Thread: The Lord of the Rings

Started reading the books when I was about twelve, got halfway through Two Towers and had to quit. Then when I was about 16, I heard the movies were coming out and I wanted to get through the books before I saw the movies. I am in general a huge nerd and sci-fi fan - no I don't like just anything sci-fi - but the movies made the story come to life for me and I love them dearly.

I just recently decided that it's time to read through the books again, maybe I can understand them better. If I do get through them this time, it will be the last time. It seems like every time I sit down to read a bit more, I end up falling asleep! This is one time I prefer the Cliff's Notes version of the movies.

A friend of mine calls the movies "Lord of the Walkin' Around".

I somehow managed to get through the entire trilogy in sixth grade. I doubt I could do it again now.

Lord of the Rings is over-description and author self-indulgence at its worst. Yes, Tolkein is brilliant for being able to create entire histories, cultures, songs, and languages. He is not a great author for jamming all of those things into his novels. The novels have far more completely skippable pages than are acceptable. The acceptable number is zero. The Lord of the Rings contains dozens.

But why elaborate? Everything wrong with the books can be summed up in one convenient character: Tom-fucking-Bombadil. Prepare for three chapters describing his goddamn wallpaper.

I recently read the book again, and I have to say, after hearing everybody complaining about all the descriptions, I feared that the passage of time would have me saying the same thing, since it'd been about two years since I read it. But after finishing it, I just can't agree with what everyone else says. I didn't find any "completely skippable pages." The Tom Bombadil chapters are, I think, necessary to the story because they provide a short rest for the hobbits. You have to remember that at this time they are only four hobbits, with no great fighters to protect them, and they have been fleeing the Black Riders the whole time. They needed this rest, this time of just sitting and being. But still, I didn't find this part boring or skippable. I was actually amazed at all the little details I forgot throughout the book, because the movie left them out. For example, Fredegar Bolger, the fifth hobbit who got left behind. Also Prince Amroth, and the fact that the spirits of the dead did not fight in the Battle of the Pelenor Fields, but far to the south, and it was the farmers and men there who went with Aragorn to the battle in the north. All kinds of things like this drew me back in to the story, and it just wouldn't be the same if any parts were cut out.

I have read the trilogy twice and I agree that some of the descriptions are long and boring yet I enjoyed the read. Although i skipped over most of the songs that were entwined into the story.

Originally Posted by VinrAlfakyn

I recently read the book again, and I have to say, after hearing everybody complaining about all the descriptions, I feared that the passage of time would have me saying the same thing, since it'd been about two years since I read it. But after finishing it, I just can't agree with what everyone else says. I didn't find any "completely skippable pages." The Tom Bombadil chapters are, I think, necessary to the story because they provide a short rest for the hobbits. You have to remember that at this time they are only four hobbits, with no great fighters to protect them, and they have been fleeing the Black Riders the whole time. They needed this rest, this time of just sitting and being. But still, I didn't find this part boring or skippable. I was actually amazed at all the little details I forgot throughout the book, because the movie left them out. For example, Fredegar Bolger, the fifth hobbit who got left behind. Also Prince Amroth, and the fact that the spirits of the dead did not fight in the Battle of the Pelenor Fields, but far to the south, and it was the farmers and men there who went with Aragorn to the battle in the north. All kinds of things like this drew me back in to the story, and it just wouldn't be the same if any parts were cut out.

Well put. The novels were written for people who can read and enjoy the small details in the novel, not for the modern era of rapid-fire readers and writers.

I used to love to curl up next to the fireplace and jump into Tolkien's world. His books had everything for me--excitement and tragedy and, though rarely, triumph too.

Everyone has their own taste of course. And that is a good thing.