J.R.R. Tolkien

[jcsoblonde]

of course he's well-known most of all for his masterpiece 'The Lord of the Rings'. i have lost track of how many times i have read it when i first read it i noticed that throughout the book a lot of history was mentioned, so i looked up the website: lo and behold, The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, the list goes on...i was just wondering what anyone else thinks of his books...anyone think there boring? great? ok? ive never even read those?? lol but yeah just post what ones you liked best, least, and all that jazz.

 

[Stewart]

anyone think there boring?

I read The Hobbit early in school and it was okay, although I remember little of it now. I tried to read The Lord Of The Rings prior to seeing the films but, one chapter from the end of The Fellowship Of The Ring, I decided I'd had enough: it was boring. Tolkien wasn't much a writer either - more of a linguist. And he doesn't half waffle.

 

[FrodoLIVES]

I think the books are amazing though Stewart has a point that they are a bit dry at times. I enjoyed his style of writing but it's not something that I'd want to read everyday. I still have 3 copies of the series though. One leatherbound hardback omnibus. One paperback omnibus. And one movie-cover set in a slipcase.

 

[Peronel]

I've only read The Hobbit and LOTR. Attempted The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales and....forgotten the other one. The Hobbit is great, I'd definitely recommend it.

Oh, and minus five cool points for using comic sans

 

[chop_chop]

I have only read The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and Tales from the Perilous Realm. I would recommend any of them, although as has been said before The Lord of the Rings is heavy going at times, The Hobbit is much easier to read and Tales from the Perilous Realm is a great collection of short short stories (although one is about Tom Bombadil and it is really just a long ish poem, so if you didn't like him in The Lord of the Rings as I know lots of people didn't - I did but that's just me - then you might not enjoy that one as much as the others.)

I have got The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales to savour at some point, but I think I will really need to be in the mood for them and concentrate on them properly to get the most out of them - I have heard that they are very dry reading, but I hope they will be enjoyable none the less...

 

[Stewart]

as has been said before The Lord of the Rings is heavy going at times

It's not that it's heavy going - the language is basic. It's just that it's so dull and great stretches of page are wasted with stupid pixie songs and historical exposition that really doesn't belong in a forward driven narrative. And the dialogue is excruciating.

 

[Peronel]

great stretches of page are wasted with stupid pixie songs

Careful, Stewart. They be elves and hobbits, not weak-as-piss pixies.

 

[abecedarian]

It took me several attempts before I finally got through The Hobbit. I kept thinking I should be loving this, since I'd read and loved fantasy stories for years, and this was from 'the master'...wrong-o! My eyes kept glazing over, and I just couldn't wait to reach the end. I thought it was just me, but I've since talked to so many others who had similar experiences with Tolkien. I've not felt inclined to venture further into the realm of Middle Earth.

 

[chop_chop]

It's just that it's so dull and great stretches of page are wasted with stupid pixie songs

This could also be described as heavy going if you don't get on with the style of writing though. I agree that there is nothing too difficult about the writing itself in The Lord of the Rings, but a lot of people I know don't get on with Tolkien's style of writing in general.

 

[otaku]

I read and enjoyed The hobbit and LOTR but couldn't finish my old 1970s copy of the silmarilon. However I did finish the children of hurin which I thought was quite good

 

[Roger53]

I thought the Hobbit was very good and Lord of the Rings even better. There's me thinking nearly everyone thought that..? I have heard the Simillaron is hard work, but have not tried it yet.

I thought the movies were lousy. I watched the first one, and about half the second and couldn't take any more. Too many pretty boys and long, meaningful looks. I think as I had used my imagination while reading the books to picture how things were, the movie version just did not fit with me. I expect I might not be alone there at least.

I am re reading the Lord of the Rings and enjoying it even more the second time. The first read of it was many years ago. Apart from some Conan books and one Isaac Asimov effort, that is about the only fantasy I have tried.

 

[Fae]

I thought the Hobbit was very good and Lord of the Rings even better. There's me thinking nearly everyone thought that..? I have heard the Simillaron is hard work, but have not tried it yet.

I thought the movies were lousy. I watched the first one, and about half the second and couldn't take any more. Too many pretty boys and long, meaningful looks. I think as I had used my imagination while reading the books to picture how things were, the movie version just did not fit with me. I expect I might not be alone there at least.

I am re reading the Lord of the Rings and enjoying it even more the second time. The first read of it was many years ago. Apart from some Conan books and one Isaac Asimov effort, that is about the only fantasy I have tried.

The Silmarillion can be hard at the very beginning, but once you get into it it's really very good. I reviewed it and The Children of Hurin on my blog, Bookworm's Oasis, if you want to read it.

Also, even though the first time I read The Lord of the Rings, it blew me away, I've enjoyed it more and more each time I re-read it. I'm always noticing new things, or making new connections.

It's great to meet a fellow fan! Although, I did like the movies...

 

[chop_chop]

Also, even though the first time I read The Lord of the Rings, it blew me away, I've enjoyed it more and more each time I re-read it. I'm always noticing new things, or making new connections.

It's great to meet a fellow fan!

This is exactly why I re-read The Lord of the Rings so often! I always notice small things that I have missed before. It is my favourite book - and I have lots of other Tolkien books to read too, including The Silmarillion which I am looking forward to getting round to reading very soon after a re-read of LOTR.

 

[jcsoblonde]

I am the same way...I just got finished re-reading The Lord of the Rings and I loved it as usual...there is just so much in it, that sometimes you don't really take in some things and then, the next time you read it its like WOW!!!! How did I not see that?? At least it was for me this time anyways...I better stop cuz I can go on for hours

 

[Angelini]

Sorry, I know this discussion ended a while ago, but I just wanted to add that I am on my third attempt at reading Lord of the Rings, and I'm not having much more luck than the first two times. I got about halfway through the second last time and gave up. I really enjoy The Hobbit every time I read it (just finished my third), but I just can't seem to get through the others. Does anyone else prefer The Hobbit? My entire family thinks I'm a little mad because I like The Hobbit and can't get through the others. I will persevere this time, though. They are something I want to read, so I shall!

 

[jcsoblonde]

I guess that for a LOT of people the descriptions, the wording, and poems can get anoying. But I'm the type of reader who LOVES that in a book, so thats just me...have you seen the movies? For some people it helps to watch them first actually, though many Tolkien fanatics think I'm a traitor for saying that.

 

[Angelini]

It makes me sad to say it, but I actually like the films more than the books! So far anyway ... maybe once I've finished them I'll love them ... though I doubt it.

 

[jcsoblonde]

For me, I watched The Return of the King first, and loved it even though I hardly had a clue to what was going on... Then I read the books and I loved them...but if you don't like, then I wouldn't read them. You've probably heard a lot, like a TON of overdoes from fanatical fans simply GUSHING about how amazing the books are. I think they are wonderful, but sometimes, the hype can get overboard. I know quite a few people who actually couldn't get into the books, but really thats not weird. I thought the films were amazing; I loved them. Maybe if you let them grow on you, but honestly don't think that you HAVE to like them hahaha...they aren't like Holy Scriptures or anything!

 

[Peronel]

I wouldn't be surprised if many readers stopped early. Tolkien is overly descriptive from the start; I don't mind it, but some people will run a mile. If you can bear Tom Bombadil, you're doing okay, and if you get past the Council section without crying tears of frustration, you'lll probably read the whole book.

 

[hockeycop]

Looks like this thread is long since dead, but I have to add my two cents. I loved Lord of the Rings. In my opinion, it's at the top of the 'Must Read Before You Die' list. The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion were good in that they helped fill in the history of Middle Earth (much more so in the case of The Silmarillion). I just got The Children of Hurin. Not sure how much of it is actually written by JRR Tolkien, but it's probably a true representation of his vision. Not sure how much more will come out (if any), but I'll be sure to read anything that elaborates on Tolkien's vision.