From the Bookshelf of Reading the Classics

The Lord of the Rings
by
Start date
June 1, 2014
Finish date
August 31, 2014
Why we're reading this
Won the poll for our Summer Series Project.

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What Members Thought

Sarina
This book will take you to a world full of unreal wonders, yet so vivid. Some say it is too long, but I say the descriptive tale helps to imagine more clearly and delve into the amazing storyline. No characters could I ignore, they were unique in their own way. This type of book is very rare, so I'm glad I have read it.

Those who are not sure whether to read it, I suggest watching the movies first, and then dive into the world of Hobbits, Elves, Dwarfs, Men, the evil and the powerful Ring.
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Andi
Aug 18, 2011 rated it really liked it
Oh wow. Took a year, but I finally finished re-reading all three books.

For years, I've been living a lie that I thought the films adapted the books very well. Not entirely so. By reading these books at a time when the films are not in cinemas and I'm older to grasp some of the things I didn't understand, I can now say: "I understand why some Tolkien fans have issues with the films".

The dialogue, at times, is lifted directly from the book. As are the visuals when it comes to scenery, landscape, t
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Jlawrence
Jul 13, 2007 rated it really liked it
By Gollum, I finally finished these books!

It's hard (in my case), after being first exposed to the animated and live action film adaptations and countless xeroxes of Tolkien's world in computer and tabletop gaming, to appreciate what an astoundingly original work of imagination this was when released.

But these books ARE an incredible work of the imagination (I especially like the feeling of vast history behind the events in the novel), and despite sometimes turgid prose (and the songs, which I j
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Brian
May 30, 2012 rated it it was amazing
I read this first in 1994/95, and for years have refused to see the films. Now I am re-reading the trilogy, watching Peter Jackson's *excellent* films one by one upon completing each book. An absolute classic, both the books and the films, but I am so happy I read the books first, because Tolkien's world was brilliantly rendered inside my head some 20ish years ago.

Everyone should read these books at some point in their lives. I realize one could say this about literally thousands of books, but n
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Anne
Dec 26, 2007 rated it it was amazing
Brian
Jan 24, 2008 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
M
Mar 08, 2008 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: want, fantasy
Keldon
May 17, 2008 rated it really liked it
Cheryl
Sep 06, 2008 rated it really liked it
Jes
Oct 05, 2009 rated it really liked it
Gaijinmama
Oct 28, 2009 rated it it was amazing
Paige
Dec 10, 2009 rated it really liked it
Ashley
Oct 17, 2010 marked it as to-read
Rachel
Sep 06, 2011 rated it really liked it
Laura
Sep 09, 2011 rated it really liked it
Jim Grant
Jan 03, 2012 rated it really liked it
Leanne
Feb 11, 2012 rated it it was amazing
Nanci Svensson
May 04, 2012 rated it did not like it
tara bomp
Sep 08, 2012 rated it did not like it
Shelves: fiction, fantasy, english
Amanda
Nov 30, 2012 rated it it was ok
Karlis Wilde
Oct 12, 2013 rated it liked it
Masha
Jul 21, 2016 marked it as to-read
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