Reviews

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

robotnik's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

constance23's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

mooseabs's review against another edition

5.0

Every read I appreciate Tolkien a little bit more

jennimarie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense slow-paced

4.75

futurememory's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

As odd as this sounds, I found this to be a far, far easier and breezier read than I anticipated, considering the reputation that Lord of the Rings has in some circles. Do I think that sometimes Tolkein gets into the weeds far too much in his love of his own lore and worldbuilding? Absolutely. Is there one song too many? Sometimes! Does the book rely on geography and topography more than a modern fantasy? Yes. But all of that being said...

There's a cozy charm to Fellowship, small character beats and moments that are delightful and friendly and warm. There's also a distinct terror of Fellowship. So many more scenes are rendered in a far more sinister, frightening way than the movie. Moria, in particular, is full of abject terror and darkness. The prose style is poetic without being lyrical, conveying an almost classic and epic tone that isn't afraid to shy away from character-building banter and sweeping vistas, both.

I'll be going straight into Two Towers. Fellowship definitely feels like an incomplete story, and Tolkien definitively wrote LotR as one novel. 

nerdisauruswrex's review against another edition

adventurous challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

plompverlori's review against another edition

4.0

I would fight a Balrog for Samwise, if you take my meaning.

kutli's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

laudea98's review against another edition

adventurous reflective slow-paced

5.0

beca's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0