The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3) in J.R.R. Tolkien

Oct 03, 2012 Allison rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is, perhaps, my favorite book in all of book-dom (Yes, I know that all the books are one book and all that silly stuff. I know!) But you read all previous 700 pages just to get to this final series of adventures. I love the characters and the way everything unfolds, though my favorite chapter will always be The Scouring of the Shire.

I can't remember the last time I read these books, but it was a few years ago. This time around, I learned a lot more - understood the story better, I guess. B This is, perhaps, my favorite book in all of book-dom (Yes, I know that all the books are one book and all that silly stuff. I know!) But you read all previous 700 pages just to get to this final series of adventures. I love the characters and the way everything unfolds, though my favorite chapter will always be The Scouring of the Shire.

I can't remember the last time I read these books, but it was a few years ago. This time around, I learned a lot more - understood the story better, I guess. Before, I only paid attention to things that were about the hobbits, or something, but I did better this time around.

Ok, finally! The Importance of Legolas in ROTK: To be honest, he doesn't do a whole lot in this story - except fight with immense bravery and courage when all else are cowering around him. First, I learned he is a distant relation of Prince Imrahil. This isn't all that important but I love Prince Imrahil so it gives Legolas bonus points (as if he didn't already have any). Secondly, he's not afraid of ghosts. I guess someone who lives forever and understands the functions of the world better than any mortal has no reason to fear them. Anyway, it allows him to walk beside Aragorn at the Dwimerberg and show up Gimli a little.

So, then, what is my ultimate decision regarding the Importance of Legolas in general? This is what I learned. Every character in that book has a role - in this, Tolkien is a genius. He has ten million characters but he knows each of them and all their histories. He knew why he put them in the book. Legolas was given the right personality to deal with Gimli, thus restoring the once lost friendship between elves and dwarves. It's short-lived, I guess, because all the elves up and leave Middle-earth anyway...

Legolas and Imrahil are two of my favorites because they are so cheeky.

Ok, lastly. My absolute favorite thing about Legolas is his obsession with the ocean. Reading in the Appendices, you will learn that Legolas eventually satisfies his obsession by building a boat and sailing off into the wide, blue yonder. This is the strange thing - Legolas, in the movie, was played by Orlando Bloom who, after his involvement with the LOTR film, portrayed a pirate. Regardless of this coincidence, I think it's safe to say that Mr. Tolkien had some foresight in the matter and mostly likely saw that Peter Jackson was inspired to select Bloom to play the part, knowing he would eventually become a pirate - just as Legolas did... Coming full-circle, etc.

You see, all this was done just so I could have a laugh about it later.

Is that stretching it? ...more

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