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The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings
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Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $8.76
You Save: $ 2.19 ( 20% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Average Customer Rating:
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The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings Description
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.912
EAN: 9780618574940
ISBN: 0618574948
Label: Houghton Mifflin
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 544
Publication Date: 2005-06-01
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Studio: Houghton Mifflin
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.912
EAN: 9780618574940
ISBN: 0618574948
Label: Houghton Mifflin
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 544
Publication Date: 2005-06-01
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Studio: Houghton Mifflin
Editorial Review of The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings
For over fifty years, J.R.R. Tolkien's peerless fantasy has accumulated
worldwide acclaim as the greatest adventure tale ever written.
No other writer has created a world as distinct as Middle-earth, complete
with its own geography, history, languages, and legends. And
no one has created characters as endearing as Tolkien's large-hearted,
hairy-footed hobbits. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings continues to
seize the imaginations of readers of all ages, and this new three-volume
paperback edition is designed to appeal to the youngest of them.
In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elvensmiths,
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, still
it remained lost to him . . .
worldwide acclaim as the greatest adventure tale ever written.
No other writer has created a world as distinct as Middle-earth, complete
with its own geography, history, languages, and legends. And
no one has created characters as endearing as Tolkien's large-hearted,
hairy-footed hobbits. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings continues to
seize the imaginations of readers of all ages, and this new three-volume
paperback edition is designed to appeal to the youngest of them.
In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elvensmiths,
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, still
it remained lost to him . . .
Customer Reviews of The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings
Customer Rating: 
Review Summary: Didn't enjoy it as much, but I can still see how it's a classic
Review: I'm one of those people who saw the LOTR films before reading the novels. And now, I've just finished reading "Fellowship of the Ring" last night, and I must say that I didn't really enjoy it as much as other people did. I mean no offense: I still think that LOTR is classic literature that should never be forgotten, but here's the thing . . .
After I saw "Fellowship of the Ring" on DVD (both the theatrical and the extended; I now own the Extended Edition), I went on to read different fantasy novels. I've read Robert Jordan's first ten books of "The Wheel of Time" series, Robin Hobb's "The Farseer Trilogy," Diana Pharaoh Francis's "Path" trilogy, Scott Lynch's "The Lies of Locke Lamora" (I'll be reading his sequel soon), and so on. Through the years, I've noticed a fomulaic structure that are prevalent in some of these books: average guy/girl in small village goes on a quest, average guy is world's only hope, etc. Terry Brooks's first "Shannara" trilogy falls into that category very well. But anyway, while I still enjoyed these novels, I couldn't help but be a bit irritated that they included the same basic structure that's typical in the fantasy genre. And now that I've read "Fellowship," I couldn't help but think of all the fantasy cliches in many other books. But I know that Tolkien's works were somewhat original back in the day, and that the cliches were formed to perfection throughout the later years.
But that's not all. I found "Fellowship" to be a bit more light-hearted than the actual film, which is fine with me, but light-heartedness isn't for everybody. I grew up watching TV shows like "Millennium," "Deadwood," "24," and "House". And you already know that there are lots and lots of adult situations in them. Well, I prefer these hard-hitting adult shows over those crappy half-naive half-melodramatic teenage shows like "One Tree Hill" or something like that. And you know what, I think all these adult shows have affected my reading of "Fellowship". I feel "Fellowship" wasn't intense enough to sustain my interest, but I guess it's just me.
Now, I'll start with the CONS for this novel. "Fellowship" gets things going in the second half, but the first half is very slow and tedious. "A Long-Expected Party" and "The Shadow of the Past" were interesting enough (it's the history of the Ring that makes it all worthwhile), but then as I got to "Three is Company" it became a bit tedious. "A Shortcut to Mushrooms" and "A Conspiracy Unmasked" is when it started to slow down even more. Then, as I got to "In the House of Tom Bombadil", I couldn't help but be constantly irritated at its melodramatic overtones. Bombadil's a bit too much on the bright side. But then, the pace quickened up when I got to "At The Sign of the Prancing Pony" and "Strider". And some of the most intense sequences in LOTR are found in "A Knife in the Dark" and "Flight to the Ford"; this is when it becomes interesting again. As for the second half, "The Council of Elrond" was just downright hard to read through. Gandalf, Elrond, Men, Elves, and Dwarves just talking and talking and talking and talking. Though, lots of information on Saruman and the Ring are found here, it was just a very big hassle.
But I have to say that the PROS are much better here. The concept of a hobbit going on this quest is highly unlikely, and that's why this book's so compelling. Tolkien broke the mold back in the 50's when he created Bilbo (for "the Hobbit") and Frodo Baggins. And having eight companions to follow the hobbit to Mount Doom makes it all the more exciting. Even though I don't find Hobbits very fascinating anymore, the thought of having one of them go on a journey to Mordor is still outstanding. And let's not forget the writing itself. Tolkien's imaginative narration soars above every page that's written here. It's all so rich in detail and amazing in imagery (Alan Lee's artwork really helps, too). And let's not forget the races. I know that orcs, elves, wizards, and dwarves are a cliche nowadays, but here Tolkien gives them something more. There's history, culture, social issues, and politics. Finally, the sequences in Moria and Lothlorien are brilliant in almost every way.
I would have to say that television shows and other contemporary fantasy novels have affected my reading of "Fellowship". The epic content I admire, but the formulaic structure I should try to tolerate. And I think it's not just fantasy novels and TV shows: there's contemporary books like "Mystic River" and "The Ha-Ha" and "House of Sand and Fog".
But anyway, I did enjoy the first part of LOTR, but not that much, sorry to say. I'm glad, however, that other people have enjoyed it much more. And I admire Tolkien for his creation of a beautiful imaginary world. Now on to "The Two Towers" . . .
Grade: B
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Bow to the master
Review: J.R.R. Tolkien was the master of fantasy, and that's not just because he was the first to write a very popular modern epic.
What makes Tolkien superior was how he used his extensive knowledge of mythology and linguistics to create his own complex world. He was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford, a fellow of Pembroke College, and a fellow of Merton College where he studied and taught the linguistics of early English. Over many years he created his own elvish language with a complex syntax and grammar, and a complete history and mythology of Middle Earth (see the twelve volumes of The Histories of Middle-Earth below.) This gives his works so much complexity and texture that when you read them, you feel like you've dropped into the middle of a real civilization.
Besides the amazing world-building, Tolkien builds excellent characters and uses them to explore such heavy human themes as friendship, love, greed, power, redemption, gender-roles, self-sacrifice, and death. This is not a light epic for a Sunday afternoon. This is intense, bone-chilling, goose-bump raising stuff. You can feel the weight of the world on the shoulders of Frodo and his companions. And, though there's a happy ending, it comes with much suffering and loss.
And all the while, Tolkien's writing is beautiful and poignant. In my opinion, the only writers I've read who even begin to compare are Ursula LeGuin, Susanna Clarke, and perhaps Lois McMaster Bujold.
~FantasyLiterature.net
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Haven in a storm
Review: It would have helped if I read the Hobbit first.
This book had a depth, I had never read before. The complexity of Middle Earth was astounding to the 11 year old boy who first read this book. This was a book that couldn't be put down and mostly read under the blankets late at night with flashlight.
I have reread the book 10 times throughout my life. I lived in Israel for a year and when times were tough or I was lonely for home. I went to the school library and would start reading the familiar pages of this book.
I look forward to my kids discovering the book and Tolkein's world on their own.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: King of Classics
Review: I have read each and every one of J.R.R. Tolkiens LOTR trilogy including 'The Hobbit' at least 6 times and I am still not tired of them. They are classics! Some people say there's too much detail. I disagree but I like detail and I think it's the mark of a great author but I understand that some people just want to read the book and not have to listen to the author describe the bark on a tree for three pages (I'm exaggerating, he doesn't go into THAT much detail). These books are great, no language, nothing inappropriate at all. If you are looking for a good book to read on a rainy day I recommend LOTR. P.S If you want to see too much detail read 'Last of the Mohicans'.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Fantastic beginning
Review: I had never read the Rings trilogy. I liked The Hobbit when I read it years ago. I've never been a big fan of high fantasy (elves, dwarves, wizards), but this is the best. The world Tolkien creates is deep and amazing, and although the songs and poems get a bit tedious (especially when they're written in imaginary languages), I really got into the adventure of the characters. I read this right when I got back from Alaska and imagined the landscape to be much like that in Denali National Park.
Review Summary: Didn't enjoy it as much, but I can still see how it's a classic
Review: I'm one of those people who saw the LOTR films before reading the novels. And now, I've just finished reading "Fellowship of the Ring" last night, and I must say that I didn't really enjoy it as much as other people did. I mean no offense: I still think that LOTR is classic literature that should never be forgotten, but here's the thing . . .
After I saw "Fellowship of the Ring" on DVD (both the theatrical and the extended; I now own the Extended Edition), I went on to read different fantasy novels. I've read Robert Jordan's first ten books of "The Wheel of Time" series, Robin Hobb's "The Farseer Trilogy," Diana Pharaoh Francis's "Path" trilogy, Scott Lynch's "The Lies of Locke Lamora" (I'll be reading his sequel soon), and so on. Through the years, I've noticed a fomulaic structure that are prevalent in some of these books: average guy/girl in small village goes on a quest, average guy is world's only hope, etc. Terry Brooks's first "Shannara" trilogy falls into that category very well. But anyway, while I still enjoyed these novels, I couldn't help but be a bit irritated that they included the same basic structure that's typical in the fantasy genre. And now that I've read "Fellowship," I couldn't help but think of all the fantasy cliches in many other books. But I know that Tolkien's works were somewhat original back in the day, and that the cliches were formed to perfection throughout the later years.
But that's not all. I found "Fellowship" to be a bit more light-hearted than the actual film, which is fine with me, but light-heartedness isn't for everybody. I grew up watching TV shows like "Millennium," "Deadwood," "24," and "House". And you already know that there are lots and lots of adult situations in them. Well, I prefer these hard-hitting adult shows over those crappy half-naive half-melodramatic teenage shows like "One Tree Hill" or something like that. And you know what, I think all these adult shows have affected my reading of "Fellowship". I feel "Fellowship" wasn't intense enough to sustain my interest, but I guess it's just me.
Now, I'll start with the CONS for this novel. "Fellowship" gets things going in the second half, but the first half is very slow and tedious. "A Long-Expected Party" and "The Shadow of the Past" were interesting enough (it's the history of the Ring that makes it all worthwhile), but then as I got to "Three is Company" it became a bit tedious. "A Shortcut to Mushrooms" and "A Conspiracy Unmasked" is when it started to slow down even more. Then, as I got to "In the House of Tom Bombadil", I couldn't help but be constantly irritated at its melodramatic overtones. Bombadil's a bit too much on the bright side. But then, the pace quickened up when I got to "At The Sign of the Prancing Pony" and "Strider". And some of the most intense sequences in LOTR are found in "A Knife in the Dark" and "Flight to the Ford"; this is when it becomes interesting again. As for the second half, "The Council of Elrond" was just downright hard to read through. Gandalf, Elrond, Men, Elves, and Dwarves just talking and talking and talking and talking. Though, lots of information on Saruman and the Ring are found here, it was just a very big hassle.
But I have to say that the PROS are much better here. The concept of a hobbit going on this quest is highly unlikely, and that's why this book's so compelling. Tolkien broke the mold back in the 50's when he created Bilbo (for "the Hobbit") and Frodo Baggins. And having eight companions to follow the hobbit to Mount Doom makes it all the more exciting. Even though I don't find Hobbits very fascinating anymore, the thought of having one of them go on a journey to Mordor is still outstanding. And let's not forget the writing itself. Tolkien's imaginative narration soars above every page that's written here. It's all so rich in detail and amazing in imagery (Alan Lee's artwork really helps, too). And let's not forget the races. I know that orcs, elves, wizards, and dwarves are a cliche nowadays, but here Tolkien gives them something more. There's history, culture, social issues, and politics. Finally, the sequences in Moria and Lothlorien are brilliant in almost every way.
I would have to say that television shows and other contemporary fantasy novels have affected my reading of "Fellowship". The epic content I admire, but the formulaic structure I should try to tolerate. And I think it's not just fantasy novels and TV shows: there's contemporary books like "Mystic River" and "The Ha-Ha" and "House of Sand and Fog".
But anyway, I did enjoy the first part of LOTR, but not that much, sorry to say. I'm glad, however, that other people have enjoyed it much more. And I admire Tolkien for his creation of a beautiful imaginary world. Now on to "The Two Towers" . . .
Grade: B
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Bow to the master
Review: J.R.R. Tolkien was the master of fantasy, and that's not just because he was the first to write a very popular modern epic.
What makes Tolkien superior was how he used his extensive knowledge of mythology and linguistics to create his own complex world. He was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford, a fellow of Pembroke College, and a fellow of Merton College where he studied and taught the linguistics of early English. Over many years he created his own elvish language with a complex syntax and grammar, and a complete history and mythology of Middle Earth (see the twelve volumes of The Histories of Middle-Earth below.) This gives his works so much complexity and texture that when you read them, you feel like you've dropped into the middle of a real civilization.
Besides the amazing world-building, Tolkien builds excellent characters and uses them to explore such heavy human themes as friendship, love, greed, power, redemption, gender-roles, self-sacrifice, and death. This is not a light epic for a Sunday afternoon. This is intense, bone-chilling, goose-bump raising stuff. You can feel the weight of the world on the shoulders of Frodo and his companions. And, though there's a happy ending, it comes with much suffering and loss.
And all the while, Tolkien's writing is beautiful and poignant. In my opinion, the only writers I've read who even begin to compare are Ursula LeGuin, Susanna Clarke, and perhaps Lois McMaster Bujold.
~FantasyLiterature.net
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Haven in a storm
Review: It would have helped if I read the Hobbit first.
This book had a depth, I had never read before. The complexity of Middle Earth was astounding to the 11 year old boy who first read this book. This was a book that couldn't be put down and mostly read under the blankets late at night with flashlight.
I have reread the book 10 times throughout my life. I lived in Israel for a year and when times were tough or I was lonely for home. I went to the school library and would start reading the familiar pages of this book.
I look forward to my kids discovering the book and Tolkein's world on their own.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: King of Classics
Review: I have read each and every one of J.R.R. Tolkiens LOTR trilogy including 'The Hobbit' at least 6 times and I am still not tired of them. They are classics! Some people say there's too much detail. I disagree but I like detail and I think it's the mark of a great author but I understand that some people just want to read the book and not have to listen to the author describe the bark on a tree for three pages (I'm exaggerating, he doesn't go into THAT much detail). These books are great, no language, nothing inappropriate at all. If you are looking for a good book to read on a rainy day I recommend LOTR. P.S If you want to see too much detail read 'Last of the Mohicans'.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Fantastic beginning
Review: I had never read the Rings trilogy. I liked The Hobbit when I read it years ago. I've never been a big fan of high fantasy (elves, dwarves, wizards), but this is the best. The world Tolkien creates is deep and amazing, and although the songs and poems get a bit tedious (especially when they're written in imaginary languages), I really got into the adventure of the characters. I read this right when I got back from Alaska and imagined the landscape to be much like that in Denali National Park.