Like many people, I have read The Lord of the Ring trilogy. I felt like I was pretty much obligated to, since I write in the same genre as J. R. R. Tolkien. That may sound like I was reluctant to read the series, and in truth, I was. While I like some old novels, Pride and Prejudice being one of my favorites. There are works that have the well-earned reputation of being, well, long-winded. Thankfully, Tolkien had a better concept of pacing than some of his predecessors, so I ended up liking The Lord of the Rings. Of the three, I enjoyed “The Fellowship of the Ring” the best. Here are the reasons why.
- The novel isn’t all doom and gloom: “The Fellowship of the Ring” begins in the sunny, happy, Shire, where the hobbits, the group I most like, live. They are busy, content people, who like to keep to themselves. They have petty grievances with each other, but for the most part, they want to live in peace. Of course Frodo can’t stay in this idyllic landscape. We wouldn’t have the series if he didn’t leave, and the danger ramps up pretty quick once Frodo is finally ready to set off. The road to Bree and the Mines of Moria in particular are periods of extreme threat. But there are times of respite from the menace of the Ringwraiths, when I felt like I could take in the world more. Frodo and his friends are still in hobbit country right up until they leave Bree, and I could pay better attention to the details of how hobbits deal with other peoples and each other. They also spend time resting in Rivendell and Lothlórien, where I felt like I learned the most about elven culture. Overall, I liked how cheerful the book could be despite the danger.
- Aragorn: I love the way Aragorn is introduced. Mysterious characters are some of my favorite kind, as I’m sure readers of The Temporan Chronicles can see. I guessed pretty early on who he was, but I still couldn’t shake the feeling that he might be a bad guy, until Gandalf’s letter revealed his true identity. Aragorn has obviously seen a lot, and some of it hasn’t been good. But he is still a good and honorable man, as demonstrated by how much trouble he goes through to keep the hobbits safe.
- Sam: Sam is my favorite character in the whole series. He is clumsy, plainspoken, and is terrified of the hazards they face. But he is loyal to the core, as we catch glimpses of in The Fellowship of the Ring. He acts much the same way I think I would, so I relate to him more than the other characters. But he has qualities that I admire and can aspire to live up to.
What did you like about The Lord of the Rings series? Comment about it below.