nics's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
daffodill37's review against another edition
2.0
I tried...
I tried really hard to enjoy this series but I couldn't. I struggled to make sense of this final installment. I couldn't figure out why the supporting characters even matter. Just when I thought the story was over, all of the sudden there's another, unrelated battle and then another journey? It simply didn't make sense or add value to the story.
Overall, very confusing and poorly written. The only reason it gets 2 stars instead of one is that the story could actually be a great story if it were written differently (See: movies).
I tried really hard to enjoy this series but I couldn't. I struggled to make sense of this final installment. I couldn't figure out why the supporting characters even matter. Just when I thought the story was over, all of the sudden there's another, unrelated battle and then another journey? It simply didn't make sense or add value to the story.
Overall, very confusing and poorly written. The only reason it gets 2 stars instead of one is that the story could actually be a great story if it were written differently (See: movies).
rileyjsumner's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
isabellarobinson7's review against another edition
5.0
∞ read: 06/11/23 - 09/11/23
Rating: 5 stars
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh so awesome. There's sticking a landing, and then there's Return of the King. It is so amazing that even on rereads it exceeds expectations. Honestly, I read Fellowship and Two Towers, which are equally incredible, and then every time I get to Return of the King I swear that it isn't as good as I remember it. It's just the movies clouding my memory of the book. But then I actually read the book and it well and truly blows me away how well Tolkien finishes the trilogy.
I also forgot that Ghân-buri-Ghân existed and now I can't stop saying his name. Ghân-buri-Ghân. Ghân-buri-Ghân. I also love the voice Andy Serkis uses for him in the audio. Ghân-buri-Ghân.
∞ read: 21/06/21 - 22/06/21
Rating: 5 stars
Ok so I've finished rereading Lord of the Rings, and it was amazing. This review is just going to be about this one quote.
So, the quote. It is from the second chapter (of book 5) called The Passing of the Grey Company and it is just awesome:
Oh it's so good!!!!!! I was going to comment on it and stuff but I am tired and need to do some stuff. So yeah.
Rating: 5 stars
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh so awesome. There's sticking a landing, and then there's Return of the King. It is so amazing that even on rereads it exceeds expectations. Honestly, I read Fellowship and Two Towers, which are equally incredible, and then every time I get to Return of the King I swear that it isn't as good as I remember it. It's just the movies clouding my memory of the book. But then I actually read the book and it well and truly blows me away how well Tolkien finishes the trilogy.
I also forgot that Ghân-buri-Ghân existed and now I can't stop saying his name. Ghân-buri-Ghân. Ghân-buri-Ghân. I also love the voice Andy Serkis uses for him in the audio. Ghân-buri-Ghân.
∞ read: 21/06/21 - 22/06/21
Rating: 5 stars
Ok so I've finished rereading Lord of the Rings, and it was amazing. This review is just going to be about this one quote.
So, the quote. It is from the second chapter (of book 5) called The Passing of the Grey Company and it is just awesome:
" 'Lord.' she [Éowyn] said, 'if you must go, then let me ride in your following. For I am weary of skulking in the hills, and wish to face peril and battle.'
'Your duty is with your people,' he [Aragorn] answered.
'Too often have I heard of duty,' she cried. 'But am I not of the House of Eorl, a shieldmaiden and not a dry-nurse? I have waited on faltering feet long enough. Since they falter no longer, it seems, may I not now spend my life as I will?'
'Few may do that with honour,' he answered. 'But as for you, lady: did you not accept the charge to govern the people until their lord's return? If you had not been chosen, then some marshal or captain would have been set in the same place, and he could not ride away from his charge, were he weary of it or no.'
'Shall I always be chosen?' she said bitterly. 'Shall I always be left behind when the Riders depart, to mind the house while they win renown, and find food and beds when they return?'
'A time may come soon,' said he, 'when none will return. Then there will be need of valour without renown, for none shall remember the deeds that are done in the last defence of your homes. Yet the deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised.'
And she answered: 'All your words are but to say: you are a woman, and your part is in the house. But when the men have died in battle and honour, you have leave to be burned in the house, for the men will need it no more. But I am of the House of Eorl and not a serving-woman. I can ride and wield blade, and I do not fear either pain or death.'
'What do you fear, lady?' he asked.
'A cage,' she said. 'To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.'
'And yet you counselled me not to adventure on the road that I had chosen, because it is perilous?'
'So may one counsel another,' she said. 'Yet I do not bid you flee from peril, but to ride to battle where your sword may win renown and victory. I would not see a thing that is high and excellent cast away needlessly.'
'Nor would I,' he said. 'Therefore I say to you, lady: Stay! For you have no errand to the South.' "
Oh it's so good!!!!!! I was going to comment on it and stuff but I am tired and need to do some stuff. So yeah.
bright_night's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-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? No
5.0
introverted_reader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emileegarrett's review against another edition
5.0
Read aloud all three LotR to Peter. It took us 3 years, but we did it! Love this story and loved sharing it with him.
gsroney's review against another edition
5.0
The re-read is finished.
1. When I first read these at 12 or 13-years-old, I remember being so frustrated that half the book consisted of appendices and lineages, etc. It’s still an interesting way to tell a story, especially considering The Silmarillion—with the details of the history of Tolkien’s world—was published posthumously. Instead, all condensed history is laid out after the primary story has finished. Suddenly, some gaps are filled, settings and places and character motivations make more sense, the world feels more complete. But there was something to be said for journeying through The Lord of the Rings without this complete history, without knowing all the details until the end, that added to the feeling of mysticism, mystery, and depth in the world.
2. I need to read this on a scheduled basis. What a nostalgic comfort this was.
1. When I first read these at 12 or 13-years-old, I remember being so frustrated that half the book consisted of appendices and lineages, etc. It’s still an interesting way to tell a story, especially considering The Silmarillion—with the details of the history of Tolkien’s world—was published posthumously. Instead, all condensed history is laid out after the primary story has finished. Suddenly, some gaps are filled, settings and places and character motivations make more sense, the world feels more complete. But there was something to be said for journeying through The Lord of the Rings without this complete history, without knowing all the details until the end, that added to the feeling of mysticism, mystery, and depth in the world.
2. I need to read this on a scheduled basis. What a nostalgic comfort this was.