Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien

irtrogdor · 09-08-2007, 10:59 PM

Who agrees with me that these books are flipping sweet? i think that you either have to have a really good attention span and memory, or you have to have the movies a couple of times before you read it.
but if you have either of those things behind you, the books are amazing!
i'm only a little ways into the first book, but i love it so much. the dialog is much more detailed (than the movies) and the descriptions are great.
[/rant]

Insane Drummer · 09-08-2007, 11:03 PM

I need to reread them now that I have become more familiar with various medieval literatures, as Tolkien was fond of the conventions of said literatures and ~~stole~~ borrowed much from them.

"the descriptions are great"

You have just stumbled upon one of Tolkien's greatest literary talents...

+SEAL+ · 09-08-2007, 11:27 PM

The books are indeed very sweet. Awesome stuff. And it's not like Tolkien "stole" conventions of medieval lit, it's more like he took it and did cool stuff with it.

Boy Genius · 09-09-2007, 04:29 PM

As a little side note, if you scroll all the way to the bottom of the forums list, you find the Nostalgia forum. In it is the now defunct LotR forum. Obviously, you cannot post in it, but it might make for some interesting reading.

**Shift** · 09-09-2007, 05:47 PM

I have only read them once and have been on my family's wait list for about three years to read it again... guess I'll be heading to the library :P

irtrogdor · 09-09-2007, 11:20 PM

na, i'll pass on reading the old stuff. i just reading about frodo sam merry & pippin getting lost in the old forest and tom whats-his-face saving them. he's pretty cool.

ok, bit of trivia that i don't know the answer too. is the old forest near the shire some odd bit of fagorn forest that somehow went over the misty mountains? cause those tree's aren't natural.

+SEAL+ · 09-10-2007, 04:20 PM

According to Wikipedia, the Old Forest is part of a gigantic forest that covered Eriador and also included Fangorn.

Oh, and you really should read the Silmarillion. It truly is an awesome piece of work.

irtrogdor · 09-10-2007, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by +SEAL+

According to Wikipedia, the Old Forest is part of a gigantic forest that covered Eriador and also included Fangorn.

Oh, and you really should read the Silmarillion. It truly is an awesome piece of work.

what's that?

Boy Genius · 09-12-2007, 07:09 PM

It more of an epic tale that tells the story of the First Age and the fight against Morgoth, the first and worst great Enemy. The book also includes a piece at the end that talks about the downfall of Numenor in the Second Age.

Amanda · 09-14-2007, 02:42 PM

Also, wait until you get to the appendices in the back of the third book--more information that you ever thought you wanted to know, and yet, somehow, you do. Have you been introduced to Tom Bombadil yet?

**meatfinger** · 09-15-2007, 07:30 PM

While I'm not as fanatical about this series as I once was, the sheer epic scope of Tolkien's vision never ceases to amaze me.

Jeffrey Gilbert · 09-16-2007, 04:08 AM

The story is really awesome! And the name on the characters is awesome!

TunerSteve · 09-16-2007, 07:50 AM

Tolkein was a fantastic writer! I remember having a choice in school to read The Hobbit, and I chose another book, as it was thinner (wasn't much of a reader in those days). I know the movies have made these books more popular, but don't neglect to read The Hobbit before moving on to the Fellowship of the Rings, ect. There are some great back stories that certainly help you further understand events/characters in the subsequent books.

Steve

irtrogdor · 09-16-2007, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amanda

Also, wait until you get to the appendices in the back of the third book--more information that you ever thought you wanted to know, and yet, somehow, you do. Have you been introduced to Tom Bombadil yet?

Tom Bombadil was pretty much the coolest dude ever. does he show up again? i sure hope so. actually, don't tell me. but yeah, i liked him.

irtrogdor · 11-11-2007, 10:08 PM

Ok, so i just finished the Second book (Two towers).
I have to say that i enjoyed the first half (with gandalf, Aragorn, etc.) way more than the second half (with frodo, sam, gollum). Reading about Frodo's burden and how he's so tired and how sam is worried... I'll admit to skimming some pages there.

I really liked shelob's part in the story though - she seemed much more villanous here than in the movie (where she was just another monster).
And sam put on the ring?! how cool is that!
I loved fangorn forest's part in the battle of helms deep and isenguard. the moving forest was just so cool and creepy at the same time.
Also, the whole blowing up the wall scene from the movie (at helms deep) has a much bigger role there than in the book. I almost didn't notice it happened when i read it.

its hard to imagine how much more Tolkien can write about sam and frodo... all that i can think that's left is the battle at the guard tower and the treck across mordor... that sound like four or five chapters worth to me...