J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

Discovered Tolkien long long before the movies were made and though the movies were undoubtably brilliant, the book is beyond anything that I have ever read in the fantasy genre. Harry Potter came recently anyways and that has a charm of a different kind. Though many of my friends are put off by the length of the story, I feel that that's what makes it so wonderful. Looking forward to the next hobbit movie too, but plan on reading the entire series over and over again well into the future.

I can't help reading other fantasy books and just comparing them to LOTR....of course none come close! Tolkien really set the bench mark...what a fantastic story. Sam will always be my favourite!

Not only the story is very well written, but Tolkien managed brilliantly to recreate a world with a somehaw complex history and a mythology of it's own. If you think the movie was good, the book is even better.

This is THE book to define the fantasy genre, even if (like me) you weren't that interested in the genre to begin with, this book will change that. The story itself is amazing, with so much depth. Because not all of the information Professor Tolkien wanted to give to the reader could fit within the story's pages, there is an appendices at the back of The Return of the King to fill in any gaps. Once you start to read this book you will not put it down, which is one of the reasons this book is for many (like me), just too short. I have made a habit of reading The Lord of the Rings at least twice a year. I am one of the people who have been introduced to The Lord of the Rings through its film adaptation by Peter Jackson, and I can say that I am very grateful.

One of the reasons The Lord of the Rings is my favourite book, is the language used in the book. Tolkien has beautifully described with amazing detail the world that he has created. He not only created a story, but as Tolkien intended, a British mythology. He has created a world fleshed out with languages (Elvish, Dwarvish...), histories, characters and much more. Tolkien's legacy of Middle Earth is so detailed, you will find yourself wishing that this really was the world a long time ago.

Overall notes: I recommend the Tolkien books, not just to the fans of the fantasy genre, but to the whole world, and I wish this book would have the same effect on you as it did me.

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings is quite simply the fantasy that all other fantasies are measured against. If you haven't yet read it, drop what you're doing, run out now and get it.

Some books are fantasies that happen to be good books, this is a wonderful book that happens to be a fantasy.

I have read all of the Toilken books both with my son and again in later years and have enjoyed them more each time.

A great way to live the adventure with emotions running from scared to excited at what is going to happen to Frodo next.

This man should be given a Knighthood or something i have read all his books over a dozen times and i still can't put it down. He has created a World where you can visit time and time again he is simply the master of fantasy he has created some of the most wonderful people and places

After re-reading J.R.R. Tolkien\'s Lord of the Rings, I found myself discovering new and interesting elements in the books that I had never remarked before. For instance, the battle scenes, which my imagination had assured me went on for pages and pages, actually only run for a few paragraphs. But so vivid is Tolkien\'s writing, the reader is almost able to \'see\' the action in reel to reel footage. (And yes, I do think the first two LOTR films have succeeded in interpreting Tolkien\'s vision).

The other element I remarked in the books was the lack of sex (\'steamy romance\'). Interestingly, some of my colleagues think this a fault. I do not. The fact is, sex has no place in this mythological story of good versus evil. And I use the word \'mythological\' because that is, essentially, what LOTR is. One might argue that LORD OF THE RINGS is to the modern twentieth century what the ILLIAD was to the ancient Greeks, and what the epic POEM of BEOWULF was to the Vikings.

I found the lord of the rings books great.They make you want to read them over and over again.No matter how hard i tried i could not put them down.Truly a great masterpiece.

Its the sheer scale of the book thats brings me back to it time and again. Not just for the amazing invention/imagination of the lands, peoples, creatures, languages etc nor even for the tale itself (which is superbly thought out and exciting), but the fact that Tolkien has created a complete sense of history and where exactly the LotR tale fits into that History (ie how history created the circumstances in which the LotR tale took place and that tale would affect the future). You do feel you are looking at a fasinating and exciting part of a much bigger picture - just like real life.

I think once you get a feeling for that side of the book it makes it much more than purely a story and why many people can't get enough of it!

And I suppose on that point the book can be read on more than one level but I have no truck with those you try and read too much into it. It is not meant to be allegorical and there is enough emotion and good vrs evil issues (massive battles /Frodos inner battle with the Ring) that we can all relate to without trying to make it something it is not.

I believe Tolkien took many many years to create this book and this shows in its depth. It is also the reason why it has few real competitors.

PS - Tom Bambadil is not with out merit but I do feel I have to work hard to get through that bit. If you get there do not give up!