2015 Reading Challenge [Closed] discussion

So I'm trying to get a head start on the trilogy weeks, even though I'm still about 7 books behind haha I'm just super excited to start them and figured now is a good time since the folders are up! I've never read this series, but I really enjoyed the movies when I was younger so hopefully it's not a let down!!

I hope you'll love them too! The first movie is quite different from the books, but the next ones are more similar. I like having more info on Middle Earth and the characters, even though descriptions can be a little long.

I'm seriously considering reading The Lord of the Rings for the trilogy, because I absolutely love those books and haven't read them for a long time. On the other hand I have other trilogies I want to dig into, so I just don't know what to do!

It seems like a lot of people have this as their trilogy, so I'm glad I'm not going to be alone if I get stuck on any character or big event in the book haha

If you have problems with this one, just keep going! I usually don't read all the descriptions, they are too heavy and not really lnteresting in the 1st book so I skip lots of pages. 2nd and 3rd books are way more interesting and well paced.
The 1st movie was really good from my point of view, the first thing I thought was "yey, they took away all the boring stuff!".

I can definitely say that the prologue is BORING! I might take your advice on skipping some of the heavier details, that just seems logical haha. Heavy details is one reason I can't read too much of Charles Dickens...great novels, decently sized and wonderful characters, just too detailed. I just get too lost in a lot of excess detail and forget what I'm reading about!

so after a super hectic day yesterday, I didn't get to read much and finally finished the prologue today. that took WAY longer than expected since it is only like 18 pages...talk about boring and it seems like it just went on and on and on. sheesh, I finished 2 other short reads yesterday just because the prologue was that awful when I was trying to force my way through it. but now I'm moving on to the actual story! I'm excited :)

If you found the prologue so boring, NEVER read the Silmarillion, you will die of boredom ;)

I hope the rest of the Fellowship will please you.

haha I've heard some pretty bad things about the Silmarillion but I've also heard that it is a great read but boring at times. I found the prologue good once it got to the part about retelling the hobbit and how Bilbo came to have the ring, but I loved the hobbit haha. so I guess it would be more accurate to say that I found half the prologue boring :P

I read this ages ago but I never got to reading the second and third books. I'll be joining you in those weeks. I loved Sam here. :)

Yay! the more, the merrier. Especially when it comes to a trilogy. gives us more people to join the discussion.

is anyone else reading this right now? or are you guys waiting for the trilogy weeks to actually start??

I'm reading LOTR for the trilogy too, but unfortunately my reading for this challenge has been sorta slowing down. I may not finish these books by the end of the year. :(

I'm seriously thinking about tackling LOTR as my trilogy, as I am a lifelong nerd and fantasy fan but have never successfully gotten through these (shame!)... Hesitating because I've managed to choose a ton of long books and diving into something that I know will be of a slog at times is giving me pause (I'm still trying to finish my 800 page Pulitzer book!). How's it going?

Maybe I'm not objective, because I'm a die-hard Tolkien fan, but for me only the beginning of the first book is a bit boring, the rest is ok. And they're not that long.

Jess, it was definitely a SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW start, but I'm about a quarter of the way through it right now. I'd be farther, but I put it down for a few days to read Grey lol. My co-workers said only I could go from middle-earth to "erotica" and back to middle-earth like nothing had changed.

Sophie I can agree about being a Tolkien fan now, after I read the hobbit earlier this year I just couldn't get enough. I found 2 short stories by him at a used bookstore and bought it quicker than a kangaroo can hop! I'm eager to get through the rest of this book and speed through the next 2!

Yay! I actually just blew through the first sixty pages or so of fellowship and I don't know why I've never read it before! Fully committed now.

Ok, I'm so close to just putting this book back on my shelf and never touching the darn thing again! I can't stand Frodo or Tom Bombadil (which is currently like half the people in these chapters). I WANT TO BURN THIS BOOOOOOOOOOOK.

Keep going :D
Tom was not the best part in the book. However, I like Frodo!

I'm trying! I keep pushing forward telling myself "it has to get better". Frodo has his moments, but so far he just seems like a wimp most of the time.

I agree, keep going!!! Tom Bombadil is the slowest and draggiest part of the book. Honestly, the whole first book is a lot of set up and introductions, and doesn't really get moving until the last half, but the parts with Bombadil are the worst it gets.

I haven't read the books for ages, but as far as I can remember, the Bombadil parts don't really add a whole lot to the story and can probably be skipped over. If I recall correctly, Tolkien used to tell stories about "Tom Bombadil" to his kids, and incorporated the character into the book. Seriously though, don't judge Lord of the Rings on Tom Bombadil alone!

Peter wrote: "Seriously though, don't judge Lord of the Rings on Tom Bombadil alone!"


Luckily I don't judge a whole book based off of one character because there are usually other characters or the plot itself that will salvage my opinion. Unless of course I get to the end and just hated it...then the judgment is in full flow!

So I finally made it past Tom Bombadil and they are heading out of Bree, luckily the story has once again piqued my interest so it is easier to read...

only 100 pages left! woo! it has been a LOOOOONG read, but luckily they are on their way to Mordor now and about to enter the mines *cue spooky music* lol

I finally finished this book on the 22nd, so I'm a little late posting this. but I have to say I absolutely hated this book *almost* completely. I gave it 2 stars just because I did enjoy some parts, but not enough to EVER want to read it again!

That's too bad - overall, the three books together combine into a very epic story.

I totally understand your frustration though. The first book is almost entirely "introduction" to characters and setting the plot, which can be really slow going for 400 pages. It is definitely the hardest of the three to get through, so I hope you enjoy the other two more!

The point in those books are the details!

Hey Brittany, congratulations! I chickened out on this series for the trilogy and instead decided to read Maggie Stiefvater's Linger series, because I'm really liking her writing.

Do you think you'll make it through the next two books?

I wish I had chickened out of this trilogy! lol but I will eventually make it through books 2 and 3 just to say I have. I've heard some good things about Her Linger series, you'll have to let me know if you like it!

I will! I absolutely adored her writing style in The Raven Boys, so I am super excited to try another series of hers.

I will! I absolutely adored her writing style in The Raven Boys, so I am super excited to try another series of hers.

I chickened out of this, too. I decided to read Avatar comics instead. But I will read this trilogy someday! Maybe next year.

I have been so glad I chose these!!! I am halfway through two towers and can't believe I've never made it through these before! There's some lag in places but the dialogue and characters are delightful enough to keep it going. If you're one of the "giving up" crowd, I say put it back on your to read list for eventually.

I know Jess, I own the entire series and I promise you that I will read them someday!

I'm re-reading this trilogy for the challenge. I usually re-read them about every few years.