hidden. So Middle-Earth needs a man (or Istari) with far sight that can unite the scattered forces of Rohan and manipulate events in order to ensure that the King does, indeed, return. It needs a methodical man of great wisdom and intelligence; it needs a stagiest: it needs a new white wizard now that Saruman has changed his colours. And he has come.



3.Girl Power!-The Return of the King

“What do you fear, lady?" [Aragorn] asked.
"A cage," [Éowyn] said. "To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.”

There have not been many moments for women to show their strength in this story. Arwen’s moment in the films was non-existent in the book. Frodo was saved on the river by an Elf-lord called Glorfindel. So when Eowen battled the Witch King, it is the first major moment Tolkien gave to a female hero. In a vastly male dominated genre, it was great to read this scene. If I have one criticism of Tolkien, it’s that we didn’t see more of such things.



And here's a gif I like:

I’ve been curious about the fantasy world of Tolkien’s since high school and having read other fantasy series, I never had a real opportunity to step into his grand epic. While I eventually read “The Hobbit”, it gave me more interest into trying to jump into “LOTR”. I finally stepped in and while reading it with the beautiful 2021 illustrated edition, I found one rich fantasy masterpiece.

It all begins when a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins strangely vanishes during his birthday celebration. Frodo, the nephew of Bilbo, is now entrusted by the great wizard Gandalf with a powerful ring that must not fall in the grasp of Sauron. With a fellowship accompanying him including his friends Merry, Pippin and Sam, they set off on a long quest to reach Rivendell where the ring will be in safer hands. That quest will become one full of characters that will help them along the way, moments of danger and suspense, and even see them separated the further they will come.

It is a long quest, but a phenomenal fantasy that never stops being worth every page. The way it’s told never gets tiring and its tone feels so sobering. I was won over by the series’ lore as it’s so rich with characters and settings. In the end, it’s an alluring and adventurous fantasy about good vs. evil and you’ll go back to Middle Earth, as well as Tolkien’s other tales, to soak it in again and again. A (100%/Outstanding)

The epic fantasy against which all other epic fantasies are measured. And there is reason. Beautiful, lyrical, depth, enthralling. I love these books. I've read them many many times. Really they are not to be missed. Highly, highly, highly recommended.

'Nuff said!

Nevertheless, here are my little LOTR reviews of each volume:
• The Fellowship of the Ring
• The Two Towers
• The Return of the King


Lego Legolas!

n  "Tre Anelli ai Re degli Elfi sotto il cielo che risplende,
Sette ai Principi dei Nani nelle lor rocche di pietra,
Nove agli Uomini Mortali che la triste morte attende,
Uno per l'Oscuro Sire chiuso nella reggia tetra,
Nella Terra di Mordor, dove l'Ombra nera scende.
Un Anello per domarli, un Anello per trovarli,
Un Anello per ghermirli e nel buio incatenarli,
Nella Terra di Mordor, dove l'Ombra cupa scende."n

Magistrale!

I was forced to read this book. Each member of my first book club had an opportunity to choose the book we read. When one of the members chose The Lord of the Rings I was not happy. Fantasy is not my genre! But I was a good book club member and read it anyway.

I loved it! There were times when I did not want to sleep because I wanted to finish just one more page or chapter. Tolkien creates whole worlds, languages, species, and histories. It is epic in its scope. Somehow he manages to entertain, make you think, and visualize the world he describes.

It taught me a lesson about being open to new things, because sometimes by being open you can be richly rewarded.

Look at thisss, hobbitses! Not bought at flea market for ten francses. Catalogue says worth seven hundred dollarses. Oh yes, Not knows about bookses, gollum. But can't touch, can't read, she says too valuable. Going to eat fish instead, but nice birthday present, oh yes precious.

Il Capolavoro del genere Fantasy… siamo sicuri?

Il Signore degli Anelli è stato il primo romanzo fantasy che ho letto. Da allora parecchi anni sono passati e molte sono state le mie letture fantasy, ma nessuna di livello paragonabile alle avventure di Frodo; ciclicamente torno a leggere l'opera di Tolkien, ed ogni volta mi convinco sempre più che la definizione di "romanzo fantasy" gli calzi stretta, troppo stretta in effetti. Il fantasy moderno è sicuramente in tutto o in larga parte nato come emulazione di Tolkien (o come presa di distanza da lui, a seconda dei casi), ma può la matrice originaria essere ontologicamente considerata parte integrante del genere a cui ha dato vita? Quale altro fantasy successivo al Signore degli Anelli presenta la stessa complessità, la stessa stratificazione, la stessa grandiosità creatrice, la stessa influenza culturale, la stessa natura costitutiva?

La mia opinione è che Il Signore degli Anelli non possa essere considerato un fantasy, ma piuttosto un poema epico in prosa; l'ultimo (per ora) esponente di una lunghissima tradizione letteraria che, da Gilgameš in poi, ha solcato le ere della Storia dell'Umanità.
Tolkien riscopre, ricalca e reinventa gli archetipi dell'epos adattandoli al gusto novecentesco, dove ormai la forma letteraria del romanzo signoreggia, senza tuttavia rinunciare interamente al testo poetico (il libro è ricolmo di canti, poesie, ballate), ed è perciò nell'epos, non nel fantasy, che dobbiamo ricercare i suoi pari, fra i poemi epici del passato, Omero, l'Edda, le Chansons de geste, i cicli arturiano e carolingio, i Nibelunghi…

***(Avvertenza: da qui in poi ci sono degli spoiler)***

Allora sì, confronti, paragoni e parallelismi diventano non solo possibili, ma doverosi. A partire dal tema del viaggio, che è sia svolgimento di una missione (la ricerca del Vello d'Oro degli Argonauti, la cerca del Graal dei Cavalieri della Tavola Rotonda) sia scoperta della propria individualità (Gilgameš, Odisseo).
Il viaggio nell'Oltretomba che compiono Aragorn e compagni è una riedizione di quelli fatti da Odisseo ed Enea; la combattiva Éowyn ricalca l’eroina ariostesca Bradamante, entrambe destinate a sconfiggere uno stregone invincibile e la sua cavalcatura alata; l'enigmatico Gandalf, col suo apparire al momento del bisogno, rievoca il mago Merlino e, con l’accrescimento del suo potere attraverso la morte, riecheggia la leggenda di Odino; le visioni notturne di terre e avvenimenti lontani che giungono a Frodo, custode del Potere, non sono poi dissimili dai molti sogni rivelatori che gli dèi inviano agli eroi e alle eroine dell'Iliade e dell'Odissea; il ritorno alla Contea devastata degli Hobbit è una versione aggiornata del ritorno ad Itaca, da Tolkien inteso, però, come ultimo atto dell'autodeterminazione dei veri protagonisti del romanzo (fateci caso, tutte le vicende sono narrate dalla prospettiva hobbit, i quattro amici sono gli unici personaggi di cui Tolkien svela i più reconditi pensieri); e la similitudine omerica ritorna prepotente con l'abbandono della patria riconquistata: il lungo viaggio di conoscenza ha trasformato irrimediabilmente l'eroe che, non potendo più trarre gioia dal suo meritato riposo nella ritrovata pace, deve partire di nuovo verso un'ultima avventura senza ritorno, oltre i confini del Mondo.

Poi c’è il tema del Destino, che sovrasta e avvolge tutte le vicende narrate, cessando però di essere l'ineluttabile e crudele Fato greco e norreno a cui tutti, uomini e divinità, sono condannati; da buon cattolico, Tolkien lo trasforma in Speranza, cioè nella fede che esista un piano divino più grande, una Provvidenza imperscrutabile ai mortali, volto a far trionfare il Bene; è un concetto ribadito quasi in continuazione nel romanzo, le cose capitano perché devono capitare; significativo come la Speranza trovi il suo compimento proprio in un luogo che porta il sinistro nome di Monte Fato, già solo da questa contrapposizione semantica di Speranza e Dannazione si potrebbero intraprendere strade interpretative quasi illimitate.

Tuttavia non siamo di fronte alla mera riproduzione manierista; oltre agli archetipi dell'epica, Tolkien si ispira e infonde nuova vita anche a tópoi mutuati da altre epoche e altri movimenti letterari, come l'elegia del passato, visto sempre come la perduta Età dell'Oro in contrapposizione ad un mondo ormai stanco ed esausto, una visione pessimistica della contemporaneità che appartiene a molti personaggi del romanzo (Legolas, Gimli, Théoden, Denethor), già tema assai caro ai Romantici, ma che nel finale Tolkien rinnega e sovverte con il ritorno del re e l'avvento di una nuova età dorata per il solo genere umano, da cui sono esclusi Elfi, Nani, Orchi e Stregoni; o l'altrettanto romantica Sehnsucht, riscontrabile nel desideroso, infinito e impossibile bramare che l'Anello genera negli animi, facendoli struggere e disperare.
Mentre nella grazia ultraterrena di Dama Arwen, nei suoi occhi luminosi, nella sua gentilezza, rivivono tutte le donne angelicate del Dolce Stil Novo.

Infine, non bisogna scordarsi che uno dei proponimenti perseguiti dal Tolkien glottologo era dare un'esistenza, una consistenza autentica, alle lingue che aveva inventato, e una Lingua esiste solo se ha una Storia da raccontare; per fare ciò Tolkien esplorò e reinventò i tre generi costituitivi del racconto antico: la Fiaba con Lo Hobbit, l'Epos con Il Signore degli Anelli e il Mito con Il Silmarillion. Quale altro scrittore fantasy ha mai avuto la volontà e la capacità di fare altrettanto?
Ecco perché, a mio avviso, Tolkien non può e non deve più essere accomunato al genere fantasy.


t"Alcuni di quelli che hanno letto il libro, o almeno che lo hanno recensito, lo hanno trovato noioso, assurdo o disprezzabile; e io non ho alcun motivo per lamentarmi, dal momento che ho opinioni simili sulle loro opere, o sul tipo di opere che loro evidentemente preferiscono."

J.R.R. Tolkien, dalla Prefazione alla seconda edizione inglese del libro.

n  One book to rule them all.n