Reviews tagging 'War'

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

50 reviews

judassilver's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful lighthearted sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

The

Tom Bombadil

section was difficult to get through, but once we crested that hill I began to greatly enjoy the book. The first third was so slow though. I loved the details of history and little asides, it added depth to the world. Definitely recommend listening to  the songs for the full experience. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Violence, Alcohol, and War

caitlinemccann's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Stalking

Minor: Animal cruelty

manu_k's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Beautifully written, but a little too slow for my tastes. Clearly all the braincells of the Fellowship are shared by Aragorn, Gandalf and Sam (sometimes borrowed by Legolas and Gimli). It's increasingly hilarious when Frodo attempts to use his non existent braincells, but a bit frustrating too, as the story is told mostly from his perspective.

Frodo is a frustrating protagonist, not because he is afraid of his Quest (which is natural), but because he lacks the charisma his uncle Bilbo had in The Hobbit, and is also unfortunately not very good at picking things up on the fly and adapting like Bilbo. He repeatedly takes action contrary to what Gandalf and Elrond have advised.

That is not to say that Frodo is a bad protagonist. In some instances, his cleverness and quick thinking do benefit his companions, and he (most of the time) has the good sense to follow Aragorn or Gandalf when he himself is in doubt. He respects and listens to the opinions and advise of creatures much older and experienced than him, but still has the common sense to not take their words as gospel. He has good friends who are willing to follow him into death on his Quest.

Its an amazing book, deserving of its title of 'Classic', but maybe not exactly my cup of tea.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Gore, Mental illness, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

aisabel's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and War

Moderate: Drug use, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Torture, Stalking, Alcohol, and Classism

kylieqrada's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

My gut says 3 ⭐️s so I am listening to her. I HAVE DONE IT. I HAVE DONE THE THING. This book has been on my TBR since at least 2014, realistically much longer. I listened to this on audio, since I could never seem to force my eyes to read it. It worked out well, although Rob Inglis singing to me will likely haunt my dreams for the foreseeable future. I didn't hate it. But I also knew all the plot beats from the movie, so who knows how I really feel about the book? I don't think I'm going to be continuing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Animal death, Xenophobia, and War

Minor: Confinement, Blood, and Alcohol

masucolmusings's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

i think tolkiens style takes a little getting used to since he goes into exposition a lot for worldbuilding, but once the plot picks up speed it's good. the entire story is immersive and i really like the character's dynamics

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore, Violence, Blood, and War

orchidlilly's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Racism, Torture, Stalking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War

achingallover's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I cannot be objective about this, but also it is just so good. The feeling of grief for the times long past, and the things they must do. 

Serkis is of course an excellent narrator as well.

Bilbo's parting song, Gimli leaving Lorien, Boromir's moment of temptation, Sam... just Sam... I love it and I definitely am not crying.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol, War, and Classism

Minor: Death of parent

bicanthropus's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Blood and War

puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Violence, Xenophobia, and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Drug use, Torture, Alcohol, and War