Question about the LOTR books?

DMcKay · #11 (**permalink**) 09-12-2007, 11:41 PM

All of JRR Tolkien's works are an excellent read, but you have to consider that He was a gifted linguist as well as a writer. He didn't only create a whole new world in which to write his books. He created whole new languages and a history for the Land in which the Hobitt and the 3 LOTR books were set. If you skip the songs you miss a great deal of the background of the history in which the story is set.

Tolkein and CS Lewis were contemporaries and friends. Reportedly they had several discussions about using the medium of allegory to convey a deeper message, such as Christianity. While Lewis wrote his books as a more direct allegory of the spiritual battle of Christians. Tolkein was more comfortable writing his books about the battles between Good and evil with no hidden Christian agenda. Even though I have come across a number of Christians that believe that LOTRs was supposed to represent the Christians battle, Tolkein himself has said that that was not his intent.

I waited 30 years from the time I first read the four books to see if technology would ever allow the LOTR to be made into a movie. Even I was pleasantly surprised to see what a great job that Jackson did.

eastcoast_bsc · #12 (**permalink**) 09-14-2007, 02:17 AM

I never knew tolkien was Christian. I always got a bad vibe from the books. The reason is that whilst i was in the Army, I had a roomate that was a total burnout. he used to drop Acid and or Smoke bowls of hashish and read tolkien on end. LOL I gues he colored my impression of Tolkien. But i was never one for fantasy novels. I was more into Clancy, Grisham or for another genre Gay Talese , he is one of the great writers of this century.

eastcoast_bsc · #13 (**permalink**) 09-14-2007, 02:21 AM

Here is an essay from Gay Talese. He is primarily a Novelist, but has written quite a few essays. this one is hilarious, on Peter O'Toole. He is a real wordsmith.

http://www.realitymouse.com/otoole/articles/talese.html

I don't think it has any swears :-(

soblessed53 · #14 (**permalink**) 09-14-2007, 06:50 AM

Well,I really enjoyed "The Hobbit". Good story, plus it was such fun reading the Gollum's part,LOL!
Have any of you read The Dark Is Rising series by Susan Cooper? They sound interesting. I might try them after the LOTR trilogy. I will let you all know what I think of the LOTR trilogy.

under His wings · #15 (**permalink**) 11-30-2007, 11:44 PM

soblessed, did you ever read the trilogy? I loved it and read them all after seeing the first two movies. I had the third read before that movie came out. I prefer the books slightly over the movies but I think Jackson did an outstanding job as did all the actors.

DMcKay · #16 (**permalink**) 12-01-2007, 07:38 AM

I used to read an adventure from the books each night for my daughters, after devotions and before bed. I really think they helped the two of them to look forward to going to bed each night. I made sure that each night I ended on an exciting part, one that left them begging for me to continue and let them know what was going to happen next.

soblessed53 · #17 (**permalink**) 12-01-2007, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by under His wings

soblessed, did you ever read the trilogy? I loved it and read them all after seeing the first two movies. I had the third read before that movie came out. I prefer the books slightly over the movies but I think Jackson did an outstanding job as did all the actors.

Hi,yes I sure did,and I loved each one of them.,including the first one,which my daughter found boring,LOL!

I also agree Peter Jackson did an amazing job with the film,now just hoping he still plans to make The Hobbit?

under His wings · #18 (**permalink**) 12-01-2007, 05:45 PM

DMcKay, Great idea. Unfortunately my kids are too old for that idea but hopefully someone else will benefit from it.

Olivia_Nicole · #19 (**permalink**) 12-01-2007, 07:57 PM

My sister-in-law has read the entire trilogy multiple times and absolutly adores them, much more than the movies even though she saw those first. My husband has also read trilogy through twice.

I have read the hobbit and enjoyed it, and have tried to read LoTR but have not been able to get past the first 5 chapters just because of how wordy it is, but both my husband and sister-in-law insist it gets much easier to read later on. I have hard time with overly descriptive books...I just get lost in trying to picture everything and don't comprehend anything. :no:

I personally love the movies. :lub: I own the box set extended editions on DVD and have watched them all about 4 or 5 times through.
I hope to finish the books one day, and also the Silmarillion(which I have heard is supposed to be 10 times harder to read). :rd:

soblessed53 · #20 (**permalink**) 12-01-2007, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olivia_Nicole

My sister-in-law has read the entire trilogy multiple times and absolutly adores them, much more than the movies even though she saw those first. My husband has also read trilogy through twice.

I have read the hobbit and enjoyed it, and have tried to read LoTR but have not been able to get past the first 5 chapters just because of how wordy it is, but both my husband and sister-in-law insist it gets much easier to read later on. I have hard time with overly descriptive books...I just get lost in trying to picture everything and don't comprehend anything. :no:

I personally love the movies. :lub: I own the box set extended editions on DVD and have watched them all about 4 or 5 times through.
I hope to finish the books one day, and also the Silmarillion(which I have heard is supposed to be 10 times harder to read). :rd:

Hi Olivia-Nicole, and welcome to the forum.IMHO your hubby and sis-in-law are correct that the first book does get easier and more interesting as you continue,then you are drawn-in and hooked,LOL!