J.R.R. Tolkien discussion
Lord of the Rings
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Two Towers Question
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Dan
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Jul 06, 2013 11:18PM
I have seen all 3 movies & decided to read the books. Read the Hobbit. Loved it. Read the Fellowship of the Ring. Loved it. Starting ch 6 of the Two Towers and boy is it dragging. So tell me, does it pick up soon?
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It's been over ten years since I read the trilogy, so I don't remember exactly. I remember that parts of Two Towers were in the third movie, but it's the thickest of the three in story length. I just finished reading the Hobbit, and in the middle of the Silmarillion, which mysteriously disappeared in my room somewhere.
Dan wrote: "Is the Silmarillion a difficult read?"If you're finding The Two Tower a slow read, you're likely going to find The Silmarillion a much tougher read. It's a much denser and challenging book to read. It's more mythic in scope than Towers, meaning its heavy with description of character names and places and not always in a hurry to get around to revealing "story". But it is worth it to discover the wonderful legends that form that back story for LotR.
Btw, I found Towers a bit slow the first time I read it. But it gets really good as you get further on, so you really should stick with it.
Dan wrote: "Is the Silmarillion a difficult read?"Going along with what Kevis said, the Silmarillion can be a hard read, only because it covers a huge space of time. Plus, I've learned that J.R.R. Tolkien wasn't the only person to write the story either: I believe his son Christopher did some of the writings as well.
J.R.R. Tolkien did write all of the Silmarillion however it was written more as seperate parts which his son Christopher edited together as the final book and was published after his Tolkiens death.The Silmarillion is quite hard to read at the start, however it soon settles down into a fantastic set of stories, very epic and moving. They also give you all the pre-history to LOTR and the Hobbit, which has been brilliantly thought out, well worth reading just get through the first part.
i loved the Two Towers. especially the end part of frodo and sam's side of the tale. so awesome :)
Dan wrote: "Is the Silmarillion a difficult read?"holy mother of God, yes. then it isn't....
Robyn wrote: "Dan wrote: "Is the Silmarillion a difficult read?"holy mother of God, yes. then it isn't...."
well put, that is exactly how it is. Stay with it, you won't be sorry.
Frankly, I don't understand you at all! (My sister is eleven years old and she has read the whole trilogy in two weeks, she even tried to read under her desk in school, so absorbed she was in the story!) But maybe you should try this audio (the link for chapter one on youtube - under each video there is also link for mp3): http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I-a50MOH...The author mimicates voices of the actors from the film adaptation (sometimes he even surpasses them in quality) + invents the original new ones for other characters, adds exquisite sound effects and skilfully mixes the film music score! He has just finished the whole trilogy... His skill and technics really grow with each new video! ;-) Enjoy!
Karolína wrote: "Frankly, I don't understand you at all! (My sister is eleven years old and she has read the whole trilogy in one week, she even tried to read under her desk in school, so absorbed she was in the st..."Holy crap that sounds amazing! I will definitely be listening to that soon, thanks for letting us know!
As for Two Towers, the first time I read it I remember reading the second half took me ages! One time I was going to reread LOTR and just stopped when I got to the same part and didn't finish it haha However, earlier this year when I read them again I found it went by much faster. For whatever reason it was much more enjoyable, so power through, it's well worth it. Same with the Silmarillion, seems impossible at first, but it's amazing! :)
It look me six months to read each book during middle school and first year of high school.
Ha! Well, my sister's read the trilogy in translation (we're Czech), but she really couldn't tear her eyes from it, and we kept consulting agitatedly every new event and character there..; and when she had finished it, we (my family) took her to watch the (extended) film adaptation for the first time, and then we consulted the changes against the original plot, and I was quite delighted when she proclaimed the films were good but that she liked the books better! As for myself, I read LOTR first in translation when I was eleven also.. But when I was fifteen I understood that the main power of Tolkien's work lies in his magics with words and languages, so I'd set my mind on reading it in the original - I'd never read any real English novel before by that time - but the overwhelming atmosphere held me so tight that I'd managed to get through it then, and I don't exaggerate at all, when I say that it was The Professor who had taught me English! Nowadays, I already know the whole LOTR by heart - believe or not! First I had been coming through the journey all over again + reading some especially exciting parts aloud with proper dramatisation, but then I had come upon those audios, and since then I keep listening to it in my bed before falling asleep whenever I have a chance - I really feel as if I were strolling through Middle-Earth with the heros, it's quite 3D!, and Howard's mesmerising score always accompaning it! - since then I have had no need to watch the Jackson's films again! (I love the individual scenes, but their impression is sooo contraint, as is the case with all the film adaptations. ;-))
And, I just wonder, if even the LOTR hasn't the power to keep your mind engaged, to make your eyes follow and recognize the beauty of words, what do you do about the 'classic readings', as Ulysseus, Mrs. Dalloway, etc? Oh, just don't you say you prefer the 'Twilight-style'! :-D
No offence, I know that not everyone finds pleasure in LOTR's pseudo-mythic style, though I just can't withstand when people say it was boring...:-)
I have never found the LOTR boring or difficult to read. At first reading Two Towers was probably my least favorite book of the trilogy. I was young and impatiently wanted to find out what happened. Now I love the interaction of the characters, the description of lands, the songs and poems. While I enjoy the Silmarillion, the first read was harder for me especially the beginning. Stay with the books, you won't be sorry.
Agree, the BBC adaptation is very good well worth a listen(although the eagles 'music/talking' is a bit weird).
Of course, the BBC Radio adaptation must be good - I have heard an excerpt; and Ian is such a great actor..:-) It's the very word 'abridged' and 'adapted' which dissuades me...And, also, what a pity they had no Howard Shore by that time to accompany it with a 'real' music! ;-) (The same with the sound effects, they make it so much vivid.) Maybe I shall try it one day - only to have a clearer notion, but the 48 hours of Phil's audios (I'm about to listen to it all over again, as he has just freshly finished with the recording process, and I don't have to wait for more chapters) will take me some time yet...(And I have also some other 'bed-time' audiobooks which I've recently discovered, like The Chronicles of Ancient Darknessseries narrated by Ian McKellen. :-))Anyhow, I adore Tolkien's own reading from LOTR - he'd recorded only excerpts, and I've got just several, but I can never get tired of listening to it (despite the poor sound's quality). When I heard it for the first time, I exclaimed after a few words: "It's Gandalf!" (in fact, Ian McKellen said he had based the wizard's voice on Tolkien's - though now I would say there are also some traces of Bilbo's nature in Tolkien's way of speaking - especially when interviewed). And after hearing even his Gollum's performance (notably in the sample from 'Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit'), all was clear - it wasn't Andy who had invented Gollum's voice with all that belongs to it, he had just listened to Tolkien, and then brought it to perfection with his wonderful skill and expanded it on his whole performance! ;-)
It is hard to make audio dramas (not necessarily audiobooks) without editing and abridgment. The BBC versions were good, but be sure you have read the books first. It can be tough to follow the storyline in the BBC versions if you have not read the book first and are already somewhat familiar with what is occurring.Regarding TTT being a drag... What I try to do is slow my mind down and try to put myself in the middle of it, as if I were there. I slow my reading to a conversational tempo. Of the three books, TTT is the one that really gets into the characters' heads. It is invaluable in this regard.
Wm. Scott wrote: "It is hard to make audio dramas (not necessarily audiobooks) without editing and abridgment. The BBC versions were good, but be sure you have read the books first. It can be tough to follow the sto..."'Gets into characters'head'? Well, you are getting there all the trilogy's long, but if it should be espeacially in TTT, then I agree with you on the ground of Gollum' character! He has so much space just for his psychological development in TTT (because in ROTK there he can't any longer get a space and a chance till Mount Doom to show himself off)... This creature can always make both laugh and cry and shiver there - for example 'The Dead Marshes' (thrilling schizophrenic Slinker&Stinker dilemma), 'Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit' (funny Sméagol) and 'The Stairs of Cirith Ungol' (tragic Gollum) + 'Shelob's Lair' (spooky Gollum's-on-top case) etc. ;-)
The BBC adaptations are good, but I confess to liking the unabridged audiobooks better. If you haven't listened to it, Christopher Lee did a very good job narrating Children of Hurin.
Denice wrote: "The BBC adaptations are good, but I confess to liking the unabridged audiobooks better. If you haven't listened to it, Christopher Lee did a very good job narrating Children of Hurin."I must definitely hear such an audio! Where can I get it, Denice? Great thanks for the highlight! ;-)
I get audiobooks from audible but I am sure there are other sites.
I have never actually listened on tape (or) audio to the lord of the rings...i would love to though! I bet it is a wonderful experience.
