Luke’s Reviews > The Return of the King > Status Update

Finished the first (and longest) Appendix. It was pretty interesting learning about the history of all the kings of Numenor, but I didn’t retain most of it. I’m definitely more interested in the next couple of appendices.

Unbelievable. Sam and Frodo made it all the way to Mt. Doom and they didn’t even have to use the bathroom once. I totally understand why Peter Jackson moved the Shelob stuff from Two Towers into the third movie, because otherwise Frodo and Sam would have nothing to do but walk across Mordor for the first half of the film. I’m excited for the Scouring of the Shire, I don’t know what to expect from it!

Normally when I read fantasy books, the battle scenes tend to bore me. But these chapters about the siege of Minas Tirith and the Battle of the Pelennor Fields were absolutely unbelievable. Tolkiens mystical language elevates action into something more profound and engaging, and the moment where Eowyn faces off against the King of the Nazgûl brought real tears to my eyes. Wish I could call out of work to read more.

Well, this is it. My fingers hurt for some reason so I only read one long chapter so far. I love the camaraderie between Pippin and Beregond, a soldier of Minas Tirith. It’s so nice to see such a positive sort of multiculturalism between Man and Hobbit, and an example of some of the beautiful magic of Tolkien’s world. I did not realize that we once again don’t get any Frodo/Sam until the second half of the book