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The Return of the King
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The Return of the King, by J.R.R. Tolkien - 5 stars
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You remind me it's been too long since I've re-read this! I too loved the story of Aragorn and Arwen in the appendices, and Eowyn. The biggest outrage in the movies for me is how they changed the character of Faramir. He was NEVER tempted to take the ring!
It has been a long time since I read these books—over 15 years—but your love of them makes me want to read them again! One day...I do not remember a lot of the details, but I do remember really enjoying Eowyn and Aragorn’s story in the appendices.
annapi wrote: "You remind me it's been too long since I've re-read this! I too loved the story of Aragorn and Arwen in the appendices, and Eowyn. The biggest outrage in the movies for me is how they changed the c..."That was the biggest outrage for me as well! I loved Faramir in the books and they made him awful in the movies and I have no idea why. To be dramatic I guess? It was so unnecessary, I'm mad just thinking about it.
I re-read these about 4 years ago-re-reading the books gave me my current love of fantasy. My daughter is a fan and I found this little gem for her at used book sale Tolkien: An Illustrated Atlas
I find when I reread LOTR, it's a different experience every time, with different elements coming to the fore. I too always feel at a loss when it ends and in fact, I first read all those appendices because I could not let the story end just yet. They are so rich in additional story! Love them. You know, Peter Jackson in the commentary to the director's cut DVDs of the LOTR movies says that he hates the ending with the Hobbits returning to find the destruction of the Shire, and he refused to include it in the film. But he knew it had to be there somehow, so he simply left in the vision Frodo sees in the water. So you are not alone about hating the destruction.
I personally always find it slow starting ... they Hobbits have to get to Bree before my interest is truly grabbed. But I do love the Bath Song in the Tom Bombadil scene.
And I agree that the one serious critique I have had on every reading of it - the lack of women in the story (I somewhat discount Galadriel and Arwen as they are elves - and perhaps that is unfair). I wonder if that was a conscious decision by Tolkien in order to allow Eowyn and her role at the end to stand out? Or was it simply the typical male-centric thinking that a woman minds the home and that's not what the story is about. Perhaps I'll do some research some day.
Interesting thoughts regarding women, Theresa. Something I never thought about until now-
I finished The Return of the King five days ago but I've been unable to write a review because the truth is I just don't know how, I love these books so much and my review is never going to do them justice. So like my other reviews of the trilogy this is mainly just my thoughts and musings.
This is the first time I've braved reading though the appendices and I'm really enjoying it. I particularly liked the 'The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen'. I really wish it hadn't been left out of the main story.
One of my favorite things about The Return of the King is Eoywn. If I have one criticism about Tolkien it's his lack of female characters. So it's very refreshing when you finally get to the last book and a female character is given a little more focus. I like the way she takes charge of her destiny and secretly rides with her father into battle. I found rereading that there were a few parts with Eoywn that I had forgotten. Of course I remembered the rather famous scene where she fights the Witch King with the help of Merry (which I love because it's the first time Merry really gets to show his abilities as well). But one thing I didn't remember was the conversation she has with Aragorn before he leaves for the Paths of the Dead when she wishes to go with him and he says she must stay. I noticed it this time because it struck as quite feminist and the one time Tolkien really gave a women a voice. The conversation is long but here is the main part that impacted me.
“A time may come soon," said he, "when none will return. Then there will be need of valour without renown, for none shall remember the deeds that are done in the last defence of your homes. Yet the deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised."
She answered: "All your words are but to say: you are a woman, and your part is in the house. But when the men have died in battle and honour, you have leave to be burned in the house, for the men will need it no more. But I am of the House of Eorl and not a serving-woman. I can ride and wield blade, and I do not fear either pain or death."
"What do you fear, lady?" he asked.
"A cage," she said. "To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.”
I still can't decide if I hate the end when the Hobbits come home to find the Shire in ruins, it breaks my heart every time, but I understand why Tolkien did it. It gives us a chance to see how much they have grown. The last chapter is very moving and always makes me feel a bit wistful, I know that's a strange word to use but it feels right somehow. And then it's over and I just sit there wondering what to do with myself. Overall, I'm very happy I reread these and some part of me kind of wants to to start rereading them all over again. But I suppose that would be weird so I'll try to wait a few years.