Am I the only one who hates this book?

[Tony]

They're writing in Elvish

[Peter]

Anamika wrote: "Elvish?"

It's a language used in LOTR. The depths that Tolkien went to included inventing languages and scripts for the various races.

[Andreea]

No, you are not.

I, myself, love the book, and it is and will remain my favourite. Not because I read it when I was younger, or because I grew up with it, because I didn't.

It's because of Middle-Earth. The place where I excape realitty.
It's because of it's innocence and pureness. And because of all those lovely character, and because Middle-Earth feel so real in my heart.

I've read The Hobbit at the age of 13 and since then, I knew I wasn't prepare to read LoTR. I was scared that I may end up hating the books. Because they are hard to read, and hard to understand. And that's why Middle-Earth is so special for me.

Because I can spend hours and hours, lost in it's greatness, and neve get bored. Becasue, I can finish a book in one or two days, but it can take me a week, maybe two or three, to read Lord of the Rings.

I first read it at the age of 15. And I'm glad for doing it.

Because it's the best book for me. And It is my favourite book. And because Tolkien is my model in literature, and a hero.

[T.L.]

LOL, I put down GOT when they killed the first wolf too. Too grim for me! :)

[[deleted user]]

T.L. wrote: "LOL, I put down GOT when they killed the first wolf too. Too grim for me! :)"

I would have thought Game of Thrones was right up my alley- sword & shield fantasy, cool setting, a LOT of books (I love a story that goes on and on), and DRAGONS! But I just couldn't handle it. Sometimes stories or authors just don't agree with us for some reason. I believe Martin used to write horror short stories, and I loved them. But his fantasy leaves me cold. That isn't a reflection on him or his ability, but on what I like or don't like. As someone said earlier, at some point Anamika needs to learn that just because she dislikes something it doesn't mean that thing sucks. Kinda like me and the Beibs (though I do think he sucks, anyway).

[T.L.]

I would have thought Game of Thrones was right up my alley- sword & shield fantasy, cool setting, a LOT..."

Yeah, I'd heard it could be violent but people just kept saying how much I'd love it, so I got the book rather than watching the show, thinking I could skip the violent bits. But, I could see the good guys being led down roads they couldn't get out of, and the bad guys had so much power, and I just went, nuh, and put it down. Writing style was fine but it was just too inevitable and grim. It's like Stephen King. I love his writing style but I can't read his stuff without nightmares.

[Scott]

I actually think The Fellowship of the Ring is the best of the series. There's something about the way it takes its time in the peaceful areas that I really appreciate. Anyone can do the huge battles of the other two books, but the gentle friendly wandering of Fellowship is what makes it memorable for me.

That same gentleness is what make Boromir's fate and the breaking of the fellowship so devastating.

[[deleted user]]

@T.L.

The way I told my wife about it was "I read the news every day and spend an inordinate amount of my life angry about things. I don't need that from a novel!"

You hit the nail on the head with the comments about the good guys and bad guys for me too. But I can read the heck out of King! I still sometimes dream about Pennywise....

[[deleted user]]

Scott wrote: "I actually think The Fellowship of the Ring is the best of the series. There's something about the way it takes its time in the peaceful areas that I really appreciate. Anyone can do the huge battl..."

I couldn't agree more! The same thing for me and the wife applies to the movies. In Fellowship, I love the "discovery" of more of The Old Forest, Bree, Rivendell, Lothlorien and everywhere else. It sets the story for the other two books and allows us to start to get to know the characters (such as Merry being resourceful and Pippin being immature). Love that book!

[Renee E]

Scott wrote: "I actually think The Fellowship of the Ring is the best of the series. There's something about the way it takes its time in the peaceful areas that I really appreciate. Anyone can do the huge battl..."

Thank you for posting that, Scott.

It's something I needed to hear, working on my own novel project. You've given words to the instinct I've been following in the story as events unfold.

I'm going to save your words in one of my Thoughts files so I can go back to them when I need to be reminded.

My thanks, again, and every time I think of this post or read your words again.

[Hannah]

He is the pioneer of fantasy. He essentially invented the genre and many archetypes we see today. Obviously it is slower because it was written a long time age but it is a brilliantly woven story so sorry you feel that way.

[Hannah]

Laura wrote: "I agree with Joshua, the book is not worshiped.

I think that part of the reason it is so widely liked, is because readers of all ages enjoy it, unlike (for example) the Percy Jackson books. Also ..."

Actually I think harry potter would be a better comparison than Percy Jackson because it is more widely beloved.

[Katharina]

Well nobody does worldbuilding like Tolkien. The rich mythology, the different races, the landscapes and maps and !three! freaking different languages (plus alphabets) are just the foundation for the story that takes place in LOTR.
I think that would be sufficient reasons for people to love the books, even if you don't like Tolkiens writing style or have read stories with similar themes.

Kim wrote: "It always seems like the people who love LOTR were exposed to it as kids. For many, it became the foundation for their love of books, or, at least, of fantasy/sci-fi books."

I think that's a really narrow minded viewpoint. A lot of people, me included, liked the genre before they read LOTR. I personally love LOTR but it neither started my love for books nor my love for fantasy and sci-fi. I simply found it to be superior to most of the books I have read before.
Sorry for ranting I just don't like that your statement implies that one can only love LOTR if it was one of the first books you have ever read or at least the first of this genre.

Jennifer wrote: "SAME. I get how people can worship maybe the whole series, because it started it all.

But really. The first book had a really sucky plot. Like it started off great, with great writing. But after a..."

You know Tolkien wrote LOTR after he was in the First World war which is why a lot of dangerous travelling is involved. The beginning takes time but it is well worth it. It has a lot of the same paranoid sense of danger to it than the war had, which is just another reason why people can relate to it on a subconscious level.

[T.L.]

Keith wrote: "@T.L.

The way I told my wife about it was "I read the news every day and spend an inordinate amount of my life angry about things. I don't need that from a novel!"


Exactly! :)

[T.L.]

Plus, traveling did take a long time in the days before mechanised vehicles!

[Vashti]

Yes, U are the only one in the world who hates this book(smile)

[T.L.]

Regina wrote: "Yes, U are the only one in the world who hates this book(smile)"

Hate does seem a very extreme word to use. :D

[Chaya]

I didn't like it. I feel like the descriptions were used as a crutch.

[Electric]

I sure hope you are.

[Kia]

Hate isn't a word I'd use on how I feel about this book. I had heard nothing but praise for the series and decided to pick it up. If I'm going to be honest, I wasn't impressed. Tolkien's world crafting ability is good, but his characters felt one-dimensional.

Overall I just feel indifference toward it.

[Kia]

Anamika wrote: "Kia wrote: "Hate isn't a word I'd use on how I feel about this book. I had heard nothing but praise for the series and decided to pick it up. If I'm going to be honest, I wasn't impressed. Tolkien'..."

I didn't mean to imply that you shouldn't feel that way, I just intended to add to the discussion.

[Stephen]

Anamika wrote: "I never understood why this book is worshiped so much.I don't know about everyone but I feel that it is too long and boring. ..."

OK Everyone is entitled to their feelings whatever those feelings are but...

Hate has language roots in the same sources as care, trouble, sorrow, pain. Has The Fellowship of the Ring caused any of those feelings in you?

Perhaps you should just say that you don't understand the appeal. That's a valid statement as well. I'd suggest that there are deaf folk who will never understand the appeal of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" and yet their "hating" it might seem over-extreme.

[C. John]

I think it should be remembered that Tollkein was a University professor and not a professional writer. Thus he could take the time to develop Middle-Earth as he felt it should be. Yes the book is long but it is to all intents and purposes a work of history. He is recounting the events that led to the end of (I believe) the Third Age of Middle-Earth and the rise of the Fourth Age which saw all the mythic beings slowly depart for elsewhere. I read this in high school so I was somewhere between 14 and 19 and it took me two tries to get through the first book. I am now almost 60 and I still enjoy this book and also enjoy Mr. Potter and Mr. Jackson's adventures. The problem is I am not sure I can put why I like any of them into words. It is more a subjective than objective process and such do not lend them selves to being analysed and the results published.

[Snowdrop, Daughter of Apollo]

Anamika wrote: "I never understood why this book is worshiped so much.I don't know about everyone but I feel that it is too long and boring.I doubt anyone else feels the same.But yet,why is this like the greatest ..."

Shut your face please.

[Hannah]

Anamika wrote: "Lloyd the Bartender wrote: "Ah, I see you're an anime fan. Its no wonder then you can't grasp the concepts and meanings of this book. You have my sympathies."

You can't judge me by that.I read LOT..."

Don't listen to that person. It's fine to have an opinion. We don't all like the same things. Liking anime has nothing to do with it.

[Renee E]

One way to get a glimpse of where someone who starts an "I hate this book" thread is coming from is to look at the other "I hate this book" threads they've started . . .

. . . always wonder how much "I hate this book" is really "I love attention."

[Thomas]

I think discussing why you like or don't like JRR's work is like Spider Robinson (long ago reviewer for sci-fi books) once said. "Some people like scotch and some people like gin. This is very good gin, but I like scotch." Thomas deKooning

[[deleted user]]

Thomas wrote: "Some people like scotch and some people like gin. This is very good gin, but I like Scotch."

I love gin! And you hit the nail directly on the head. I have no use for some things that I KNOW are the best of the best; they just don't work for me.

[Snowdrop, Daughter of Apollo]

Liamcla wrote: "r u kidding me this book is amazing and beautiful.
i love it because i can relate to the characters."

*brofist*

[Duane]

Benjamín wrote: "Thank you for fixing the title, Ananika!"

Hey spell the name right, it's Amanita, A-M-A-N-I-T-A.

(You must have missed its last "I Hate [fillintheblank]" thread.)

[Seven]

I saw the movie in 2001 and never before had touched any novel. Movie is a feast to eyes and after watching it, decided to read the book which is fascinating everytime I read. It's a fantastic journey i ever experienced. Only thing that keeps this book next to Bible is one's imaginary skills. I think.

[[deleted user]]

I think it's easy to forget that in the days of Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and hundreds of other fantasy series... LOTR was the first. It was groundbreaking. He pioneered the genre.

To steal a quote often used about Elvis Presley...

Before anyone did anything, Tolkien did *everything*.

[[deleted user]]

ALso? I'm 46 and I never use the word hate. It is the wrong word for me, I hate nothing. I dislike stuff, I see no appeal in other stuff. Hate? No. But hate has lost its power among the young now, they use it when a new flavour of popcorn is not to their liking. Language changes I guess. But I do wonder what word kids would use today if they did experience genuine hatred.

[[deleted user]]

Alan wrote: "Before anyone did anything, Tolkien did *everything*..."

Yes he did.

[Renee E]

Alan wrote: "ALso? I'm 46 and I never use the word hate. It is the wrong word for me, I hate nothing. I dislike stuff, I see no appeal in other stuff. Hate? No. But hate has lost its power among the young now, ..."

Good post, Alan. The word "hate" has been appropriated by the shallow — not always so young, whose main understanding of passion is the tantrum.

[[deleted user]]

Fine!You're right.Hate is a strong word.But like I mentioned before,it is the precise word that should be used to show my feelings for this book. "

You might want to consider a space after using punctuation.... And HATE, really? Are you sure you just don't have the mental capacity to understand the work? That is something to consider, I think. Also, it sounds as if you are VERY young, and I am told that today's youth tends to have difficulty with any entertainment that is not "instant gratification" or full of explosions. Tolkien is certainly not either of those things. I suggest you read something more along the lines of, say, comic books. Which, by the way, I still thoroughly enjoy at my (somewhat?) advanced age of 48.

[Tom]

I got much more out of the movie versions then I ever did from the books

[[deleted user]]

Tom wrote: "I got much more out of the movie versions then I ever did from the books"

Even as long as the extended versions of the movies were, they contained MUCH less of the story that was in the books so I don't know quite how you managed that. Plus, the second and third movies were really just action movies set to fantasy instead of, say, cars or espionage. Not really representative of the books at all, in my opinion.

[Tom]

Because TLOTR was my first fantasy novel. I'd always read SF. I had no idea what half of the creatures were. I didn't know an Orc from a troll. Tolkein just threw these names out and didn't really describe them well enough...for me.

[Howard]

@Tom: that's kinda funny as one of the biggest complaints I see are that JRRT was to descriptive. :-)

[Duane]

Why would anyone waste perfectly good Hate on a Book?

I mean, I can't speak for anyone else, but I've got a limited reserve of Hate, so I try to conserve it for use on humans and Leftists.

I mean, an *author*, yeah - there's a few of *them* that deserve a dose of Hate, or a politician... but a friggin BOOK? naah...

[Renee E]

To me, using "hate" means there's a significant emotional investment, a negative one.

Seems awfully silly to direct it at any inanimate object. It's not like a book is going to hold you hostage at papercut-point, forcing you to absorb each of its pages, refusing to allow you to move until you finish.

[Kaila]

i dont like this series either lol

[[deleted user]]

Kaila wrote: "i dont like this series either lol"

As Lois Griffin so frequently says to Peter, "Good for you"!

[Snowdrop, Daughter of Apollo]

Wat

[Hannah]

Anamika wrote: "Alan wrote: "ALso? I'm 46 and I never use the word hate. It is the wrong word for me, I hate nothing. I dislike stuff, I see no appeal in other stuff. Hate? No. But hate has lost its power among th..."

Honestly I don't think this is getting you anywhere. There are some things that cannot clearly be explained to your satisfaction when it comes to an opinion on a book. We look you don't. Simple really.

[Donna]

I think The Hobbit and the LOR trilogy are brilliant, and JRR Tolkien was one of a kind. But of course some folks don't like fantasy, and some don't like LOR.

What always gives me pause when a post like this pops up on my home page is that there are so many, many really outstanding books you could be discussing in a positive light, but instead you chose to discuss something you hate, and ask for agreement from others.

Why not just start a discussion about your favorite book? This thread seems counterproductive. I have always made it a point to ignore negative posts, but perhaps because I love this particular book so deeply, I decided to say something this time.

[Renee E]

Anamika wrote: "..,I have a reason for doing this. ..."

So, Duane is right. There IS an agenda . . .

And what, pray tell, are you using us for?

[Snowdrop, Daughter of Apollo]

?

[Renee E]

Duane wrote: "(oooohhhh.... I sense blood in the water... )"

Or spores in the mould . . .