written by Gudrid. on 08/07/2003
Good Points
A well-written mythical epic that is complex and absorbing, and uniquely interesting in its form and style.
Bad Points
Although this did not deter me from enjoying the book, I was disappointed to find a lack of female characters in LOTR. The few heroines who were featured in the trilogy were, however, riveting and satisfying.
General Comments
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.