Book Review: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings #1)

By: J.R.R. Tolkien

ISBN: 9780547928210

Published: September 18, 2012 by Mariner Books (Originally published: July 29, 1954)

Pages: 398

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 4.75/5

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Goodreads Synopsis:

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.

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All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken, 

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken:

The crownless again shall be king.

I could have used the quote about one ring ruling them all but I thought I would use a different one that I loved.

Pros:

• This novel was beautifully written. The language does get confusing at times but you just have to take your time if you aren’t used to it. This is not a book you fly through unless you have read it a hundred times. It took me over a month to read it and I’m not ashamed. I wanted to enjoy everything it had to offer, and it was more than I ever expected.
• I can see how reading this could discourage someone just from how slow the plot is. I almost gave up but then I realized that the journey they take is not a quick one. They are traveling by foot, and it really suits how slow the book is. This was advice that my boyfriend gave me and it really opened my eyes. I enjoyed it more once I stopped whining over how nothing was actually happening. It was all there for a reason.
• I absolutely loved that you could not tell if someone was a good guy or bad guy. I will admit though there was a lot of foreshadowing now that I look back on the book. Boromir was definitely one of those characters as the ending of the book grew near. His behavior was unacceptable, but I guess that’s what happens when power is within grasp.
• The loyalty between the hobbits was incredible. Sam, Pippin, and Merry were dedicated to Frodo. They had faith in his choices 95% of the time. More often they questioned who other people were and if they could trust them; Aragorn is a great example of that. *Jokes on them because Aragorn turned out to be a bad ass.*

Cons:

• I was not a fan of the singing. It happened far to often and to me it became annoying. Tom Bombadil was probably my least favorite when it came to singing. I understand that it was a story being told but I just didn’t find it all that necessary. I see how it would break the book up a little bit, but it’s just not for me honestly.

Theme:

I don’t usually discuss themes about a book, but I figured I would maybe give it a shot. Good vs Evil would definitely fit this novel. I know it sounds lame and childish but it fits the description very well. Frodo needs to destroy the ring so that the enemy, Sauron, doesn’t find it and take over. It’s very simple, and I’m not the best person to sit and analyze a book like crazy. I wish I was though, and I know I can definitely learn but as of right now I do not.

Favorite characters (no order):

Gimli: Son of Gloin

Frodo

Aragorn

Elrond

Gandalf

Obviously there is a lot more to discuss, but I feel as if I shouldn’t discuss everything until I read all three books. There will be a lot more to the journey than I think. It probably won’t be as easy as just finding the Cracks of Doom and throwing the ring in. I will discuss everything when I make my last review for the third book.

If you read The Fellowship of the Ring let me know what you thought of it down in the comments! If you enjoyed reading this then give it a like and follow me while I continue my journey with Frodo and all of his companions and enemies. Be respectful and happy reading!

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