Have you read my review before? Click here to read my 12 yo sister's take on it!
The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
Sometime last year I heard that there was going to be an epic film made based on this trilogy. Since three of my sisters were already passionate about these books, and I was really interested in seeing the film (British actors, New Zealand scenery? Definitely interested) I decided I’d "make the jump" and read the books, too. I’m not much of a fantasy fan, but I wasn’t going to go see the film without reading the books.
I am so glad I read them. Months after finishing them I still choke up when discussing certain areas of the books. I have become a huge fan of the film, and where I once was hesitant about even reading the books, I now recommend them to anyone possible! J
Frodo Baggins is the nephew of Mr. Bilbo Baggins, a mysterious and adventuresome hobbit – that is, mysterious and adventuresome to hobbits, who are generally peaceful folk who love to sit about at home eating, talking, and smoking their pipes. Mr. Bilbo once went on a great journey with dwarves, and came back wealthy. We find out, though, that he also came back with something infinitely more powerful than wealth, something that the forces of evil desperately want. This object of desire is a small, gold ring. It was forged once, long ago, by Sauron. Sauron also forged several other magic rings as gifts for the inhabitants of Middle Earth – some for the elves, some for the dwarves, and nine for the human kings. He did not reveal, however, that the ring he made for himself held power over all the other rings. The nine human kings fell to the power of the ring and were slaves to Sauron. The elves and dwarves kept free from the force of the ring. In a great battle Sauron lost the ring, and Bilbo Baggins found it on his adventures, not knowing what he possessed.
Word of this ring began to get around, and the good peoples in Middle Earth deem that the ring must be destroyed. Sauron must not get it. It is too powerful to be used for good. The difficulty is that the only place the ring can be destroyed is in the fires of Mount Doom, which is in the heart of Sauron’s kingdom. Frodo Baggins volunteers to take the ring to Mount Doom. He is accompanied by three other hobbits, two humans, an elf, a dwarf and the "wizard" Gandalf.
I don’t want to give any spoilers, as that would greatly take from the pleasure of the reading, but I do encourage you to read these! Tolkien created a rich world in these books. He also was amazingly successful in doing what many other authors attempt at, but fail – he did not set out to write an allegory, and did not want his books taken as allegorical material, but he still managed to convey the beauty of the good, the effects evil has upon men, and an infinte number of lessons on character and friendship.
These books would make wonderful read alouds (tho’ they are page turner!), or you could get them on tape to listen to on long car trips. Since they do have some magical elements you might be more comfortable simply checking them out from the library until you’re confident that they are something for your family.
Whatever you ultimately decide, please do give these books a chance! Tolkien was one of the greatest story tellers of the 20th century, and I fully believe these stories always richly reward the reader.
