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After many years as a fantasy reader i picked up a copy of the hobbit from my collection and read it for the first time. I have to tell you I am not all that impressed. It was whimsical but really not all that entertaining. I had to force myself to finish it just so I could see what it was about. Maybe I have read too much written after these books and have seen the recurring themes in other series but I wish I could enjoy it without all the hype.
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Philadelphia
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Re: LOTR
Fri, April 1, 2005 - 7:15 AMI still haven't read it....a lot of people years ago told me that it was the first and best fantasy story but I couldn't get through when I tried. I thought it was because I was reading it at the wrong time...
Since the movies have come out, I'm afraid I'll read it and see the images from the films and not get the story from the printed word in front of me. My hubbie still swears by it, but I understand where your coming from, there are so many writers who copied the style inadvertantly or otherwise....At least you can say "I did it, I read it"...and sit it back on the shelf for later.
;-)
Liz -
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Re: LOTR
Fri, April 1, 2005 - 7:59 AMexactly..i was going to go on to the fellowship of the rings but i feel like i don't even want to bother.
i am kind of lost right now on where to go in my reading. i just read all 9 sword of truth novels since the end of december. i don't know if iw ant to do series anymore. i need some good fairy or elf books..any ideas? -
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Re: LOTR
Fri, April 1, 2005 - 9:11 AMAs a note: The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings books are written in completely different styles. You might want to give Fellowship a try, but if the style in it still bugs you, then you probably don't want to bother.
In general, though, Hobbit isn't considered part of the LotR books, despite some characters being the same. Tolkein didn't really know much about Middle-Earth when writing the Hobbit, so there are contradictions with other works, and it's got a very small scope, as opposed to LotR.
As for good fairy or elf books, that depends what kind of fairies and elves you want to read about. :) -
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Re: LOTR
Fri, April 1, 2005 - 9:32 AMI will give it a try. Thank you. I am interested in all kinds. I really don't discriminate when I pick up a book. I did really like Tad Wiliams depicition in War of the Flowers. Any suggestions would be welcome.
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Re: LOTR
Mon, April 4, 2005 - 10:00 AMI was so afraid I was the only one who couldn't get into this series.
I actually liked the Hobbit (although it does have fond childhood memories attached, maybe that's why). As an adult I tried to read Fellowship of the Rings and couldn't even finish it, I picked it up again after the movie came out and finished that story but just couldn't bring myself to trudge along with the other two sequels. I think the writing style is great for someone reading aloud, like someone is telling the story over a campfire. But it got painfully dull to me. Call me a heretic but I just couldn't dig it. -
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Re: LOTR
Mon, April 4, 2005 - 10:37 AMummm.... I consider the collective 4books to be a once removed historical critique of world wars I&II.. The series has incredible value as a presentation of different archetypes of human behavior.. even if you don't like the rather dry, masculine style <hey! I don't either :)>... I see JRR as one of the dying era of mystics in a post industrial age.
Just like Frank Herbert's DUNE series isn't for everyone..... JRR's series inevitably turns readers away... however, these men were some of the late great epic writers of the truth about moralty. In my oppinion, in light of the current facist political climate in america, it is VERY important to understand the morailty of the archetypes of power from the past... the new devils that haunt us are bound in those old books, waiting to be recognised and debunked.... a nation that does not learn from its past has no future.
I mean there are other great books that illuminate the same progressions... but if you want to read stuff written by geniuses, sometimes sober, dry and prolific is the order of the day.
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Re: LOTR
Wed, April 13, 2005 - 12:02 AMI'm sorry you didn't like it, it's one of my rec's. But different flavors for different people. Have you read and liked the LOTR triliogy (i.e. to those who debate the triliogy form, that's how they published it, get over it). My sister said it's written in weirdo speak, whatever that means.
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Re: LOTR
Wed, April 13, 2005 - 3:45 PMI think LOTR is notable mainly because it was, really, the first modern fantasy novel. Most fantasy that follows owes a lot to Tolkien thematically if not stylistically.
Shakespeare can be hard to get through too.
