Book Review: The Lord of the Rings
“‘It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,’ he used to say. ‘You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to. Do you realize that this is the very path that goes through Mirkwood, and that if you let it, it might take you to the Lonely Mountain or even further and to worse places?”
“The Lord of the Rings” written by J.R.R. Tolkien is a classic fantasy novel in which Frodo, the hero, embarks on an epic quest to destroy the One Ring. Along the way, Frodo’s quest is threatened by various enemies, a war and his internal struggle between two opposing desires.
“To walk into peril — to Mordor. We must send the Ring to the Fire.”
Unlike its predecessor, “The Hobbit”, Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” contains multiple inter-connected story arcs. The story follows not only Bilbo but characters such as Aragorn as they fight in the War of the Ring. This non-linear plot structure creates a rich and detailed depiction of the novel’s events, presenting multiple points of view in the struggle against Sauron. The different perspectives allow readers to enjoy the development of a wide variety of characters, from the loyal Sam to the fearless Éowyn. This large cast of characters proves to be an integral part of “The Lord of the Rings” as their various desires and duties have a significant influence on the novel’s plot.
When reading “The Lord of the Rings,” audiences are presented with an expertly and thoroughly constructed fantasy world called Middle-earth. Tolkien’s world-building adds a layer of realness and believability to the fantastical events of “The Lord of the Rings.”
While the novel contains fictional races such as Elves and Ents, these people are given distinct cultures and customs, making them seem real to readers. Tolkien also created fictional languages, such as Elvish and the Black Speech, containing their own scripts, grammar and developments. Readers should pay close attention to Tolkien’s world-building and how it impacts their experience.
“Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.”
Readers also should pay close attention to Tolkien’s imagery. This rich and vivid imagery contributes greatly to making “The Lord of the Rings” an enjoyable and rewarding reading experience. Throughout the novel, Tolkien crafts vivid images of nature making his fictional world of Middle-earth come to life.
“Under the night the trees stood tall before them, arched over the road and stream that ran suddenly beneath their spreading boughs. In the dim light of the stars their stems were grey, and their quivering leaves a hint of fallow gold.”
“The Lord of the Rings” has become one of my favorite novels of all time. I have read this novel twice in the past year and found it to be utterly fascinating and rewarding to read on both occasions. Although some potential readers may be daunted by the novel’s length, I would highly recommend “The Lord of the Rings”. Especially, to anyone who is interested in a detailed and realistic fantasy story containing complex characters and world-building.
