Fellowship of the Ring Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ธ.ค. 2019
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'My definition of good literature is that which can be read by an educated reader, and reread with increased pleasure.'--Gene Wolfe
The Fellowship stresses how much they would lose if Sauron won. The beauty, peace and tranquility of the Shire is what they fought for.
One thing that struck me when I read the bit about Frodo taking MOOOOOONTHS to leave the Shire was how it highlights how weird Bilbo was by Hobbit standards for rushing out of the door after the dwarves to go on an adventure!!
Claire Rousseau Gandalf pushed him out of the door.
@@jimwright4163 lol
Jim Wright well it actually took him 17 years to leave
Without a hat or kerchief!
So true
The Fellowship of the Ring, as others have mentioned, is actually the opening chapter of what Tolkien envisioned as ONE novel with three distinct and amazingly complex story threads. I have read and reread the Lord of the Rings since the early 1970's and have read the entire corpus of Tolkien's works including the books published by Christopher Tolkien from his father's scattered story notes. It is true that the pace of Fellowship of the Ring appears to modern readers as slow. But at the time it was written, aside from the radio and a few televisions, entertainment was largely reading books. It was designed to be relished, to be read over long hours before a fire in the fireplace or an open window in the spring. It is immersive. Our modern culture with movies and streaming wants instant gratification. This is a book to return to over and over again. It is not a quick read that will be placed on the shelf and never visited again. Properly understood and cherished The Lord of the Rings in general and the Fellowship of the Ring create a world to which we would all love to live in (not all places or at all times for sure). The Shire is a place where time drags on because the life is simple, rustic and unhurried. The road to Bree, with Tom Bombadil and Goldberry, is mysterious and filled with wonder punctuated by danger. The race from Bree to Rivendell is both frightening and suspenseful. The Council of Elrond is one of the most amazing symphonies of characters, stories, and exposition ever written. The journey to Moria is frustrating and yet it allows us to bond with the Fellowship. The mines of Moria are from beginning to heartbreaking end a plunge into sadness and danger. The time with the Elves is both refreshing and restorative. And the parting of the Fellowship sets up the interweaving plots of the Two Towers and much of the Return of the King. This is a world that seems real. It is a work of incredible sweetness, deep courage, hair-raising terror, noble sacrifice, and most of all amazing love. The main villain is not exalted, as is true with so many modern books, and in fact, only makes the briefest of appearances. Far from the so-called black and white characters some critics alleged, Tolkien wrote very conflicted, frightened, and even failing characters, but characters who will live on the pages of this marvelous story, and in the hearts of those who love it most. Welcome to the Fellowship, Merphy, and the more you read this story, the more you will come to love it.
Explain?
Well said
Beautifully written!
This is a work of art
Yeah you definitely like to read Tolkien cause that took me forever to get through hahaha
"There are some downpoints -- Tom"
WHAT. Tom Bombadil is a national treasure.
I have mixed feelings on Tom. On one hand him and his wife are super interesting and unique characters that added a lot to the fantastical and magical aspects of the book, but on the other hand the part where the Hobbits were at his house did hault the progression of the story and I did find myself wanting to get back to it. That may just be because I'm just now reading it for the very first time and I'm really eager to see where the story goes. I actually just got past the Tom Bombadil part and this could honestly be the most well written book I've ever read. My mind keeps getting blown by how beautiful Tolkien's writing is.
Tom B. Was a major miss by the movie. 🌴Aloha
@@ADAtrips They could have done a lot with Tom... but he was so isolated in the story I can see how it was easy to cut. This was not like the Hobbit where they were stretching one book into three and had to add a bunch to make a trilogy. Fitting one book into one movie, something always has to go.
@@ADAtrips When Christopher Tolkien went to the premier of the roller-scope version of Lord of the Rings in the 70's and Tom wasn't in it he walked out.
I could not stand Tom at all.
For me, reading Tolkien is comparable to reading the Iliad. It really is modern myth.
More like _Beowulf,_ or the _Nibelungenlied,_ or the _Poetic Edda,_ but yes.
It is both Iliad and the Odyssey. And Sam is like Joe Gargery tossed in the mix.
I love that you’re rereading the series! I understand why you don’t love Fellowship as much as the other two, but for me, there’s something about being in the Shire, or in Rivendell or Lorien, that makes this book my favorite. I think it’s because of Elves and hobbits.
Same, I love these books cuz I have elvish blood from my ancestors
Me too! I find the journey to Rivendell the most fascinating part of the entire book (i.e. the single volume).
I've read this trilogy for the first time in English this year. It really is a series that grows on one. So beautiful! I loved the friendship and loyalty of Merry and Pippin so much!
The contrast in pace might be inspired by Tolkien's war experiences where soldiers would face long, almost unbearable lengths of downtime between moments of battle.
Also, due to his experience I don't think Tolkien wanted to write long battle scenes. He knew they were necessary for the story but he never makes them gratuitous or dwells on them or lets them take over the story.
You are so bad lol, stop
I'm glad you've grown to love this book, Merphy. I've read the Trilogy (and The Hobbit) at least a dozen times (maybe more) since first encountering them in the early 70's. I think one of the reasons Tolkien took so long in the Fellowship was because it reflects his deep love for the rural English countryside, which The Shire and it's surroundings reflects. His dismay over the industrialization of the area, and the later entry into a war footing, made him want to keep at least a bit of his childhood and youth alive. The more you read it, the more you feel his love for this part of Middle-Earth, especially.
Also, it's important to remember that the story is revealed to the reader through the eyes of those rural-living Hobbits. To them, the worst threats they had ever encountered was the fury of Farmer Maggot's dog. You can't simply throw those characters into the depths of a life and death epic struggle, because it would be so jarring; there is a slow escalation in not only the pace, but also the threat level as the story grows. The Hobbits go from being scared of a farmer and captured by a tree, to facing the Black Riders at Weathertop and Frodo facing them alone at the Ford. That increasingly perilous journey is the story itself, until suddenly Frodo comes to understand the true gravity of these events at the Council.
When I read it, I interpreted that Sam is only an aquatintce at the beginning because of his class...... he’s in the servant class while all of the rest of them are upper class, and in the context of the whole trilogy I would say there’s definitely some commentary both on class relations and the Christian idealization of servitude
It also goes back to Tolkien's wartime experience, where the experience can break down some of those barriers.
argel1200 Agreed! 100% think these books are a great reflection of Tolkien’s reflections on society after the wars!
I love the Tom Bombadil scene with my whole heart, but even I understood why they cut it from the movie. Maybe I'd read the books before seeing the film I'd feel differently, but I didn't so...
The highest compliment one can give to the writers of high fantasy novels is calling them Tolkien. One of my favourite novel ' face in the frost ' by John Bellairs is called best fantasy novel after LOTR.
What I love most about his writing is the he way he build relationships between characters.
I love lord of the rings. For awhile it ruined today’s books for me. Everything that comes out today just seems like surface level. The back story always feels rushed or something. Where lotr just feels more like a fully fleshed out world
richieb74 I’m reading Harry Potter, but I’m starting to think if I should read LOTR after Harry Potter!
@@rayinchrist1 They are very different. I'd say Harry Potter is more digestible.
If you enjoy stories like that I would reccomend trying the wheel of time series
The fellowship of the ring is my favorite in the series because it has the most atmosphere. I use that word the way Tolkien described atmosphere, in particular the atmosphere of a story. Tolkien said that the true story is always in the atmosphere. Long way of saying that I love the meandering. Some of my favorite parts in the story are when Frodo and co are traveling from Hobbiton to Buckland, then through the old forest and through the barrow downs. There is a part where Frodo is describing scaring himself because he thought he saw a black rider on a cliff, the first time I read that passage as a teenager I remember that terrifying me! I was there fleeing the wraiths with Frodo! anyway, love the book!
P.S Hobbits were also the Ideal ring bearers because if they turned to the dark side and kept the ring, the worst case scenario is that they would of become another Gollum. While that is pretty darn bad it is not as bad as say Gandalf or Aragon keeping the ring
We understand the stakes of the greater story because of all the atmosphere and description spread out for us by Tolkien. If we didn't get to see how content and peaceful Hobbiton an the Shire is? Would we care so much if the world falls and the shire burns? Would Frodo and Sam's heroism and travel to Mordor be as impactful if they were EXCITED to leave the shire and quick to head on adventure etc. Lots of folks don't understand that the reason Peter Jackson could create such a great adaptation was BECAUSE of all the detail and atmosphere painted so vividly and patiently by Tolkien. The movies are great because the books are even greater and provided DETAILS and atmosphere.
I'm glad that you're rereading them: it was a slow start last time as I recall, and your exclamations of 'being home' in the Shire in your reading vlogs are just what this Tolkien lover wanted to hear!
Some of my favorite parts of Fellowship are the scenes that take place in the Shire. I just love that place. Also Moria. It was so spooky to me when I read it as a kid. Loved this review! Can't wait for the next one!
Also Merry and Pippin and Frodo are all related. They're cousins. So that can explain their bond.
I agree. The first time I read it my eyes began to glaze over whenever he started explaining the scenery, but as I went on I learned to really appreciate how realized his world is. It's like a real, living world. It's incredible.
I'm fairly new to books and I'm loving your channel. I found it a couple days ago and I've binged many videos. Your enthusiasm about books is contagious and I just wanna go read more every time I watch these.
Yeah, Merphy is great. Daniel Greene is another one you need to check out. He got me into a lot of books and he makes great videos. He has a lot of 'top 10' and 'best of' lists too.
Yay yay yay!!! I’m so glad you were able to appreciate the beauty in the deliberate pacing in The Fellowship better this time! The Shire is so fun and the super distinct action scenes are such a well placed contrast to the lives of these sweet furry boys.
There's an amazing video by Hello Future Me called "The Hero's Journey: Why we remember the Shire". You'd love it! Out of curiosity, are you familiar with the hero's journey? I don't want to preach to the choir if you already know, but Tolkien really wanted to pay attention to "the status quo" before making that shift/call to action
2:00
For the record, the only thing insulting about “I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” is that Bilbo knew they wouldn't understand him. It's actually a compliment on both sides of the comma.
Not necessarily.
It means that he likes them less than they deserve.
On the one hand, he's saying they deserve more, on the other he's saying that he doesn't like them.
@@SomethingLegit1
He's saying he likes "less than half" of them "half as well as they deserve."
It's acknowledging that they deserve better AND that that's only a few of them.
@@Richard_Nickerson
Deserves better or that he hates them more XD
Depends how you look at it.
@@SomethingLegit1
No, it doesn't. Your second option doesn't even make sense, it's simply not what is being said.
@@Richard_Nickerson At the end of the day Tolkien and his brilliant mind will be the only one who truly understands the meaning. So conclude the debate and appreciate the many ideas that flourish within our heads from the amazing world of Middle-Earth created by the genius himself, J.R.R. Tolkien
I loved the slow pace at the beginning. It's like smoking a brisket, it doesn't look like much is happening until you get to the end and realize how vital that first part is. The rest of the fellowship are fun, I'm interested in their stories. Aragorn especially I really enjoy. But it's the hobbits I truly love and that time at the beginning really getting to know them and who they are before the weight of the world is on their shoulders is so important. And then at the cleansing of the Shire you are able to see how much it has changed them and how much they are still the same.
Goodness, I feel like I am the only person on this planet that like Tom Bombadil.
Oh well. =)
I love tom
you're not - i'm with you on that one
You are not alone. Everyone should absolutely adore Tom.
You're not alone. Tom Bombadil is my favorite character.
Literally every Tolkien geek I've met adores Tom Bombadil and Goldmary.
I would like to thank you because I bought those copies from your description some videos back. I love them! I love the fellowship and it could honestly be my favorite of the collections, but it's so hard to choose.
I happen to be reading LotR for the first time (since I was 12, at least) right now! I like that someone is recommending the Hello Future Me video as a very good example of the great discussion that already exists about Tolkien. I would add that Extra Credits has videos for each book of the trilogy that are as well considered and thoughtful as Tolkien deserves.
For me I really love the down time. I love seeing how characters interact. Especially between Frodo and the other dwarves namely Gloin from The Hobbit. I don’t know hearing them tell stories it’s like they’re addressing you directly. I love it.
These three novels and the "Hobbit" could be the finest works of art ever. Even "Harry Potter" has to bow to these. :)
LotR bows to no one
@@GAMERWACHER 👍
Which is why I have to believe the the inspiration of Fred and George Weasley had to come from Merry and Pippin. I would imagine Rowling spent much time reading Tolkien's work when she was younger, so I wouldn't be surprised.
I’m not a big fan if LOTR but I’m a fan of Harry Potter. I don’t really need to bow for LOTR if it’s boring to me.
@@rayinchrist1 Harry potter is pretty much derived from Lotr..
Little bit..
I know.. dont start roaring on me..will you??
I AM a extra large.. well megalarfe potterhead and i havent even finished LOTR but it is just father plot of harry potter.
Ive been wanting to reread The Hobbit so bad lately ! This is making me want to reread LOTR as well ^^
During my most recent read of Hobbit / LOTR I surprised myself in liking Hobbit best of the four. That's never happened before.
Did you mean Isildur when you said Beren? Because Beren was a character from the First Age, long before the One Ring was even created.
I think she meant Boromir.
Tomorrow We Live haha yeah I was like Beren? Your in the wrong age. 😂
that was hilarious.. Beren? really? I mean, I can understand confusing Boromir with Faramir.. heck.. even with Aragorn.. but Beren? Beren is not even in the LOTR books aside from the song Aragorn sang about Beren and Luthien... I wonder how she got them mixed up
Merph, you broke my heart. How can anyone forget Boromir
Was not that in Two Towers?
Morfeus No, Boromir suffers his temptation and redemption (and death) at the end of FotR, during the events that caused “The Breaking of the Fellowship “.
@@daynemiller I disagree, Boromir dies in Two Towers, however the fight ensues in The Breaking of the Fellowship... ending by Frodo leaving the Fellowship. The Chapter is vague about Boromir's fate. But indeed he was tempted in that book. His death is however in the next chapter The Departure of Boromir in Two Towers.This chapter begins by Aragorn hearing Boromir's horn and running to his help only find him dead.
@@Morfeusm You're right, of course. I was mentally conflating that whole set of scenes.
@@daynemiller No worries, have a nice holidays!
I read the trilogy at least 15 years ago and for me, the 3rd book was the one that was the hardest. I flew through the first two and actually never finished the third one. The movies were pretty big back then, so I felt like having watched the movie, I didn't really need to finish reading the books. Your review has made me want to reread them all!
Hi. Just found your channel. I really like that you gave it a second chance. So many people wouldn't have bothered. The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings are the books that got me reading on a regular basis. But they were written in a different time, and makes a huge difference. Peace.
I totally get why some people don't like the slower paced nature of Fellowship. I really do.
That said, the slower pace is what I love about it! Moreover, the hobbits are the very reason I return to this book so much! I love their comradrie and the simplicity of Shire life.
I'm probably in the minority, but Book One is my favorite part of Fellowship.
The Fellowship is the fastest paced LotR book, in my opinion. The other books are filled with WAY more detail.
Always impressed by how balanced and fair your reviews are!
I've had this series for about 3 years on my shelf... I had DNF'd The Fellowship at least thrice over that time (please don't kill me) but when I picked it up this time I meant to finish it and I did. All I can say so far is that I found this book to be charming. I don't LOVE it so far but I've heard so many good things about this series that I'm going to continue with it.
Honestly it's about damn time.
You're cool. Thanks for these neat book reviews. Just discovered you recently and its refreshing to see reviews about another medium besides movies and video games.
With the first on I really love the "at the council of Elrond" and forward to "A journey in the dark". The flight to the mine was unfortunately taken out of the film.
I DNF'd this book about a year ago for the reason you mentioned: it is so slow it bored me so much. After watching this video I am actually considering picking it up again..
Sofie van Boekel this is my first read through; and there are about 2-3 chapters after the hobbits leave the shire that are unbearably slow, but once you get passed them and get to the council meeting, it’s great! I’m not finished yet, but have been fully engaged since the council and am hoping it keeps up!
Push through to The Two Towers. It definitely picks up. My first time through The Fellowship, I put it down for several weeks before picking it back up again and trudging along because I had read The Hobbit and I wanted to finish the rest of the story. I love LOTR but seriously, Tom Bombadil? That part could have been left out completely as it had almost no bearing on the rest of the story.
It’s toughest around chapter six. But power through: it really picks up! Also, it might help to think of it as Tolkien did: as two books. Think of the first half as it’s own volume rather than a long build-up.
Did you ever read it?
I really enjoyed your thoughts on this book. You put in words, what I couldn’t. I appreciated the set up for the rest of the book, but it felt so long, and I agree with you that I think it was intentional as well. The hobbits are a simple people and journeys in general are meant to be long, but reading it wasn’t always fun. Thanks for your thoughtful insights. The two towers is my favorite of all the books, but I should think about rereading the books more slowly and thoughtfully.
I need to do a reread of LotR now. Also, those LotR copies you have look really beautiful.
Sam is Frodo's servant, not friend, leastways not officially.
Merry and Pippin are his young friends.
Boromir's story is a true tragidy. The reason he was drawn by the ring is that he, more than anyone else, needs its power. He'd come to Rivendell straight from the wars of Gondor, from seeing his brothers die constantly in the battlefield. He is tempted by the ring, but not for evil, only for the love of his people which he so desperately tries to save, to his own demise.
Great video! I can’t believe I’ve never watched your videos before! Subscribed :)
Great video. Loved the setting.
I recently began The Fellowship for the first time and am absolutely loving it. I'm only about 1/3 of the way through it (they're still in the old forest) and I do agree with what you're saying about the pacing to a certain extent. I mean on one hand it feels like things are taking their time (it feels like they've been in the old forest forever) but on the other hand a lot has actually happened in the 130 pages I've read. I think it might just be the fact that not only does Tolkien have to introduce us to a lot of people and races, as well as begin to build his world, but The Fellowship of the Ring was never intended to be a single book so it has the pacing of a book well over 1,000 pages long. Either way, I really hope they make it out of the old forest soon!
Also, in all the years I've been a reader I've never read anything written with as much care as this. I'm constantly having to highlight passages due to how beautifully crafted and utterly brilliant they are. It's also the first book I'm purposefully reading very slowly simply because of how much I'm enjoying it as well as how dense it is. I want to be able to fully absorb every line as well as make this journey last a while. While this is not my first time reading epic fantasy, I can honestly say that, for me, it's the best I've ever read.
And Merphy, I know you don't often respond to commenters but I'm very curious to know if your favorite epic fantasy series still remains The Gentleman Bastards. Keep up the good work. Love the channel.
Oh I'm so jealous of you, I wish I could go back in time and read it for the first time again. Reading Lord of the Rings changed my life, it was the first time I understood the popularity of epic fantasy as a genre and I love it so, so much. Enjoy the journey, and be prepared to cry your eyes out (if you're anything like me) once you reach the end :D
@@baguettegott3409I’m not much of a reader but watched Lord of the Rings trilogy for the first time and loved it. Should I read this even though I watched it?
@@DonovanGG__ It depends. "Not much of a reader" isn't a great start, but I knew people who listened to it as an audio book and loved it. But really isn't to everybody's taste.
Tolkien really takes his time with this. Especially when describing the landscape and the weather. A lot of stuff happens that isn't super relevant to the plot. The characters often stop to sing a song or recite full poems in the middle of whatever they're doing. If you imagine all the time the movies spent on battle scenes filled with this stuff instead, are you still interested in reading it?
If yes, go for it. Like I said, I adore it. But I know people who otherwise read a lot who lost their patience with it.
This just inspired me to pick up LotR again. I am usually pretty hesitant about it because of Tolkien's writing style and how heavy the story is but every time I do I am very happy I did
What?! You don't think Tom Bombadil adds to the story? There are many opinions on who Tom Bombadil and his wife Goldberry are but there seems to be a consensus they are some type of water spirits. People have wrote their dissertations on the identity of Tom Bombadil with some being a serious consideration. I agree Fellowship is slow and the next two are more quickly paced. They need to be reread to fully grasp the scope of the story. I believe it was Christopher Lee who said he read it every year.
When I read overly-descriptive authors, I rate their degree of exposition in Victor Hugos, 1-10.
Tolkien? He's a solid 6, 7 Hugos at most. There's a lot in play, so it can be overwhelming, but I don't feel that he goes so in depth that I get cranky. Not like G.R.R. Martin and food, for example. I'd give that an 8, minimum.
I love it, I'll have to use this rating system as well 😂. I imagine you give Victor Hugo's writing 10 Hugos?
Tbh I love the way Martin describes everything, it really gets you into the story
@@stardolladdict7247 I think I'd be better equipped to enjoy it if I could visualize things, but unfortunately that's not a thing I can do! I envy those who can, and what that must bring to the experience of reading. I wouldn't resent an author, necessarily, for their descriptiveness. I just know that it's not necessarily something I can properly appreciate :)
I just finished Fellowship as well! First time for me though. I too found it soooooooo slow but I LOVE the parts that I love. I am in Two Towers now and I have to say I was so board through most of it as well 🙈😩 However, it’s finally gotten exciting in the second half. I’m surprised at how much you don’t see Frodo and Sam in this book!
Anyway, I’m glad you are reading this series all over again so that I can hear your reviews as I get through the trilogy for the first time! Thanks Merphy!!
Wonderful review! I am so glad to hear that you have enjoyed this, I agree that books two and three are better but there is something very special about book 1. I look forward to your reviews of book 2 and 3.
Spoilers:
Considering how the trilogy ends in The Shire it is a good contrast to how they used to leave before all the journey starts.
i wish we got to see that in the movies.
And there is a religous and study of language side of it as well, so many angles, viewpoints and ways to read this book, that’s what makes it so brilliant
The first 100 pages of this book took me 6 months to read. After that, I finished the full series in 2 weeks.
I am in the process of listening to the audiobook versions of these series after reading them before and for me the audiobooks are the way to go so I can actually appreciate all the details in the book. Glad to see you like it now!
I'm the complete opposite. Audio books only work for me in really dialogue heavy books like Harry Potter.
Everybody is different I suppose haha! For me it works because I can listen when I am working or wanting to relax and I can drift into the scene easily. I would agree that audiobooks are great for dialogue heavy books. A great audiobook makes all the difference too
As a Tolkien fanatic im glad you did this review 😊😊
My father and I took turns reading the series aloud, back when I was nine and ten years old.
Me too! They are my favorite memories of my childhood. My dad read it to my mom when she was pregnant with me, and to us when I was 11 and my sister was 7. He would use voices and everything. Love and respect for the LotR and everything about it is a family tradition.
I just finished book one yesterday and I really liked it, though I must admit I pushed myself through some pages because of the slow pacing.
I can't wait to finish books 2 and 3 so I can watch your videos about them 👏🏻
Good timing, I'm on the last few pages of the book!
Re read them bout year ago and what struck me was the wording Tolkien uses and descriptions. Its a elegant writing style. Specially when reading some other authors style to compare. Tolkien s words flow. Prolly my 4th time reading? I picked up on that more. Glad you gave it another chance !!!
Where did you get that nice leather copy of the trilogy
This really makes me wanna reread it! A good little chitchat about the book and I agree and appreciate the same things ^^
I think I was smarter in fourth grade because I read the series no problem then. LOL
I know this is old but a few things:
1. Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings as a single novel that he divided into 6 books or what probably today would be called parts. I found bearing that in mind gave me a different idea of the pacing and so it never struck me as slow.
2. Sam was not an acquaintance. He was a servant. There are definitely class issues going on.
I'm not meaning these as criticisms.
More people should read the series, most just watch the movies or just read the hobbit, please its the father of fantasy.
Well, to be fair, the movies do a really good job of adapting the books (speaking as a person who has seen the movies when they first came out and managed to read the books only THIS YEAR). The books and the movies have a lot of common ground and the many of the scenes they added, modified or expanded upon (Stairs of Khazad Dum, Boromir's Death, The Grace of Undomiel, the Sacrifice of Faramir, The Passing of Theoden, Aragorn's speech at the Black Gate, to name a few) all enhance and enrich the story that is already there in the books.
Have you listened to Phil Dragash's fan-made audiobook that merges the text of the books and the feel of the movie together? I highly recommend it, it's like watching an alternate Lord of the Rings movie in your mind :D
@@elrilmoonweaver4723 That audio book is the one that got me through the fellowship, there should be more audio books like that in other books :)
@@waynicliz Totally agree. ASOIAF needs one of those (with Ramin Djawadi music ofc). But . . . imagine the endeavor behind making a movie-like audiobook for ASOIAF O.o .
I tried reading the series, but I did not like it. it was so boring reading about every tree, plant, blade of grass, etc. Tolkien just put in WAY too much detail into the LotR books. I enjoyed the Hobbit because that book almost always had something happening. Fellowship was alright but I had to force myself to read through many parts, Two Towers was very boring and had to force myself to read through the whole thing, and never finished Return of the King.
@@elrilmoonweaver4723 The movies did a very bad job of adapting the books. Jackson didn't understand the books at all. He turned Aragorn into the hero, and the hobbits into cute and cuddly sidekicks, which is completely backwards. There is much else to complain of, but that is the biggest failure of the movies.
I often use audio book Fellowship of the Ring, Book 1 chapter 1 Long-Expected Party, or Book 2 chapter 1 Many Meetings to go to sleep by. Both seem non-stressful and familiar to me. The first is the Shire, and the second is Rivendell, the two most cozy places in the books.
I am reading hobbit for the 1st time and I really like Tolkien's writing style cause it's different and has this whimsical feel to it! It's sad that you had to face problems for the 1st time but you were happy at the end 🤗🤗👍👍
Hey Merphy, I just finished this book and I couldn't wait to come here and hear your thoughts! I've read the first chapter of the second book as well 'cause I knew Boromir's death was coming and I wanted to witness it for myself. As we knew nothing about him, it didn't move me, but I was still curious. I'm glad he was honest about his weakness in the end.
So... I'm unfortunately underwhelmed. My favourite parts are the ones you mentioned and I don't mind how slow it was as much as the lack of depth in characters and background stories. I hated Tom Bombadil and I wished it was a trap, but no, it was just a weird convenient overly-powerful character to have around and no element of surprise. There were too many poems and it felt like the author was showing off most of the time. There were random references of folklore and ancient tales we know nothing about and that I couldn't connect with at all.
I'll read The Two Towers because of you, 'cause I wouldn't have picked it up again otherwise. I do love how Sam nearly drowned himself to get to Frodo's boat. I admire his courage and devotion. I'll be reading it for him, really.
I must say that I enjoyed the first book as much as I enjoyed the first movie, which means that they had pretty much the same flaws, but I was nontheless fascinated by the world and its mysteries. I do admire J. R. R. Tolkien's incredible world-building and imagination. I love the fact that he created languages as the genius philologist he was. He writes beautifully and I do have vivid images in my mind. I hope he won't let me down.
Fellowship was my favorite volume of the trilogy. Reading Tom Bombadil's name at the end of Return of the King reminded me of that. When I visited a used bookstore or two to buy a copy of Fellowship I found out that no one ever put Fellowship up for sale, only the other two volumes.Fellowship abounds with warm fuzzy refuges for the hobbits, making it a nice bedside book to read before one starts sleeping.
I started my reread back on the 25th Nov and I’m only just starting RotK now, your gonna beat me 🤣🤣, I constantly forget just how funny some of the characters are ie Butterbur with his to and fro at high speed and a lot of the reactions to the friendship of Legolas and Gimli X
Is the print on this specific leather bound version really small? I am thinking about getting them, but if I can’t read it, or have to strain to, there isn’t a point.
Now on to the movie reviews! :)
I'm honestly a bit confused why so many people find these books boring. I've loaned out my copies multiple times to friends and family only to be shocked when they returned the books unfinished saying they just couldn't get into them. I read them for the first time at age 14 and they've been my favorite books ever since. Anybody else feel the same way?
The Fellowship I have appreciated more and more as I got older. Tolkien truly captures the immersion and intimacy of a small society of people that is all but lost to time. Life before real transportation and phones and computers and the like. Our world view for better or worse has gone from a tight knit microcosm of society to swipe right to hook up in a relatively short period of time and we lose track of the actual beauty in life and human interaction. We get caught up in the stimulus of all the electronics and the noise of all of our distractions and forget what nature and human interaction are about. Those are my thoughts and I fully agree that the jarringness and change of pace are deliberate. Tolkien truly was a master of his craft.
Please consider doing a more in depth review of this book. There’s a lot to be discussed both good and not so good. I enjoyed hearing your insight and discussion
Oh oh! Merphy! Question, do you think that the movies do a good job of adapting the books?
Personally, I think they are some of the best movies ever made and some of the best adaptations put to screen. And it has some of the best music which I still listen to this day, 18 years since I first saw it ^^.
i have read this book once every year for 4 years
LOTR is one of my top favourite series but I struggle so hard with Fellowship. I really have to push through from after Bilbos party to once they are fleeing from Bree with Strider/Aragorn. After that I fly through the story and love it.
I felt the same way the first time reading the fellowship I kinda had to push through it. But as I started reading the two towers I got used to his style. And I’m reading other books now and I find myself missing his style
Once again and he made reading other books easier.
Hi. Very good review. This popped up in my suggested, so here I am. I come with a different window to Tolkien than you but it seems we feel similarly.
I’m male, 55, and have read the Trilogy many times. My favorite book of the Trilogy is TTT and next ROTK. Your observations on FOTR are shared. It’s fantastic set-up for the rest of the novel...but it’s still set-up. 😀
I liked the first book of FOTR because it was kinda like Hobbit 2.0 just adventures on the journey, though darker with higher stakes and well... more adult... Old Forset, Tom Bombadil, The Willow and Barrow Downs is something that I would like to see in a movie
I read Fellowship once and I’m reading it again and I can feel and sense everything with the characters. I can smell and taste and see, hear, feel everything the characters are. Tolkien’s writing style is so immersive and elegantly done
I'm soooooo down for Tolkien reviews in 2020 please bring it on
Looking back on it I feel that it was intentionally slow and meandering at the start (of the whole story, not just book 1) as a way to really demonstrate the increasing urgency of the quest and how imminent the danger was becoming. During book 1 it was all focused on "yeah this is a serious matter so we better take it to someone who knows what to do" (first in Bree and then in Rivendell). Then as events unfold in books 2 and 3 we see more and more how it goes from "gotta get this done before Bad Stuff happens" to "omg everything is on fire and now we must hold on until Frodo gets there and also we must hope he's getting there hurry up boyyyzzzz."
Interesting! Fellowship was my favorite from the “trilogy” and even first book, ESPECIALLY first book of first book is probably my favorite book ever! I just love it so much! Sooo much!!!
Same. Fellowship is my favorite book of the trilogy. And my least favorite of the movies. Lmao.
Fellowship is the only book I like from the trilogy. I had to force myself to read through the majority of The Two Towers, and I never finished Return of the King because it was so boring to me.
And it's where the adventuring party was really solidified (unlike the later books which also have major battles, the first book is what we think of as classic D&D these days).
@@argel1200 very true, it feels more like the classic fantasy quest
I have not been able to get past a few pages on the book, but once I got it on audio book it made more sense. The whole first part has a very strong narratorial voice.
Thank you!
Fellowship is my favorite.
I’m glad you reread it and now appreciate it more.
I just love being in the Shire, and meeting up with the Elves on the road, and Tom B, and Goodberry, and especially Galadriel.
Galadriel was love at first read for me! (I do not appreciate how cold P. Jackson made her seem..)
I totally agree with what you said. I saw the movie first and then I have read the book - all 3 in 1 week actually! :D So well done, nice video and you look absolutely stunning once again! :)
How a bout a review of Terry PRatchett ? His books can be a little lacking in intensity. But I love the book covers and the man is the most ev olved human being to ever walk this earth. I put his books away the first time I read them because of the many characters, but now I came back and am absolutely charmed. Amazing creativity, incredible outlook on life. I'd love to look at the world like he did.
It took me 15 days short of a full year to read the fellowship of the ring. The first 150 pages took me forever to get through but at like 154 i started to enjoy it and at the last 50 pages i was hooked.
It really throws your mind off when you learn (or relearn, it was easy to be influenced by the movie) that how long time had passed when Gandalf left Shire to research for the ring and came back to ask Frodo for his quest. It was like maybe 3 days in the movie but in the book it took years before Gandalf came back.
I LOVE the lore of Tolkien's works. I have read LOTR, the Hobbit, The Silmarilion and the unfinished tales mostly for the lore and the characters. I do not like the way Tolkien writes; 60 pages on preparing a birthday party and three pages on how the sunlight hits the moss growing on the rock besides the tree upon which Frodo is resting is not appealing to me. However, I have consumed these books twice (or more depending on which) because of the lore. Interrupting his own narrative to explain about Beren and Luthien or the origins of a certain song is fine to me, however.
I personally didn’t like the fast battle scenes . I lived for the slow character moments
It is my favorite book! People complain about the description, but I don’t think it’s near as bad as, say, John Steinbeck. Did you pick up on the set-ups for later this time around? Like the subtle hints at the eventual Scouring of the Shire stuff? Did you read the prologue? And be sure to read the appendices at the end of volume 3!
I read The Hobbit in 6th grade and just soaked it up. I was wholly unfamiliar with Tolkien and that style of Fantasy, and I instantly fell in love. Also, that was the year that the Fellowship of the Ring movie was released, but I had absolutely no idea that the movies were a thing yet.
I tried to read Fellowship of the Ring between 6th and 7th grade, and I just couldn't. The pacing and descriptions, as stated in this video, really bog down the beginning of the story. I made it to Tom Bombadil's house and I put the book down. Bombadil just stopped the story dead in its tracks and I couldn't deal with the confusing and slow aspects of him and the story. My 7th grade English teacher insisted that I keep reading it. He must've been a Tolkien nerd and he must have been following the movies. I still didn't know the movies were a thing until after Two Towers was in theaters. The internet was still dial-up and everything, so it was hard to find information on stuff like that.
I started FotR from the beginning, stomached my way through the Old Forest and Tom Bombadil, made it to the Council of Elrond, and I was hooked again. It was about this point that I watched the first movie and realized that I needed to finish the books before Return of the King was released in theaters.
I pounded my way through Two Towers... it's the shortest of the trilogy and definitely the easiest to read between the plot and intrigue. I started Return of the King, but I did not make it all the way through before the movie came out. I saw the movie in theaters, became emotionally invested in everything, finished the books, and now both the books and the movies are my favorites in their respective mediums. (Also, sidenote: there was a couple in probably their 20's sitting behind my family in RotK, and when Shelob attacked Frodo the guy was freaking out and the girl was making fun of him).
I have read The Hobbit, LotR, and The Silmarillion over a dozen times each at this point. I was reading them annually for a while, actually.
The books are best in reverse order (RotK, TTT, FotR), but the movies are best in the correct order (FotR, TTT, RotK). RotK has a completely different aesthetic that I can't get over... both the picture and the music have a different quality from the other two films.
Love LOTR, but still I think tons of the mundane travel details towards Rivendell in Book 1 could and arguably should have been cut or at least streamlined. A lot of it is just straight up unnecessary slog. This is coming from a lifelong Tolkien and LOTR fan so don't get me wrong.
Just found you. Nice channel. I am a voracious reader. I have read Lord of Rings 12 times starting in 8th grade. (A kong time Ago). Now I read Brad Thor. Good luck 🌴Aloha
Fellowship is my favorite because it sets everything up so well. The Two Towers is the downer for me because I didn't like the divided focus after everyone splits up. To me, that hurt the flow of the story.
I always felt the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring, up until around chapter 10 is really just The Hobbit part 2. Once Strider comes into play, that’s when LotRs really starts. Just my own way of looking at it.
That's kind of ... literally what it is. Tolkien meant to write a sequel to the Hobbit and didn't really know exactly where he wanted to go with it, so the first part of Fellowship just feel like the Hobbit. Things like "everybody in the group gets captured and Frodo has to save them", Frodo dancing and singing on the table, visiting a character that's completely irrelevant to the plot (Tom) - you're right, it really feels like The Hobbit part 2.
Thank you for giving me hope Merphy! It's such a burden even with speed reading, I liked The Hobbit but this book... Ugh. The only thing that keeps me reading it is Stephen King mentioning how important it was for him while writing The Dark Tower series.
try The Silmarillion by Tolkien. You'll be blown away.
Literally deliberate pacing? Good point!
The theme throughout is the contrast of old rural life that moved to the rhythm of the seasons, and modernity (which is set to a clock). The Shire representing the idealized village life of olde, contrasted with the horrific industrialization of Isengard and Mordor. It seems the pacing was working in service to that contrast also.