reuben_books's review against another edition
I enjoyed the first two books in this series and learning about LOTR's beginnings.
However, this one is so much more about timeline intricacies and locations, and less about the development of the narrative and characters, which was what really interested me in the first two books. I also don't know the latter half of the story as well as the first half, so I could hardly ever tell the difference between what was actually included in the published works and what wasn't.
No judgement on the book itself, it’s just not for me.
However, this one is so much more about timeline intricacies and locations, and less about the development of the narrative and characters, which was what really interested me in the first two books. I also don't know the latter half of the story as well as the first half, so I could hardly ever tell the difference between what was actually included in the published works and what wasn't.
No judgement on the book itself, it’s just not for me.
rohini_murugan's review
4.0
Omg, Pippin dies!!
Wth, Pippin dies!!
Nooooo, God, nooo!
Yeah yeah, it was a nice read. A tad too stretchy but did not see the ending coming. Now I've got to be off, to the next book. Does Pippin come back!? Please tell me he does!
Wth, Pippin dies!!
Nooooo, God, nooo!
Yeah yeah, it was a nice read. A tad too stretchy but did not see the ending coming. Now I've got to be off, to the next book. Does Pippin come back!? Please tell me he does!
slferg's review
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
A further look at Tolkien’s shaping of the Lord of the Rings, the changes, trials and efforts to build an amazing story.
rohini_murugan's review against another edition
4.0
Omg, Pippin dies!!
Wth, Pippin dies!!
Nooooo, God, nooo!
Yeah yeah, it was a nice read. A tad too stretchy but did not see the ending coming. Now I've got to be off, to the next book. Does Pippin come back!? Please tell me he does!
Wth, Pippin dies!!
Nooooo, God, nooo!
Yeah yeah, it was a nice read. A tad too stretchy but did not see the ending coming. Now I've got to be off, to the next book. Does Pippin come back!? Please tell me he does!
regitzexenia's review against another edition
4.0
Even though he has now gotten a better handle on the begging of the story, the middle and the end seems to keep changing and it’s nerdy and fascinating to follow closey. Christopher Tolkien does a marvellous job at guiding the reader through the strange and twisted roads.
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
3.0
I am really disappointed that I couldn't get into this, it just felt like a chore and most of the time I couldn't even remember what I read, but I will just blame this on the fact there was a lot of hardcore parts prior to this and maybe I should have had a break before carrying on, 'fore now I cannot remember much of this epic battle that had been urging on in this. I may have to re-read just this novel in the future, but for now, it just dragged on and although I was laughing at some parts (the bitchyness of Aragorn to the Herb-Lore master) and was very much intrigued at other sections, it just didn't hold my mind long enough for me to have felt engaged throughout the whole ordeal.
Any way, just because I found it difficult to enjoy does not mean that you will and that this series (or one big novel) is any less awesome. I was just having a struggle so...
Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy!
Gén >(^_^)<
Any way, just because I found it difficult to enjoy does not mean that you will and that this series (or one big novel) is any less awesome. I was just having a struggle so...
Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy!
Gén >(^_^)<
vulturetime's review against another edition
3.5
The thing is for me, since The Lord of the Rings is a finished story, I'm not super invested in seeing all the different versions of how it could have been play out. It was nice to read the excerpts because I haven't reread The Lord of the Rings in a while and the process of writing the series is interesting, but to me it just all feels very, very long. It's not necessarily contained to this book, but the fact that the History of the Lord of the Rings is four books in total. Also, if I wanted to get the feeling of reading the trilogy by reading multiple books, I would have just read the trilogy again. So it was interesting to read but unless you're really into The Lord of the Rings specifically, then I wouldn't necessarily recommend.
angrywombat's review against another edition
2.0
Eh, I'm going to be consigned to a special hell for saying this - but this book has been the worst part of the Lord of the Rings series so far.
I mean, this is the "exciting part - all the battles and action, violence and horror all concentrated into the one book - where all the tension and conspiracies were leading up to...
But Tolkien just doesn't write action very well (In my opinion - I've probably been spoiled by a lot of my more modern reading, but still) What is even worse is that on a number of occasions the action is related 2nd hand - one character telling another about what had happened - which completely deflates all tension in the scene.
Basically this follows the two hobbits Merry and Pippin as they are dragged into the oncoming war - one goes with Gandalf to Minas Tirith and becomes the page of Lord Denethor (boss of Minas Tirth, and so all of Gondor), while the other sticks with the Rohirrim in their covert attempt to get to Minas Tirth without being seen by enemy spies.
There were some great callbacks with Faramir coming back to his father, and being surprised by seeing Pippin, but overall this is pretty much the "dark part" of the series - the "good guys" dont really win, but survive the Battle for Minas Tirith, and then are faced with the fact of being outnumbered 100-1 by all the rest of Sauron's armies.
Oh, and the suicides, and the use of magical fatal depression as a weapon.
Its still a good book, but I found myself putting the book down at chapter breaks to go do other things, and not feeling a pressing urge to pick up the book again. But I look forward to getting back to Frodo and Sam,
I mean, this is the "exciting part - all the battles and action, violence and horror all concentrated into the one book - where all the tension and conspiracies were leading up to...
But Tolkien just doesn't write action very well (In my opinion - I've probably been spoiled by a lot of my more modern reading, but still) What is even worse is that on a number of occasions the action is related 2nd hand - one character telling another about what had happened - which completely deflates all tension in the scene.
Basically this follows the two hobbits Merry and Pippin as they are dragged into the oncoming war - one goes with Gandalf to Minas Tirith and becomes the page of Lord Denethor (boss of Minas Tirth, and so all of Gondor), while the other sticks with the Rohirrim in their covert attempt to get to Minas Tirth without being seen by enemy spies.
There were some great callbacks with Faramir coming back to his father, and being surprised by seeing Pippin, but overall this is pretty much the "dark part" of the series - the "good guys" dont really win, but survive the Battle for Minas Tirith, and then are faced with the fact of being outnumbered 100-1 by all the rest of Sauron's armies.
Oh, and the suicides, and the use of magical fatal depression as a weapon.
Its still a good book, but I found myself putting the book down at chapter breaks to go do other things, and not feeling a pressing urge to pick up the book again. But I look forward to getting back to Frodo and Sam,
reaper_hound's review against another edition
4.0
4.75 stars
This is my most fav Lotr book and that would probably tell you how I feel about it
This is my most fav Lotr book and that would probably tell you how I feel about it
rohini_murugan's review against another edition
4.0
Omg, Pippin dies!!
Wth, Pippin dies!!
Nooooo, God, nooo!
Yeah yeah, it was a nice read. A tad too stretchy but did not see the ending coming. Now I've got to be off, to the next book. Does Pippin come back!? Please tell me he does!
Wth, Pippin dies!!
Nooooo, God, nooo!
Yeah yeah, it was a nice read. A tad too stretchy but did not see the ending coming. Now I've got to be off, to the next book. Does Pippin come back!? Please tell me he does!