Rating: 
Summary: Judge for yourself!
Review: After finishing the Fellowship, I have to admit being amazed. I now consider Tolkein a true creative master. I found a mystical, enchanting quality about the book, concerning everything from the ring to Lothlorien. Speaking of Lothlorien, I would love to live there! A place where time is null, the trees are resplendent, and you are surrounded with the fascinating elves led by strong Galadriel, who wields such power for good. I could get carried away and drone about the elves for a long time(they are my favorite of Tolkein's creatures)but a hobbit is indeed the main character. I should add that I have never been a fantasy fan; I suppose I consider this book to be magical, not fantasy. I found the quest to be engaging, and the journey of the Nine quite entertaining. Tolkien includes numerous songs and histories in between, which can be quite tedious if you do not stop to wonder at his creativity. Tolkien fashioned another world so complex, so steeped in history and information that it's hard to believe the world of Middle Earth does not exist. Of course, the most interesting thing is questioning what will happen to Frodo and his Company. This is certainly not a static book; you can make it as deep as you want. Therefore, I recommend that people read this book who want to read Tolkein, and not really to those who solely want to find out what the hype is about. There is always going to be hype surrounding a classic, which in my opinion, the Lord of the Rings is.
Rating: 
Summary: Finally a "real" unabridged recording of LOTR
Review: I am not one who usually buys books-on-tape (or CD as in this case) but I have long wanted to obtain the Lord of the Rings so as to hear this incredible story over and over. After having read it several times, my book is in tatters and so I searched for an unabridged audio recording. Many of those that I have seen claim to be "unabridged" but the fact is that they are not complete! They give parts of the books in full but leave out many sections or chapters. This set by Rob Inglis is COMPLETE!!! It is very well read with no drastic voicing of characters. Characters are easily distinguished and thoroughly enjoyable. This set is not full of sound effects and music, so if you are looking for that this is not for you. However, I personally prefer the fact that this is not an over-production and is rather quite focussed on what I wanted in the first place, the characters and the story. Inglis does a marvelous job and I am very happy with this set. Again, not to harp on it but, this is a "complete" package well worth the money!!!
Rating:
Summary: Best of the Three
Review: I first read this book when I was 13 and fell in love with story. I must admit that Tolkien's writing style is bit hard to read at first but once you get into the story, it's hard to put down. Don't expect the book to be exactly like the movie. There are a lot more things in the book that were left out of the movie for time reasons. Tolkien's characters are wonderfully written and the detail of the scenery is spectacular. I would have done with out the songs but they do fit in the story nicely. If you liked the movies then I recommend getting the "whole" story by reading the books. I mainly liked this book the best because I liked the story of Frodo and he was in the entire book, but not in all of the Two Towers and Return of the King.
Rating: 
Summary: good v.s bad
Review: I loved these books from the moment I read them because I believe that they are great fantasy books. I understand that the characters don't have flaws and you can't relate to them, but I think these books are still wonderful. Every fantasy book that I have ever read, which is a lot, I haven't ever really been able to relate to. That is what a fantasy book is about, it's not about emotions most of the time. I agree also that it gets boring at times, but I think most books do that. I found it so amazing that Tolkien had made up his own laguages and put so much effort into this outstanding world of fantasy. I have never read another fantasy book where you can tell how much effort has gone into it. I would not recommend seeing the movies first because you get so much more out of the books than you do the movies. If you see the movie first then you will not understand the books as much.
Rating:
Summary: Dont hate me for it, but I like the movie better!
Review: I'm sure this won't be a popular review, but hear me out. I've heard a lot of people complain that the movies didnt' follow the books closely enough and that they could have been much better if they had done so. However, after reading this first book of the trilogy, I can honestly say that I personally enjoyed the movie more than the book.. I found it to be more exciting and awe-inspiring. It may just be that I saw the movie before I read the book (a sin, I know) and my first impression was just so great that I'll never forget it and it would be very dificult to out-do, but there are just some parts of the story in which I think were improved upon in the movie.
While both the book and the movie are undoubtably two of the best pieces of art in their genres, they should be considered to be two distinct works. The movie included a few things that the book didn't and ommited a few things that the book dwelt on. While some people think that the movie should have been identical to the book as much as possible, I am glad that the director felt some degree of artistic freedom and was able to make some adjustments that he felt would make for a better movie (and which I agree with).. The book wasn't written as a movie and some of the story just wouldn't have been as good in a movie. Anyway, maybe its just by bias because of my having watched the movie before reading the book, but I thought the movie really outdid itself and was able to improve on the story.
I still think that this is a wonderful book and realize that Tolkien is the Godfather of all that is Fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: a wonderful beginning with some problems
Review: Let me begin by saying that I adore Tolkein and love The Lord of the Rings. With that out of the way, I have to admit that of the three books, Fellowship is definitly the weakest. Because Tolkein viewed the trilogy as a single novel, book one is almost entirely exposition. The story doesn't really get moving until more than halfway through the book.
Also, a lot of people have difficulty with Tolkein's language. This is one of my favourite parts of the book, but he is wordy and descriptive so it does take him a long ime to say anything. That said, reading his books is like reading epic poetry. His words flow the same way the language in a good version of The Oddessy or Beowulf does so it can be easy to get caught up in the flow of the language. I find that this helps me get through the books, as I get so immersed in the story that I have trouble coming out of it when I need to stop. Also, the flow of the words makes his lengthy description run past quickly.
On a less technical note, Tolkein's characterization and plotting are magnificent. As slowly as Fellowship moves, you can feel the action building into something grand and vast. His characters are complex and vibrant, and they all have a well-developed range of actions and motivations. Even the pure, otherworldly characters have things that irritate them and make them snappish. This is traditional fantasy, so there is little depth to the evil characters, and a nearly inexhaustible supply of easily defeated minions, but it's not really noticable within the context of the story.
Rating:
Summary: Slow to start, but builds to a great finish
Review: OK-first I've got to confess that I avoided "Ring" geeks in high school-they were way too passionate (zealots?). Over the years, I've resisted and when I finally read and loved "The Hobbit" I decided to read "Fellowship" a year ago. Since then I put it down twice, getting bogged down in the lengthy history of Middle Earth that precedes the actual story. Once I decided to skip it altogether, things built speed rapidly and I ended up really enjoying the book. Since many will consider reading this based on seeing the film, I'll add that I saw the movie and was blown away by how well the filmmakers told the story, leaving out the parts that are nice but superfluous, and keeping the core intact. That said, the book makes more clear the monumental task of gathering opposing forces against a common enemy and shows why the choices characters make (the elf-queen, for instance) are not as simple as they appear in the film. I also realized how thoroughly George Lucas "borrowed" from "Rings" in the first 3 Star Wars movies...
Rating:
Summary: If you loved the movie - read the book, it is better!
Review: Peter Jackson has done a pheonomenal adaptation of a book in Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring. And I thank him and the great actors and the other writers from the bottom of my heart, but the book (all three books!!!) are worth reading. I begged my parents for a copy of the trilogy 30 years ago (and got it - and still treasure it!) I read a lot of fantasy and in my opinion the best books concentrate on characters and story and world building -- and no one builds worlds better the JRR Tolkien -- not even David and Leigh Eddings, and they do a heck of a job. (I am talking about fictional worlds, of course.) Tolkien's characterization may not be perfect, and he is very light on female characters, but hobbits are wonderful heroes and deserve to be recognized! If you read the books, remember that this is basically the original fantasy that set the standard for everything written in the last 40 years -- the story is enthralling but wasn't written for a 21st century audience. Cut him some slack and enjoy the story -- it is worth the effort. I strongly recommend the entire Trilogy as well as The Hobbit. (I am not specifically recommending the editions mentioned here or that are currently available, as those are not the editions I read.)
Rating:
Summary: Forget the Movie, Read the Book
Review: The Fellowship of the Ring is the first of three books that make up the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Its about a simple hobbit named Frodo Baggins who inherits a ring from his uncle Bilbo. He soon learns from a wizard named Gandalf that the ring isn't just any ring, it is the most powerful ring ever made. Now he is sent on a quest to destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom before the Dark Lord, Sauron, finds it. If it ever got into his hands, the word would turn to darkness and all things once peaceful and beautiful would be destroyed and Sauron would rule the world.
Frodo and Samwise Gamgee then go on an adventure together with seven other companions. These seven are: a dwarf named Gimli, an elf named Legolas, two men named Boromir and Aragorn, and two hobbits named Merry and Pippin (Gandalf also joins them for a little while). Merry and Pippin are bothe cousins of Frodo while Samwise is his faithful gardener. Frodo is a normal hobbit who loves food and friends. He is also the kindest person Sam knows. Aragorn is the heir of a great kingdome who has finally decided to take up his throne. Boromir it the son of the steward of that kingdome who wishes to represent it by joing the company. Legolas is the prince of a far away forest and Gimli is a well respected dwarf.
The beginning of the book is a little boring but it pays off when their quest begins and conflicts begin to come up. In the beginning, Merry, Pippin, Frodo, and Sam begin their journey alone through their country called the Shire to a little town called Bree to meet Gandalf. After going through and meeting new and interesting people and being chased by Black Riders (servants of Sauron), they finally make it to Bree. The trouble is, Gandalf isn't there!
Can the whole world depend on hobbits to save them from destruction? Will Gandalf ever come to Bree? How can the hobbits go on without him? Find out when you read The Fellowship of the Ring.
Rating:
Summary: LOTR goodness
Review: This book starts off with a birthday party at hobbit named Bilbo's house,Gandalf the grey has come with his fireworks and Frodo another hobbit is excited. Everyone loves Gandalf's fireworks in the shire. Frodo is recieving Bilbo's house because he is leaving, he is going through his stuff when he comes across a gold ring. Gandalf does comes in and is afraid to touch or even come near the ring, he senses evil and tells frodo with his friend Sam to get the ring out of the shire. On their way out of the shire they find Merry and Pippin stealing vegetables from a garden. They get to the town of bree and they meet an ranger fron the north known as Aragorn. Meanwhile Gandalf the grey rode to the White city of Minas Tirith to study the history of this ring. He finds its dark past and goes to the tower of orthanc for counsel from Saruman the white, he finds that he is corrupt by the power of sauron's control. Meanwhile the nine nazgul are after the group and frodo gets stabbed by one of their poisonous morgul blades. A elven wizard rode Frodo to the elven city of grey havens, in order to find to heal him. At the city Gandalf tells the counsel of the ring and decides to start the fellowship of the ring. The get into a fuss about who should take it to mount doom, when frodo decides he will take it, just then Aragorn decides he will go. Followed by Legolad and Gimli the dwarf, and Merry, Sam and Pippin will go too. Thus starts the fellowship if the ring, they start off good until they get into the mines of moria. There Gandalf fights the mighty balrog and get thrown over the bridge into the firey abyss. This was a big blow to the fellowship, but after that they get canoes and head down the river. They get to this part on the river where Merry and Pippin get captured by orcs and are going to be taken to an orc eencampment. Boromir gets shot by an orc named Ugluk and dies, Aragorn avenges his death and kills ugluk. Frodo and Sam starts off on the other side of the river to get the ring to mount doom themsleves.
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