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The Lord of the Rings trilogy (Your Opinions?)(Books)

Nico_D

Member
The movies are great, really well done adaptations and I love them. But the books are still a bit better, suspense is higher. There's a great athmosphere in them the movies can't quite achieve.

Like it was already said, the first 100 pages or so are pretty boring. But when it gets going, it doesn't really slow down.
 

Drake

Member
I'm a huge fan of the books and the movies. I've read the books several times and seen the movies countless.

I'm actually listening to the audio books when I go on my nightly walks now. The version I'm listening to now is done by a fan by the name of Phil Dragash. They are 1000 times better than the official audio books. He included music from the movies and sound effects for battles and other action sequences. It's so immersive. It's fucking awesome.

It gets DMCA'd on youtube pretty frequently, but people keep uploading it. Luckily I have multiple copies of it saved.

 

BluRayHiDef

Banned
He didn't want to make it, and got lured in with wads of cash. Agreed to make a short book a trilogy, which was a terrible idea from the start.

The second half of The Desolation of Smaug and the entirety of The Battle of the Five Armies are very good. Everything else feels like it's bloated with filler.
 

BluRayHiDef

Banned
For years I had avoided watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy, because I wasn't into fantasy movies. However, my love of science fiction movies led me to fantasy movies; long story short: Blade (science-fiction take on vampires) -> Underworld Series (science-fiction take on vampires with medieval European theme) -> Dracula Untold (fantastical take on vampires that takes place in Medieval Europe) -> The Lord of the Rings (Epic Fantasy with Medieval European mythological elements). So, in January of this year, I ordered The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Blu-ray Box Set from Amazon and watched it for the first time; I was blown away and felt so foolish for avoiding these movies for so long; they're quite possibly the best films ever made, as they feature such a mythologically diverse and expansive world that's brought to life via great cinematography, costume design, acting, and amazing action-packed set pieces. I love these movies.

After watching them, I bought the books. Honestly, despite loving the movies, I find the books to be a chore to read through because they do a lot of telling rather than showing; the pace slows down very often in order for long segments of exposition to be provided rather than remains steady by providing information about settings and lore via characters' actions. I'll never finish them.
 

Nikana

Go Go Neo Rangers!
Havent read through the thread but man I have tried reading LOTR a few times and that first book just cant grab me. No idea why. ANybody have any good books in the fantasy realm that maybe are a bit easier to pick up?
 

Drake

Member
Havent read through the thread but man I have tried reading LOTR a few times and that first book just cant grab me. No idea why. ANybody have any good books in the fantasy realm that maybe are a bit easier to pick up?

Anything by Brandon Sanderson is a good bet. The Stormlight Archive is incredible, but the books are long. If you want something a bit shorter try the original Mistborn trilogy. Those are really good books and you can get though them quick.
 

Ornlu

Banned
Havent read through the thread but man I have tried reading LOTR a few times and that first book just cant grab me. No idea why. ANybody have any good books in the fantasy realm that maybe are a bit easier to pick up?


Amazon.com: Monster Hunter International (Monster Hunters ...



It's modern-day, but has a lot of fantasy in it. Not sure if that counts for what you're looking for. :messenger_beermugs:
 

Nikana

Go Go Neo Rangers!
thanks for all the suggestions. I actually had Mistborne suggested to me a long time ago but couldn't remember the name. I will start with that. I also am gonna give audio books a try with this one.
 

OmegaSupreme

advanced basic bitch
Today I learned that Tolkien did start a sequel story to the Lord of the Rings. He only wrote about 13 pages or so. He didn't like where the story was headed and decided not to proceed with it. Pretty cool stuff. To be more on the topic I adore the movies but had a hard time getting into the books.
 

Cutty Flam

Banned
The Hobbit, page 25

Very impressive writing by J.R.R. Tolkien. Gandalf commands a room filled with 14 others, Gandalf being the fifteenth, with only two words really

All it took was two words and the way he went about saying them, and I can imagine the room being completely still and holding all breath, to ensure complete silence so as not to miss the following crucial information Gandalf is about relay to Thorin...

wwDETHX.jpg


I’m almost to the halfway mark of the book. At page 130 and there’s 300 pages total

Gandalf has finally bid them farewell after seeing them through out of much danger. And now they’re at a very dense, dark, suffocating stretch of the woods somewhere. Was it just past Mirkwood? I forget. But they set up camp in there and it’s so dark, that you cannot see even your hand waving right before your face as Bilbo has tried. So dark that they can only see eyes in the dark, insect eyes even (green, yellow, red)

This is top notch stuff. Can’t wait to see what danger will present itself to them next...they’ve already been through such traumatic things already and I’m not even halfway. Kind of a shame Peter Jackson wasn’t inspired to the level of the LOTR films he obviously poured everything into...This adventure deserves just as much love so far of what I have read
 
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BadBurger

Is 'That Pure Potato'
They're really great books. Tolkien builds authentic-feeling lore and cultures in a manner no one else in fantasy has managed to match. Beyond the trilogy his "world" is an easy rabbit hole to tumble down if you're a literary fan. The Silmarillion, all of the supplemental posthumous books edited by his son, etc.

And yes, collectively, it is a lot to read. If you only have an hour or two to read a leisurely a day getting through the Silmarillion alone is gonna hurt ya.
 

Cutty Flam

Banned
Drawing very near towards the end of The Hobbit. Just read a couple of chapters. What a magnificent story. I had no idea what to expect before buying this book and reading. And I’m glad I made this thread too because I was about to start on The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and begin there until it was said here that The Hobbit is actually the better starting place as J.R.R. Tokien had written it first

I can see myself re-reading all of the Tolkien books one day. His storytelling has to be second to none when it comes to these fantasy novels
 
Just started again, but essentially for the first time since I didnt get far before. It's weird how my young mind felt it was mush before, but now it's pretty plainly written if a bit poetic.

I'm struck by how connected one can feel to nature to write pages and pages of details about landscape and fauna and have it all seem fresh. Like, imagine a stream. What sort of tree would live beside it? Is it a type tree I've ever even heard of or considered? Then during the day I play Final Fantasy 7 and Barret just loves the planet and they are killing it, Cloud ! It's to writing what Bob Ross is to painting. No, I did not consider that the tree was crooked because a deer stepped on it as a sapling. But, now I am. Damn.

It is very calming and gives me nice dreams.
 
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Cutty Flam

Banned
Finally finished The Hobbit just a bit ago

I never knew that Bilbo Baggins was a such an enormous character in the literary world. I had always heard his name here and there growing up, as most probably have but I always thought that people just said his name because it was funny or it flowed well. It never occurred to me that he might be one of the greatest fictional characters in a story of all time

This story, sets up The Lord of the Rings so ridiculously well. I’m thankful for suggestions, and very glad that I started this book and was able to experience The Hobbit before reading the LOTR trilogy

Should I peer over most of the maps, any maps I can find of the LOTR? I want to be more equipped to visualize the areas Tolkien's describing since one of his many specialties is his world building. I think maybe I should hang up some maps or something as I go through this legendary series to better follow along or something

Big fan of all the characters in The Hobbit and love Bilbo’s company. You never knew what to expect either, this is definitely one of the richest adventures I’ll remember for a long time

One of my favorite moments:


k4nBfyV.jpg



“Let us return!” he said. “We can do no good here! And I don’t like these dark birds, they look like spies of evil!”

Page 189 The Hobbit, Balin

This was a tense part if the book. A very mysterious air of evil seemed to have fallen over them in thick manner. You as the reader could feel how they were feeling and thinking and probably behaving in such an ominous region close to their destination. It’s crazy how Tolkien has made birds wise to this world, the Ravens and Eagles especially. At first, I thought Bawlin was just paranoid and extremely on edge due to the aura of his surroundings being so dreary as well as having to know they’re approaching the most perilous stretch of their adventure. But just now I am realizing he had very real reasons to suspect those birds as actual spies, potentially of their enemies. Balin was one of my favorite Dwarves, he seemed to be the most appreciative and understanding Dwarf when it came to treating Bilbo as an ally and a friend. Balin’s a great man. I’m glad he came to visit Bilbo at the very end, along with Gandalf
 

AngelaLifman

Neo Member
I picked up reading last June, and am really glad I did. I forgot how relaxing, fun, and overall just incredible it is to spend time reading. It expands your mind, your vocabulary, helps me with my temper and give me another outlet to spend my time creatively. I can say a lot about the benefits of reading for me so far, but I'll just say that it's a great hobby and is time very much well spent. I plan to keep this hobby

I started off reading the Harry Potter series, and I adore it. Love it. I really want to start reading all about it on Reddit now that I've finished all the books. And watch the movies as well

But now, I think I am almost decided. I want to try the Lord of the Rings books. I've seen the films, and they are very well made. The first one is a classic. And the rest I can't remember too much, except a huge war takes place in Twin Towers, and The Return of the King was a hell of movie. Somehow, I can imagine the books being even better. Maybe even unbelievably better, despite how well crafted and imagined the movies are. Am I right in predicting that? Really excited to try them out, I just don't know when I'm going to start. Because I know if I read these, I might get stuck in the universe and want to read all the books. And I think there's a lot right? The Hobbit and then there's like others I think one was called Sauron's ______ something but anyway, is it all worth it? Should I read the Lord of the Rings trilogy or is there something even better out there?

Might even consider Stephen King books in its place if I'm not totally up for LotR just yet. Like I said, I want to watch the Harry Potter movies and absorb more of that universe as well

Would love to hear any thoughts on any of this, Never read The Lord of the Rings, but watched the movie many times. Now I definitely want to read this trilogy, you have interested me in it. In fact, I often like to compare movies and books (almost always the book wins, of course). For example, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, have you read it or watched a movie? You can read a short summary to refresh your memory because both the book and the movie are pretty old. This is one of my favorite books and the book is much better than the movie, what do you say?
Never read The Lord of the Rings, but watched the movie many times. Now I definitely want to read this trilogy, you have interested me in it.
 

Cutty Flam

Banned
I’m still on The Fellowship of the Rings, about a third of the way and it’s way different than the movies. Kind of tough to read too imo because I'm not used to authors going into such description describing the world. Besides Harry Potter, this is only my second venture into fantasy books. I love it so far though, Frodo, Sam, Pippen, and Merry just made their way into Bree with some help from Tom Bombadil and are now about to enter The Prancing Pony. I think Tolkien just described the character who I'm guessing is Aragorn for a brief sentence. But right now, they're safe and in the stronghold with the Bree folk. It's been a few months since I've read a chapter but last time I read I remember the thought of Bree's beer being mentioned was enough to put Sam in a good mood and then I stopped when they had booked their lodge at the Prancing Pony with the busy owner there
 

DGrayson

Mod Team and Bat Team
Staff Member
ya it can be rough but easier as you go further. I was almost brought to tears with some of the descriptions in book 2, specifically one part but I dont wnat to spoil anything.
 

Dithadder

Member
The Discworld books by Terry Pratchett are good fantasy plus comedy.

Someone above mentioned Homer. Original or foundational books are often intimidating but rewarding and pleasanter to read than you might think. Bram Stoker's Dracula is very entertaining (maybe not as rewarding as The Iliad).
 

Kev Kev

Member
keep reading Cutty Flam Cutty Flam . they are way different than the movies, but they still feel so epic. i always felt like i was going on an adventure when i sat down to read them. the further i got, the easier they became to read. dont try to understand all the little minutia. Tolkien goes into an absurd amount of detail with his world building, but you only need to understand the idea of it.

and yes, i would suggest taking a look at the appendices once in a while. including the map, lineages, section about the language and how to pronounce certain elvish and dwarven words, and extra tid bits about each race and their histories. then, after you read all three books, there are extra stuff in the final appendices that are honestly some of my favorite parts of tolkien lore. things they never covered in the movies, but to me are essential for putting an final punctuation to the end of certain characters stories.

it so good man. probably my favorite reading experience of all time, and it made going on to read The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales sooo much better.

fuck im getting inspired to start again with the hobbit right now

also i cant fucking wait for that amazon series set in the second age!!!
 
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Batiman

Banned
Anybody got any recommendations for a 13 year old newbie reader? Something not to slow that would keep his attention? I don’t know what younger teens read nowadays. Thx
 

NecrosaroIII

Ask me about my terrible takes on Star Trek characters
Lord of the Rings saved myself.
I couldn’t get past the first book. I know King was inspired by The Lord of the Rings and the Clint Eastwood westerns but the first one didn’t come across at all in the book.

First book is terrible
Book 2 is amazing
Book 3 is even better
Book 4 is cool but kind of a detour
Book 5 is great but overlong
Book 6 is terrible and awkward
Book 7 has 3 books worth of ideas packed into one. King rushed the ending
 

IDKFA

I am Become Bilbo Baggins
Anybody looking for a new LOTR edition to grace their bookshelves, look no further than this beautiful beast.

If you're in the UK, it's reduced on Blackwells from £150 to £100. Tempted to pick it up as it'll match my other Middle-earth books.

9780008471293_000.jpg
 

nkarafo

Member
What's your opinion on audiobooks? I can't hold my attention enough to read more than a few pages but i tried an audiobook of Game of Thrones and i managed to cover 3 hours before i slept.

I think i like it a lot, having someone else reading the book for you is so much more comfortable but would you say i'm missing something? I can still form scenes using my imagination but without having to keep track of words.
 

Cyberpunkd

Gold Member
I couldn’t get past the first book. I know King was inspired by The Lord of the Rings and the Clint Eastwood westerns but the first one didn’t come across at all in the book.
It’a well known I think Tolkien started writing LotR as Hobbit 2, that is why the mood is much lighter at the beginning. The change happens around l’âge 80-90, after that it’s a completely different book.
 

BigBooper

Member
What's your opinion on audiobooks? I can't hold my attention enough to read more than a few pages but i tried an audiobook of Game of Thrones and i managed to cover 3 hours before i slept.

I think i like it a lot, having someone else reading the book for you is so much more comfortable but would you say i'm missing something? I can still form scenes using my imagination but without having to keep track of words.
I have both read them and listened to the Audible version. The audiobook recording is actually great. There's some details you might gloss over or get a little lost on because it's harder to remember these strange names when heard rather than read, at least for me. Overall though, those are a fantastic way to hear the story.
 
Anybody got any recommendations for a 13 year old newbie reader? Something not to slow that would keep his attention? I don’t know what younger teens read nowadays. Thx
I don't know what's cool on Tik Tok but you can't go wrong with The Hobbit, every Jules Verne book, Sven Hassel and Tarzan.
Verne's books are masterpieces of pacing. I heard the older English translations are not that great but newer versions and all european translations are good. Make sure you grab an illustrated edition.
 

Batiman

Banned
I don't know what's cool on Tik Tok but you can't go wrong with The Hobbit, every Jules Verne book, Sven Hassel and Tarzan.
Verne's books are masterpieces of pacing. I heard the older English translations are not that great but newer versions and all european translations are good. Make sure you grab an illustrated edition.
Thx I’ll check them out
 
nobody can beat Tolkien. probably closest would be Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson with The Wheel of Time. The world Tolkien created is insane. He basically created an entire language (Elvish) and a fucking bible (Silmarillion) for Middle Earth lol.

GRRM would be damn close but we all know how that is going... first few books were great but it started to become a mess and here we are 10 years on since the last book with 2 more still to go and the guy is like 73. so yeah that ain't getting finished unless someone comes in and finishes it like Sanderson did with TWOT.

if you haven't read LOTR then do yourself a favour and read it.
 
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Lord of the Rings saved myself.


First book is terrible
Book 2 is amazing
Book 3 is even better
Book 4 is cool but kind of a detour
Book 5 is great but overlong
Book 6 is terrible and awkward
Book 7 has 3 books worth of ideas packed into one. King rushed the ending
I was hoping we’d get a proper adaptation in movie format. But Sony messed up.
 

Rockondevil

Gold Member
The Dark Tower is really good

book 4 is my fav but it’s all a great read
I'll have to give it a go. I read the first maybe 2 years ago or so and just didn't go to the second as I found it quite meh.

Would you recommend reading the first again because I mean I don't remember too much off the top of my head.
 

Ionian

Member
nobody can beat Tolkien. probably closest would be Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson with The Wheel of Time. The world Tolkien created is insane. He basically created an entire language (Elvish) and a fucking bible (Silmarillion) for Middle Earth lol.

GRRM would be damn close but we all know how that is going... first few books were great but it started to become a mess and here we are 10 years on since the last book with 2 more still to go and the guy is like 73. so yeah that ain't getting finished unless someone comes in and finishes it like Sanderson did with TWOT.

if you haven't read LOTR then do yourself a favour and read it.

I read the books as a young teenager when I was meant to be studying. As a fan of fantasy I found them boring, takes forever to get to the cool shit with the bad guys.

I had to supervise final exams (sit outside, escort them to the toilet) and my friend who also did it used to talk Elvish to me. Always had a WTF? face. Apparently he was blessing my goats or something in Elvish. I'd just say "OK?".

I had no goats. I also used to hide text books in the toilet for anyone who went. Then I got chicken-pox, that's my Tolkein story. Boring and over-winded just like this post.
 
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I'll have to give it a go. I read the first maybe 2 years ago or so and just didn't go to the second as I found it quite meh.

Would you recommend reading the first again because I mean I don't remember too much off the top of my head.
Yes, IIRC the first is pretty short. Compared to the rest that is. Lots of world building, I’d def start from book 1
 

Kev Kev

Member
Anybody looking for a new LOTR edition to grace their bookshelves, look no further than this beautiful beast.

If you're in the UK, it's reduced on Blackwells from £150 to £100. Tempted to pick it up as it'll match my other Middle-earth books.

9780008471293_000.jpg

fap-ready.gif
 

rogr rogr

Member
I love reading Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings outloud, but some parts make me choke out of emotion...that's how immersive and epic these books are to me.
 
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