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

J.R.R. Tolkien

Start date: July 1, 2012

Finish date: July 31, 2012

Discussion: Current Group Read

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What Members Thought

Jul 16, 2011 Capsguy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: british-irish

Could someone kindly explain to me why I was never told this entire series was written pre-1950?

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Aug 16, 2010 Ali rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own, 2012, audiobooks, rory-gilmore-book-challenge, classics

This book is like Mary Poppins: practically perfect in every way.

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Sep 16, 2016 Erika B. (SOS BOOKS) rated it really liked it

Shelves: clean-read, sci-fi-or-fantasy, classic

I finished this book three days ago. Every time I've come on here to review it I've drawn a blank on how to do so. I've got TOO many thoughts on it! Maybe this will be easier if I make a list. Listing always helps me sort out my scattered brain.
1-I really liked that I went into this without having previously read the book in my childhood. I don't think childhood Erika would have liked it. It was fun to go into it with fresh eyes. However, I have been tainted by the movies. I kept thinking, 'And I finished this book three days ago. Every time I've come on here to review it I've drawn a blank on how to do so. I've got TOO many thoughts on it! Maybe this will be easier if I make a list. Listing always helps me sort out my scattered brain.
1-I really liked that I went into this without having previously read the book in my childhood. I don't think childhood Erika would have liked it. It was fun to go into it with fresh eyes. However, I have been tainted by the movies. I kept thinking, 'And now this is going to happen...' and it never did.
2-Going off the previous sentence I'm pissed about Arwen not being the hardcore elf we know her to be in the movie!
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3-I'm a forgiving reader so I could do without Arwen. I could look the other direction and let bygones be bygones. Except when I looked the other direction I ended up looking all directions-and in all those directions I found a SERIOUS lack of female representation. Seriously. All of the women in this book are functional. Even Goldberry. What does she do all day while Tom is out in the fields singing? Thank goodness for Galadriel or else I would have wondered how any of the characters came into existence in this novel.
4-You're right. The mines of Moria are like a woman's womb. Go women and our main function. Good thing Gandalf cut the umbilical cord aka bridge. Those hobbits really did need to spread their wings and fly away.
5-Number four was slightly sarcastic, but something I actually discussed in my fantasy literature class. This being a portal quest and all we have to discuss EVERY portal. Go vaginas.
6-I will give Tolkien a little more credit though. The world building in this is almost a sensory overload. Was it too much at times? FOR SURE! I actually had to go and watch the movie to feel like the pacing was faster. The hobbits lack a sense of urgency. They're like, "We're in danger! Let's stop to take a nap!" (Sidenote: I dig that-naps are always a good idea) Ah Tolkien. What would it be like to be a Oxford medievalist with the time to create an entire world and then turn around and give your characters the power of sub-creation. Pretty cool bro.
7-Sub-creation? Yes. The characters do it all the time. There is an untapped power that is never fully described that is channeled into the rings of power, as well as a power that comes with oral tradition and the hobbits making up songs. Tolkien loved linguistics so it's very cool of him to acknowledge that WORDS have power. Speak friend and enter. So simple right?
8-Speaking of creation-is this pagan or is it Christian? I never picked a side. I vote that it is more pagan because I believe that you can find religious themes ANYWHERE if you are really digging for them. Are Gandalf and Frodo both Christ-like figures? Sure. Is the Fellowship like the disciples? Why not? Does the ring tempt people like Satan? It seems to have that influence. My teacher had to explain to me that it is a Catholic view that doomsday will come and people will end up in purgatory or heaven. Since Middle Earth is heading for that doomsday (even if they succeed-life is so unfair) I could definitely see this argument. BUT I would also argue that there is a lot of fate and chance happening in this book. Things just happen to work out for the hobbits. Everyone just happens to show up at Rivendale at the same time. Frodo just happens to see Gandalf in a dream that came true. I'm told that there are origins and Gods for these characters in the Silmarillon. I've never read it so I don't have an opinion there. I have read this and felt like there is not a God that they are fighting for-this is not a pilgrimage for sure. I'll just keep fence sitting that it is both pagan and Catholic.
9-Are you still with me? Okay good. I personally loved tracking memory in the book and how each species reacted to memory. The hobbits preserve memory instantly in song to keep the darkness at bay. The dwarves harbor it very close to their hearts, as theirs is a memory of destruction and discontent. The elves have this beautiful and pure form of memory that is amazing to track. It all accumulates in Lorien which was my favorite part of the book.
10-Finally, I do appreciate the medievalist concept of exploring male friendship. As a woman, of course I want more women represented! But as a lover of literature, I love this concept of the noble quest and what it takes for men to bond. What would realistically happen if we threw a female into the mix? Peter Jackson already answered that for us-ROMANCE. Not that I'm complaining in the movie. LOVE that storyline-but it's not Tolkien's purpose. Take away women and you have a group of males from different species banding together with one common purpose-to come together and save the world. You also get an exploration of men being able to show their femininity to other men. Sam held Frodo's hand for like three days and then blushed. Tears were shed by all the men when they lost their friend. All things that men can do when women aren't around (according to Tolkien's text).

OKAY-WHEW! Purged that out of my system. Mazel tov if you read all this! I love being an English major! I get to talk about the coolest stuff!
Just remember-if you find a ring in the bottom of a river don't put it on and turn into a hideous sushi eating creature!

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Sing it-Frodo, Don't wear the ring!
...more

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Jul 17, 2012 doug bowman rated it it was amazing

I read the trilogy in 1973, when I was in the tenth grade. I will only tell you that,for six months, I carried around a rubber knife and called it Sting.

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