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

Aug 05, 2011 Julie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, made-into-film, re-read

I'm not entirely finished this book, as there are Appendices A through F to peruse, but I figured that I would write my review now, while the impact of the novel was still fresh (sans added histories and information).

I was introduced to the Lord of the Rings by Peter Jackson's film "The Fellowship of the Ring." I've loved the films for years, but the third one is y far my least favorite of the three. I was concerned that it would be the same with the novels (as it's been a while since I last re I'm not entirely finished this book, as there are Appendices A through F to peruse, but I figured that I would write my review now, while the impact of the novel was still fresh (sans added histories and information).

I was introduced to the Lord of the Rings by Peter Jackson's film "The Fellowship of the Ring." I've loved the films for years, but the third one is y far my least favorite of the three. I was concerned that it would be the same with the novels (as it's been a while since I last read through this incredible story). I read "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King" before they were released on film, and that may affect how I read them. I also have to state that the novel Tolkien wrote, "The Return of the King" is much more satisfying and thematically significant than it's film counterpart.

***SPOILERS***

I loved the character of Faramir in these novels, he is very genuine and filled with honour. His relationship and respect of Eowyn is really remarkable and a much better example of pursuit that I've read recently. I also real love the ending, how the end of the War wasn't the end of the stories and how the hobbits still had to deal with the consequences in their own home. They left the Shire to save it from corruption, and even though their quest was fulfilled and victorious, they still had to save the Shire. Their journey was not only a quest to destroy evil lords, but also to learn how to fight for their home and restore that which was corrupted. They didn't come back to life as normal, for life would never be normal again, it couldn't be. In the kingdom of the new King it was a new age, the start of a time void of old evils and old beauty, but it was also a time of newness. This was also true in the Shire. One of the reasons I like this story so much is that it's all about fighting for your neigbour, about standing up for what is right. It's about sacrificing your comfort for others. Not only is it a story of courage and justice, but of redemption. The redemption of a royal bloodline, the redemption of a country, and ultimately the peace that follows redemption. It really is beautiful and has more impact than an overly sappy, overly orchestrated, and overly CGI-ed film ending, no matter how much I love Peter Jackson. Thank you Tolkien for your world. ...more

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