Lord of the Readalong 2020 discussion
This topic is about
The Fellowship of the Ring
Fellowship of the Ring
>
Chapters 1-6
date
newest »
newest »
Hello!!I'm not going to lie. I was petrified to start this book but then I caught an idea to have a read along with the audiobook and it's GREAT!!! I started yesterday for a bit and I read the first 2 chapters in no time!!! Really am enjoying it right now!!!
I'm not one to read fantasy, but I have enjoyed the first 6 chapters. I like the friendships between Frodo and those who choose to travel with him. Everyone should have friends like that. The Forest is a scary place, but they are on an unknown journey. The symbolism is obvious.
Among other things, I am enjoying the poems. How amazing to write a clever story and also include rhymes and songs.
Note to self: Never ask an Elf for advice. lol
I'll admit that I am running a bit behind and have not even finished the first 6 chapters yet, but I caught a quote earlier today that I thought was absolutely brilliant. If this was a new work instead of something written over 60 years ago I would be suspicious that he was making a political statement. It just goes to show how timeless literary classics can be. The quote is from when Frodo is talking to Gildor when he met the high elves on the road. Frodo told them about the Black Rider and said he expected at least their journey within the Shire to be safe. Gildor ends his response: "The world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot forever fence it out."
I am loving being back in Middle Earth! I find it incredibly comforting. :) For the first-timers, is it as intimidating as you thought it would be?
I am really enjoying this read! I am not a reader of fantasy and yet I love this book! There is something that draws me in. I love the themes - good vs. evil/the chosen one/ordinary people doing extraordinary things. I really like the writing style and the depth of the world building. The author is not afraid of time - the passage of time; his is in no rush; he is happy to let things take time and happen. That is one of the reasons the world feels real. It also feels real because everyone has a backstory. Tolkein has created a platform - other stories from this world don't need to have the same characters in order to work."Courage is found in unlikely places."
I was a bit scared going into this book, because I've heard so many say that it's hard to read. That made me even more anxious because I'm reading it in English and that isn't my native language. However, I'm pleasantly surprised so far! It was a bit easier to read than I thought it was and I liked the pacing and the beginning of the book when Gandalf paid Frodo a visit. It was good to have read The Hobbit before because there are a lot of ties to that book in the first chapters. So far I enjoy reading about Frodo and his companions and the journey that they're beginning. I also find it quite interesting reading this book that you can clearly see where fantasy authors gets their inspiration - there are many "classic" fantasy elements to this story.
I just finished chapter 6 and I am loving the book so far! I am a huge fan of the movies but have always been intimidated by the books. I am finding that they read a lot easier than I was expecting. It has been easy to follow the plot because I am so familiar with the movies, but I am also enjoying the characters that we didn’t see in the movie. I started reading the book physically, but hit a rut in the second chapter and switched over to audiobook and I am loving the narrator. He really bring the characters and the songs to life. I will say the book is more anticlimactic and less intense than the movie, but I do love getting more in depth with the story.
Just finished chapter 6! It’s definitely on the slow side, which I expected. I’ve broken it down to read about 6-7 pages a day with my morning coffee and it’s much more attainable for me that way. SAMWISE!!! I just love him! He’s adorable!
There have been a couple of characters that made me pause. I’m seeing the inspiration that George RR Martin got from this series. He has said this is his favorite book of all time. I can tell because a couple of his characters in game of Thrones have correlations to these characters. First, there is a character called Drogo mentioned in the history of Bagginses. And one of the big characters in Game of Thrones was Khal Drogo. And SAMWISE....both in name and in character, being the lovable loyal friend, there was a Samwise also in Game of Thrones, even with the same name that really reminds me of Sam. So cool to see the inspiration there.
I’m enjoying the book so far!
I was excited to revisit it, as I loved LOTR in high school and read and reread it so many times, but it has been years since I last dived in, and I was a little nervous that I wouldn't have the attention span for it anymore. I'm listening to the audiobook now though and loving it as much as ever! Tolkien is funnier than I remembered! While I do love Merry and Pippin in the movies, I appreciate that in the book they are more intelligent and their friendship with Frodo is deeper. And Sam - oh, Samwise! Just one example of his loyalty to Frodo that I adore: "Black Riders would have to ride over him to get near the waggon."
I´m reading a translate to Swedish (who are my native language) of the book, and it´s a reread, the first time I read a Swedish translate to but another one. Before I start this I read a review of the new translate book (that I read now) and the reviewer not think this translate was good, but I have not a trouble with it. I like this book despise with translate I read. Before I start reading, I thougt I shall have a bit trouble with the read (because when I read it the first time, at a age of 15, I thougt it bit difficult in the begining) but I realy enjoy the read.
And even I don´t remember so much from last time I read it, I found the humor even is this book and not only in The Hobbit.
And I even enjoy the friendship between Frodo, Pippin and Merry (and even Sam).
Mod
I loved it when Merry let Frodo know they were already aware of so much of his story and they had been making preparations on their own for the journey. They were just watching and waiting and ready to go at a moment's notice. Love that. I love already how loyal Sam is to Frodo and willing to protect him. Oh boy, he has no idea what's coming!
Where's Gandalf?!? I can't remember from the movies. I'm glad Frodo didn't wait for him but stuck to the plan and got moving anyways.
I loved that quote you pointed out, BJ. Another one I underlined is earlier in Gandalf and Frodo's conversation when he said "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
I don't think there's quite as much humor as was in The Hobbit, but every now and then there's some dialogue or moment of humor that makes me laugh. Tolkein is brilliant and I'm really enjoying this read so much more than expected. Yay for that!
At first I felt it was kinda slow but I loved it and I got into the mood later.It surprises me how different movie Frodo from Book Frodo, I don't know I feel like they are not the same. I guess because they cut off many things in the movie and went immediately for Aragorn.
I just couldn't help it but imagine the old forest, that chapter was chilling and then enter Tom Bombadil saving the day.
I am so thrilled to be rereading this, I’m already loving it so much. It’s truly one of my favorite books of all time. I had forgotten how chock full of amazing quotes LOTR is, even in the first 6 chapters. I know a lot of people talk about how they feel like it’s a slow start at the beginning, but I never feel that way because I love all the details and descriptions, and I actually really love the writing style. I do wish however that I didn’t always have the movie reel playing in my head... I can’t imagine any of the characters any other way except by the actor who plays them in the movies, lol. I’m so excited to continue reading.
Janelle wrote: "I am really enjoying this read! I am not a reader of fantasy and yet I love this book! There is something that draws me in. I love the themes - good vs. evil/the chosen one/ordinary people doing ex..."I agree! The themes are amazing, and the world-building is positively insane. You can definitely tell this was the result of a lifetime of work.
Sarah wrote: "Just finished chapter 6! It’s definitely on the slow side, which I expected. I’ve broken it down to read about 6-7 pages a day with my morning coffee and it’s much more attainable for me that way. ..."Sam is such a wonderful character! Everyone needs a Sam in their life. Interesting thoughts on the parallels.
Joanna wrote: "I was excited to revisit it, as I loved LOTR in high school and read and reread it so many times, but it has been years since I last dived in, and I was a little nervous that I wouldn't have the at..."I wish Goodreads had a like button.
Lilian.H.Jane wrote: "At first I felt it was kinda slow but I loved it and I got into the mood later.It surprises me how different movie Frodo from Book Frodo, I don't know I feel like they are not the same. I guess be..."
I certainly agree that Frodo is different between the book and movie, although I do love both of them. I look at it as movie Frodo being the younger version of book Frodo since they cut the 17 year time jump.
How did you feel before starting this book?
What did you think of the first 6 chapters?
How do you find the writing style?
How do you like the world building?
What has you confused?
What do you like/dislike so far?
What do you think of this team of travelers?
How do Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin compare to Bilbo at the start of The Hobbit?
Happy reading!