Rating:  Summary: One of the Finest Books.....Ever! Review: Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS (or perhaps better known by its separate titles The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King)is one of the greatest literary achievements of all time. For those who look upon this as a simple fantasy with elves, dwarves, goblins (a/k/a orcs)and of course hobbits, they miss the greatest part of the story. Tolkien has fashioned a timeless tale of humanity within a world of his own creation.LOTR is an epic, more telling, more indicative of human behavior than any of those epics which are considered part of serious literature. Richly detailed, the book evokes simple themes of bravery, good versus evil, love, magic, wonder and loss while treating the characters not as simple fantasy stereotypes, but as complex individuals. The struggle of good and evil, temptation, fall and redemption is presented marvelously throughout and Tolkien's keen abilities for both prosaic and poetic expression make this a story to remember. The final chapter of the book is one that will remain in thought for a long time. I have read LOTR many times and it is a treasure.
Rating:  Summary: Very mixed feelings Review: On the one hand, I appreciate the amount of effort (roughly Tolkien's whole life) that was spent on creating Middle-Earth. Yet I have to say, regrettably, that I think Lord of the Rings is grossly, grossly, overrated. The dialogue is execrable. The poetry and songs are (largely) grating. The descriptions are (largely) uninspired. Most of all, the characters are as tangible as a Ringwraith without a cloak. It can't be that it seems cliched to me (it is the first - and last - fantasy novel that I have read). It can't be that I am too cynical (I thought The Hobbit was excellent). It's just that this fat lump of a book is plain poorly written. Sorry, Tolkien fanatics.
Rating:  Summary: Why not five stars? Review: Well the most important things have been said before, it's an enchanting tale filled with imaginative characters that carry the story, it's an instant classic, it's one of the best fantasy books ever and it's a book that'll survive even my grandchildren, but the reason I didn't give the book a five star rating is that it was a slow beginning. I had to read it 3 times before I passed the magical number of 100 pages, I couldn't get into it at first, but after I tried it the fourth time I was swept, like most of the other readers, off my feet. But it did take a lot of concentration and persistence to reach that far.
Rating:  Summary: Thrust your blade, even a Hobbit can be great. Review: Valiant you be, will no fear ever hinders. Water is Gold spring, feast always for the day. High foiled the sky, then from legend backs the king.
Rating:  Summary: WOW Review: Well I finally finished this volumus book. Even though it took me all summer it was fantastic. Tolkein is the master of the fantasy and this novel is easily the best one written. Those some times tedious in details of every event you are drawn into the novel from the first page. If you have the time read this, you will not be disappointed.
Rating:  Summary: A must read! Review: This is the best fantasy book ever written. If you have not read it, order it now!
Rating:  Summary: The best book ever written.... Review: When I say it is the most exciting and exhilerating book imaginable, i tell no lies. It still boggles the mind how one could write with such depth and accuracy such a time ago, before television, when the mind was the great time killer. A classic book that will live forever.
Rating:  Summary: A true classic by J.R.R. Tolkien Review: J.R.R. Tolkien, yet has died, but the literature, and words of wisdom, will remain for generations to come. This will be remembered as the classic of 20th century trough this millenium, like we remember such great titles as Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. By no means think this epic tale has no wisdom of life in it, because it does, and that rises it from the swamp of the usual fantasy literature. It tells a story of rather weak ( by size; not by heart ) race, called Hobbits, fighting a great evil, Sauron and his armies. I won't spoil the plot, nor details, to you; because this story is going to take you along, and soon you notice you're in the last chapter of Return of the King ( assuming you buy this one-volume edition ), desperately wanting it to continue. When this story ends, it isn't the end, because you can read it again ( and you'll always find something new, I promise ) or buy Silmarillion ( or book of the lost tales ) to study the past. But this is the main story, others are builded around it, and the world of middle-earth is large. One world created by a single genius, so wonderfully generated, that it creates so real atmosphere you really believe Hobbits existed, and this is a true story after all. Never I have seen languages so complicated ( well, for one example Star Trek's Borg-language ), nor world so large, being created. With these kind of details and atmosphere. This book borrows some biblical "events", like good is the God, hobbits are Christ -like, and bad the hellish force, and Sauron itself the devil. Read this and you can see it yourself. Read this yourself, and enjoy it!
Rating:  Summary: One Book to Rule them all... Review: When I was a kid I always knew that there was this series called the Lord of the Rings in the back of my brain, but I never got around to reading it until high school... It has been voted Book of the Century for a reason, folks. This is an incredible epic, containing everything you could think of, good vs evil, adventure, battles, mystical people...this an entire world with it's own history and everything, you could make a living by studying Middle Earth. I can't really describe this book...it's impossible...so all I can really say is that is just amazing. There is nothing else quite like it anywhere. It is awesome.
Rating:  Summary: Your life is not complete without this book! Review: Tolkien has got to be the most imaginative and gifted writers of all time! I just finished reading this trilogy for the second time now, and plan to read it again in a few years (by the way, I'm 14)! The story in itself is absolutely incredible, but Alan Lee's paintings add a lot, being very beautifully detailed. This book is a must for all imaginative people who seek the enthrallment of fantasy - engrossing for adults, teens, and children (although the reading can be rather challenging for kids under 12 or so). Tolkien was a genius!
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