The rest of the LORD OF THE RINGS

I have already written about the first book and, because I read the last two consecutively and because they were all intended to be read as one (and because I’m lazy) I have combined those books into one post.

The first thing to note is that I enjoyed them so much more than the first one, even though I didn’t even dislike the first. Tolkien is one of those authors who seems, to me, oblivious of his audience. He is genuinely enjoying adventuring in his own world and will not apologise for relishing in details or for having five chapters of relative joy after the ring is destroyed. I think this is what makes the books so popular. There is an amazingly real world presented to you to discover and explore – what could be more exciting?!

I think it may have been slightly anti-climactic once Frodo and Sam entered Mordor though. Apart from the emphasis on their weariness it all seemed a little easy (well, sort of easy). There was never any great confrontation with Sauron either. I don’t think we even find out what he looks like. For me, though, this was probably necessary. To keep him hidden and disembodied makes him appear a far greater threat. Instead, I would have liked a battle of Frodo vs His Conscience on Mount Doom. His loyalty to Sam would have made him overcome the desire for the ring and it would have been a display of the glory of friendship. I’m wrong though, it’s far neater for it to be Gollum that causes the ring’s destruction. It’s also a testament to the ring’s power that it was really only an accident that destroyed it.

The story of Eowyn jarred a little with me, as did the lack of women, though I suppose I should not expect a contemporary take on women considering the time it was written. I just thought, even with her defying her father and desiring to fight, her reasons seemed twisted. It seemed that she only wanted the glory that a man can get and thus, as she was the only strong female representative, it seemed that this was a reflection on all females. Moreover, the end of her story, of marriage and becoming a healer, seemed to say “She’s learnt that women aren’t suited to battle now and has instead fickly and femininely fallen in love.” Oh I love getting feministly riled on the odd occasion.

Basically, they were undoubtedly brilliant books and the first epic adventure novels I’ve read in a while, but they reminded me of my love for that genre, especially when so beautifully written.