On Reading The Lord of the Rings for the Fifteenth Time, Part One: The Fellowship of the Ring
The last time I read (and commented on) The Lord of the Rings was in 2011, and you can read those reviews of The Fellowship of the Rings, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King in my blog’s archives. I returned to it after so long because I felt in need of some literary comfort food. My past experiences of reading The Lord of the Rings were always overwhelmingly positive, and so it has been this time as well. I reiterate what I have said in the past: that despite the excellence of the films by Peter Jackson, which I have watched many times, this is an example of the books being far superior to the films. In my previous essays about the trilogy, I went into detail comparing the books to the films; however, this time around I would prefer to avoid that as much as possible and instead focus on the excellence of the reading experience on its own.
As I began to read, I was all but overwhelmed by a profound sense of wonder. As I did when I discovered the trilogy as a teen, I became deeply absorbed in the story and in the intricate, superbly imagined world of Middle Earth. The stakes are high and the heroes, even those that seem small and weak and seemingly helpless, must find their courage and do what they can to save the world from the dark, evil forces of Sauron. To do so, they must forsake their familiar and comfortable homes and venture forth into the unknown. When I was young, this story helped to call me out onto the open road for the first time, and even now, as I read about Bilbo Baggins leaving Bag End and exclaiming, “What fun! What fun to be off again, off on the road…” a great longing rose within me, a longing to dump all the things I’ve accumulated and take off again for destinations unknown. What good, thought I, is merely staying alive through government healthcare and other assistance – if one is not free?
That’s the feeling I was hoping for when I picked up the book. I realize that I can’t, as in times long past, simply walk out the door and leave everything behind, but even contemplating the possibility and experiencing that great rush of freedom and self-determination was a deep cleansing blast to my mind and heart.
Tolkien’s characters, most of them at least, despite their limitations and weaknesses, are single-minded, courageous, honorable, and resolute, even in the face of overwhelming odds. In the midst of a rising tide of dark shadows and evil, they seek to preserve the light of love and true righteousness, and even when sore beset by enemy forces, they do not flee and abandon their companions.
The films necessarily have to edit the tedium of the long journeys from place to place during the ring bearer’s quest, but through Tolkien’s descriptions we can sense the arduous nature of the peregrinations of the members of the fellowship, and also we can better appreciate all of the wonderful details with which Tolkien has filled his fantasy world. All in all, rereading The Fellowship of the Rings has been a terrific experience. No matter how many times I read these books, they always satisfy.
