Elise answers “why am i just keep putting it down? should...”

Linh Nguyen asked this question about The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2):

why am i just keep putting it down? should i continue or should i just give up, it really bores me to death, there are so many dialogues talking about past and chatting to each other ...

Elise I had a bit of the same problem with The Fellowship of the Ring, thinking some that it didn’t have enough action, or focused too much on the sub-plots…moreI had a bit of the same problem with The Fellowship of the Ring, thinking some that it didn’t have enough action, or focused too much on the sub-plots and side stories. Looking back, however, I think that it’s what made these books so special.

The point of the series was not to bring us a sensational epic, it was to give depth to the small things in life—the things that give it real meaning. That’s why the climaxes of the stories aren’t about Aragorn rallying a valiant force, or Gandalf dueling out Saruman for control of Orthanc; it’s about Galadriel giving Frodo light so he can see through the darkness. It’s about Sam refusing to give up on his friends, even when tempted with the greatest desire of his heart.

The Lord of the Rings isn’t supposed to teach us to love the bright sword for its sharpness, and the arrow for its swiftness, and the warrior for his glory, it teaches us to love only what they defend. Tolkien literally told us that if more people valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. I think that’s why many people find it hard to read these books. Yes, they’re fantasy, but they are so very much unlike the fantasy genre that we are used to today, and they can come off boring because of it. Especially after watching first the movie adaptations, which are good in their own way, but fail to capture the full meaning of the stories. They focus too much on the adventure and excitement to hold the same message—and there’s nothing wrong with that, but it isn’t right to look at the books and their movie counterparts in the same light.

I really don’t believe I could have read these books when I was younger. In fact I tried, and failed, because I wasn’t able to fully appreciate them like I do now. That being said, it’s okay to put the book down if you’re not interested. It will be there if you want to come back later, but you shouldn’t force yourself if you don’t enjoy it like it is. (less)

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Michael Multari I will admit that I did take frequent breaks and I finally finished it. I think that this is a great interpretation. My big takeaway is that each memb ...more
Oct 22, 2020 02:40AM · flag

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