From the Bookshelf of EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club…

The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)

J.R.R. Tolkien

Start date: February 1, 2019

Finish date: February 28, 2019

Discussion: CLASSICS READS

Why we're reading this: Group pick for Feb. ‘19 - Classics
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CLASSICS READS

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What Members Thought

Dec 17, 2009 Athira (Reading on a Rainy Day) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: format-print, f-fantasy-scifi, fiction, list-series, source-own, 2010, f-literary

I can't stop exclaiming how much I love this series. No matter how many times I read this one, I still laugh at Pippin's self-important jokes and Sam's insistence on being by his master, even when he is not invited. Moreover, this book is not shrouded by the darkness that creep in, in the remaining two books, so one can be excused if he/she says this is funny!

If you’ve been with us since the beginning, how do you feel about the narrator compared to the narrator in The Hobbit?
This book's narratio I can't stop exclaiming how much I love this series. No matter how many times I read this one, I still laugh at Pippin's self-important jokes and Sam's insistence on being by his master, even when he is not invited. Moreover, this book is not shrouded by the darkness that creep in, in the remaining two books, so one can be excused if he/she says this is funny!

If you’ve been with us since the beginning, how do you feel about the narrator compared to the narrator in The Hobbit?
This book's narration never once bugged me. I believe that's because this is written for an older audience than The Hobbit was geared towards. Hence, it was easier reading this one, since there were no distractions in the writing that diverted me from the focus of the story.

How’s your pace going? Is it smooth sailing or have you found passages that are difficult to get through?
I didn't find any difficulty weaving through the passages, though once in a while, I was guilty of scanning through a para or two where the skies and the greenery and the beauty of the damsels are described. (In my defense, I sort of already know what the paragraphs are extolling. :-) ) Overall though, my pace was pretty decent without any hitches or bumps!

If you’ve read this series before, is The Fellowship of the Ring, for the most part, as you remembered? If not, is it what you expected or something else?
The Fellowship of the Ring is as I remembered it, except at one point - the scene at the Ford of Rivendell, where I confused the facts from the book and those shown in the movie. Glorfindel is the elf that rescues the group at the Ford in the book, whereas in the movie, it is Arwen (predictably to avoid introducing too many characters).

Are you using any of the extra features- maps and indexes, for instance- in your book?
I kept perusing the maps at many points. It's a little hard since the maps are part of regular pages in a Paperback, and not like any pull-out posters. I haven't really made much use of the index yet, except to study the Hobbit family tree, which, I should say is so complicated, it's funny that the Hobbits really remember it.

Do Books One and Two have significant differences to you?
I wouldn't really say differences, but I felt the demarcation between the two stronger than when I previously read it. The first part deals with the travel of the group to Rivendell and the various dangers they faced. Book 2 is when most of the characters that become household figures are actually introduced. This is when we get acquainted with the rest of the Fellowship. Moreover, Book One is lighter than Book Two, which marks the beginning of the journey and adventures of the Fellowship.

Who’s your favorite character so far into the novel?
That would be a contest between Pippin and Sam, but I think Pippin would win in the end. His jokes and light-heartedness are a constant delight to read amidst all the gloom. Sam's devotion to his master and his insistence on making Frodo comfortable are very endearing to read. His excitement on meeting the Elves for the first time, was so infectious!

What surprised you the most?
There weren't very many surprises that I came across, other than the realization that Glorfindel rather than Arwen was with the traveling group in the last leg before Rivendell. In addition, I had quite forgotten that Frodo sells his house at Bag End before embarking on his trip.

What was your favorite scene?
This has been a constant over the years - the Council of Elrond. I like how the different characters come together to explain their role in the story so far, and how Bilbo cheekily agrees to be the Ring-bearer! But what I like the most is the pages and pages of intense and fluid discussion among the characters, each person's nature very evident in their analyses and beliefs and also in their stance throughout. Even in the movie, this remains my favorite scene! ...more

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