Books are my life... discussion

The Hobbit: Or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien

Written for J.R.R. Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when first published more than sixty years ago. Now recognized as a timeless classic with sales of more than 40 million copies worldwide, this introduction to Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the Wizard, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth tells of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent.




The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien's three-volume epic, is set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth -- home to many strange beings, and most notably hobbits, a peace-loving "little people," cheerful and shy. Since its original British publication in 1954-55, the saga has entranced readers of all ages. It is at once a classic myth and a modern fairy tale. Critic Michael Straight has hailed it as one of the "very few works of genius in recent literature." Middle-earth is a world receptive to poets, scholars, children, and all other people of good will. Donald Barr has described it as "a scrubbed morning world, and a ringing nightmare world...especially sunlit, and shadowed by perils very fundamental, of a peculiarly uncompounded darkness." The story of this world is one of high and heroic adventure. Barr compared it to Beowulf, C.S. Lewis to Orlando Furioso, W.H. Auden to The Thirty-nine Steps. In fact the saga is sui generis -- a triumph of imagination which springs to life within its own framework and on its own terms.




The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

Frodo and his Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in a battle in the Mines of Moria. And Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape, the rest of the company was attacked by Orcs. Now they continue the journey alone down the great River Anduin -- alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go. The second volume in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure, THE LORD OF THE RINGS.




The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

As the Shadow of Mordor grows across the land, the Companions of the Ring have become involved in separate adventures. Aragorn, revealed as the hidden heir of the ancient Kings of the West, has joined with the Riders of Rohan against the forces of Isengard, and takes part in the desperate victory of the Hornburg. Merry and Pippin, captured by Orcs, escape into Fangorn Forest and there encounter the Ents. Gandalf has miraculously returned and defeated the evil wizard, Saruman. Sam has left his master for dead after a battle with the giant spider, Shelob; but Frodo is still alive -- now in the foul hands of the Orcs. And all the while the armies of the Dark Lord are massing as the One Ring draws ever nearer to the Cracks of Doom.

Honestly, I have not read any of these books. They are all sitting on my shelf and I really want to get at least two of them read this year. I'd shoot for all four but there are so many books on Mount TBR.

I read 'The Hobbit' earlier this month and started reading 'The fellowship of the ring' but I just can't seem to get into it, I keep going off and reading other things instead of trying to finish it. Its driving me crazy!

I agree with Bhawanni. I've tried getting into them, i want to, but can't. unless i really do like a book, then i am most likely going to read something different.

I do try to read them, but after a few pages of tiny font with no end in sight, my mind starts to drift and I just can't seem to go on, then I go off and read something else.

Tiny font makes any book hard to read, I might have to look for large print books. LOL! I enjoy the movies so I of course hope that the books will be better.

I havent seen the movies, I started the first movie but it was kind of dull at the start. I watched for about 20 mins and gave up :P

I'm a blood shed and war type. It was filmed in New Zealand, the landscapes are amazing. And Liv Tyler is in the movie. It is a slow start but I would say it is just build up.

Okay, maybe I'll try it again if I can get my hands on a copy

Now i am reading fellowship of the ring

Lord of the Rings is one of my all time favorite series. I have never meet anyone who could rival my knowledge of LOTR but one person.

Samantha wrote: "Lord of the Rings is one of my all time favorite series. I have never meet anyone who could rival my knowledge of LOTR but one person."

I love them too, but I'm sure you beat me with knowledge. How do you like the movie adaptations?

I love LOTR and the Hobbit. I read them many times, to me JR. Toliken was really the first writer to make fantasy "mainstream" before that fantasy was for wierdo's and children. Also Tolkien did something no other writer has done for me. He made a world with so much depth and character, he closed up every important plot hole and made amazing characters...everything was just so well built up. :)

Finished reading the hobbit recently. It was my first experience of the lord of the rings books. Wouldn't usually be something I'm interested in but I loved it, it takes some dedication, but well worth it! Especially if ur excited about the new hobbit movie this year.