Lord of the Readalong 2020 discussion

You did it!! Another one down and just one more to go!

Here are some questions to get you thinking...no need to answer all of them! :)

What are your overall impressions of The Two Towers?
How would you compare it to how you felt about The Fellowship of the Ring?
Which did you like better?
How are you feeling about moving forward?
What did you think about how this one ended? Were you satisfied or left wanting more?
What's something that surprised you in this story?
What will you rate this one?

This took me a lot longer than it should have done to finish but I put that down to life being put first. It still wasn't a slow read but I would have expected to have finished this in a few days at the most.

Once again I point out this is my first time experiencing Tolkien's masterpiece. I know the overall outcome but the steps to get there are unknown to me and it's making it much more enjoyable as I have no idea what's coming next. And while this time around there's some action scenes what I'm really liking is the interaction between the characters. As the cast is split it definitely feels like two different stories being told in the same book. The relationships being developed, the trust growing and the way they drive each other on is captivating. All of this is doubly so for Gimli and Legolas who's pairing is quite possibly my favourite in the entire book.

Tolkien's world building is great but I did find the descriptions of plants etc a little overkill and more excessive than the first part. I make no apology for this but it doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the book overall.

Although I've not seen the movies I have seen clips and one character got on my nerves no end. I'm happy to say that said character was much more enjoyable on the page and his motives are actually understandable even if his actions are, at times, deplorable. I also have a deep admiration for one of the Hobbits after this part.

Paul wrote: "This took me a lot longer than it should have done to finish but I put that down to life being put first. It still wasn't a slow read but I would have expected to have finished this in a few days a..."

I am curious as to which character you are talking about? :-)

I loved this as much as the first. It was a good decision to divide the story into two "books", where we are following one part of the company for book 3, and the other for book 4. I was enjoying myself, but I missed the other characters, and I think that (maybe) is the intention.
I still very much enjoy the pair of Legolas and Gimli, they are friendship goals! And how the relationship between Sam and Frodo is evolving from a master and his servant to two equals as friends. This is brilliantly done.
This is the second time reading this, but the scene with Shelob did surprise me, because I have thought that the movies simulated the book on that regard, but it doesn't. I do think that it was done better in the book though.

I honestly really liked this book, perhaps even more than FotR. I think in part it has to do with that I've gotten more used to Tolkiens writingstyle. I liked both parts of the book, I may prefer the first part but I still really enjoyed reading about Sam and Frodo. Sam really grew in the last chapters and I'm so excited to read the last book. If i would complain about something it is that I find that all the descriptions of the nature sometimes make me loose tracktrack of the story.

Evelina wrote: "I honestly really liked this book, perhaps even more than FotR. I think in part it has to do with that I've gotten more used to Tolkiens writingstyle. I liked both parts of the book, I may prefer t..."

I agree. I got lost in the descriptions now and then too. It's amazing the depth of this world that Tolkien created, but sometimes I didn't need every detail! haha.

"But still she was there, who was there before Sauron, and before the first stone of Barad-dur; and she served none but herself, drinking the blood of Elves and Men, bloated and grown fat with endless brooding on her feasts, weaving webs of shadow for all living things were her food, and her vomit darkness." (Bk4 ch 9)

I really enjoyed The Two Towers. I like that Tolkien split the story telling first what happens to Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Merry and Pippin, and then in the last half of the book, Frodo and Sam. I think it highlights how truly separate they were - they didn't know a thing about what was happening to the others.