From the Bookshelf of J.R.R. Tolkien…

The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien

Start date: January 1, 2013

Finish date: March 31, 2013

Discussion: Lord of the Rings

Why we're reading this: In a poll, we voted to read The Lord of the Rings during January to March 2013.
[close] In a poll, we voted to read The Lord of the Rings during January to March 2013.

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Lord of the Rings

Reading order
By Peter · 5 posts · 47 views

last updated Aug 12, 2025 12:33PM

Best way to read the appendices!
By Julian · 6 posts · 108 views

last updated Jun 01, 2024 03:35AM

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What Members Thought

Dec 11, 2007 Darin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: my-top-20, good-literature-and-fun-to-read

The Lord of the Rings dominant theme (for me) is attempting the impossible, feeling the anguish of defeat, but continuing to try anyway. And in the end, when all is dark and gloomy, finally the happy moment arrives when you finish the task, overcome the trial, arrive at the destination. But there are many other inspiring messages and themes in this great book. Each reader will find their own.

Aside from the Mormon cannon of scripture, I have found this trilogy to be the most enlightening, the mos The Lord of the Rings dominant theme (for me) is attempting the impossible, feeling the anguish of defeat, but continuing to try anyway. And in the end, when all is dark and gloomy, finally the happy moment arrives when you finish the task, overcome the trial, arrive at the destination. But there are many other inspiring messages and themes in this great book. Each reader will find their own.

Aside from the Mormon cannon of scripture, I have found this trilogy to be the most enlightening, the most inspiring, the most faith promoting book (it really is one book) I have ever read. And it contains no explicit references to religion at all! But Tolkien’s masterpiece (although he might himself claim the Silmarillion to be his masterpiece) is full of religious themes—although they are wrapped in fairy tale. Tolkien did not like allegory. But Tolkien did believe his works were ‘applicable’ to life. That’s how I read The Lord of the Rings, and I find all sorts of ways to apply the major themes to my own life.

I read The Lord of the Rings at least once a year and sometimes twice. Maybe some day I will find a new favorite.

Here are some of my favorite passages:

"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; renenwed shall be blade that was broken, the crownless again shall be king." A poem about Aragorn, but it presents strong imagery of another "crownless" who will come and be king.

"Fair speech may hide a foul heart." good advice in times when even the very elect are deceived.

"You can only come to the morning through the shadows."...The morning brings light and hope!

"It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: someone has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them." Frodo to Sam. But for me, it applies to losing your life in service so that others may have life and enjoy life also (especially in my family.)

"It's like things are in the world. Hopes fail. An end comes. We have only a little time to wait now." This is spoken after the ring has been destroyed and Sam and Frodo are left to die on the side of Mount Doom. However, they are rescued at the last moment by Gandalph and the eagles. Professor Tolkien referred to such moments with a new word he penned: "euchatastrophy".

"Far above the Ephel Dúath in the West the night-sky was still dim and pale. There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach." This happens to Sam in Mordor. It is my experience that the Lord sends these 'tender mercy' moments to each of us in time of trial.

...more

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Jan 31, 2008 Mountainman91 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I first read the Lord of the Rings when I was nine, and the movies have only enhanced my enjoyment of this classic trilogy. It is the standard by which I compare all other Sci-Fi/Fantasy books, and the greatest literary work of the twentieth century. Most people have seen the movies by now, and so know the plot of the books more or less well. If you haven't read it, then READ IT! It's better, and more original than most other books of its genre, and reading it will bless you immensely. ...more

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Feb 12, 2008 Angela rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The best way to read this book is in this form...one book, as it was intended. Don't be put off by the descriptive parts, they add a lot to the story and the poetry is beautiful! ...more

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