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A review by dark_reader
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
5.0
Tolkien: the original worldbuilder? The Shire: the original gated community?
It was lovely to return to this classic, fulfilling an urge to return to my fantasy roots. I can only remember reading this two distinct times before, and the last was over twenty years ago. When the films came out, I recalled enough to identify the major changes and rearrangements that Peter Jackson made, but I didn't recall much of Merry and Pippin or Boromir, to be honest. As for the first two, they don't have much of a role or distinguish themselves in this first third of the book, so I am not surprised that they failed to live large in my memory. But many great scenes stand out as epic moments in the book, particularly the Council of Elrond and the journey through the mines of Moria. These were joyous to read in their original forms.
I was surprised on this reading foremost by the atmosphere, how well Tolkien created a sense of looming doom. My enjoyment was definitely enhanced by having seen the films so many times; it is impossible to read key lines of dialogue without recalling the voice and intonation of the actors, particular Ian McKellan as Gandalf, who did absolute justice to the role. Gandalf is a much better character here than in The Hobbit, where he was mostly just a complainer.
This was the first time that I actually read the songs and poems peppered throughout the story. In my younger days I could only deign to skim over them. It was still a struggle at times. At least I came away with a better appreciation of Tom Bombadil than in decades past.
And sadly, I have to admit that much of the book is quite dull, particularly in book 1 during the hobbits' extended journey before they reached The Prancing Pony. I personally appreciated all of the efforts to artfully build the history, legend, and diverse geography of the world, but for a first-time reader it is laid on a little thick. I understand why some readers coming to this work for the first time may be turned off, particularly if they don't already have a well-developed love of fantasy. I think it helps to approach LoTR thinking of it as a six-part book, rather than a trilogy, as Tolkien intended. The films did a fantastic job of revising the timeline to keep the story compelling. It has been pointed out in plenty of other places the disparity in the book between learning something of the threat of the One Ring and launching into action; seventeen years to be precise, and even when the threat became imminent, Frodo waited multiple seasons before proceeding with his escape plan. Weird, but understandable in-world.
It was lovely to return to this classic, fulfilling an urge to return to my fantasy roots. I can only remember reading this two distinct times before, and the last was over twenty years ago. When the films came out, I recalled enough to identify the major changes and rearrangements that Peter Jackson made, but I didn't recall much of Merry and Pippin or Boromir, to be honest. As for the first two, they don't have much of a role or distinguish themselves in this first third of the book, so I am not surprised that they failed to live large in my memory. But many great scenes stand out as epic moments in the book, particularly the Council of Elrond and the journey through the mines of Moria. These were joyous to read in their original forms.
I was surprised on this reading foremost by the atmosphere, how well Tolkien created a sense of looming doom. My enjoyment was definitely enhanced by having seen the films so many times; it is impossible to read key lines of dialogue without recalling the voice and intonation of the actors, particular Ian McKellan as Gandalf, who did absolute justice to the role. Gandalf is a much better character here than in The Hobbit, where he was mostly just a complainer.
This was the first time that I actually read the songs and poems peppered throughout the story. In my younger days I could only deign to skim over them. It was still a struggle at times. At least I came away with a better appreciation of Tom Bombadil than in decades past.
And sadly, I have to admit that much of the book is quite dull, particularly in book 1 during the hobbits' extended journey before they reached The Prancing Pony. I personally appreciated all of the efforts to artfully build the history, legend, and diverse geography of the world, but for a first-time reader it is laid on a little thick. I understand why some readers coming to this work for the first time may be turned off, particularly if they don't already have a well-developed love of fantasy. I think it helps to approach LoTR thinking of it as a six-part book, rather than a trilogy, as Tolkien intended. The films did a fantastic job of revising the timeline to keep the story compelling. It has been pointed out in plenty of other places the disparity in the book between learning something of the threat of the One Ring and launching into action; seventeen years to be precise, and even when the threat became imminent, Frodo waited multiple seasons before proceeding with his escape plan. Weird, but understandable in-world.