Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Member Nora has requested you to join her on this read after just completing The Hobbit or if you have read it, please follow along and share your memories of this great series.

This is the first of three volumes of the epic novel The Lord of the Rings by the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. It is followed by The Two Towers and The Return of the King. The action takes place in the fictional universe of Middle-earth. The book was first published on 29 July 1954 in the United Kingdom. The volume consists of a foreword, in which the author discusses his writing of The Lord of the Rings, a prologue titled "Concerning Hobbits, and other matters", and the main narrative in Book I and Book II.

Hi everyone! I’m super excited to continue my journey in Middle Earth!

Hi Nora. It will be a second read for me. Will join you at the end of the month.

I just reread this in January and would like to join in as well.

Lorraine wrote: "Hi Nora. It will be a second read for me. Will join you at the end of the month."

Sounds great, Lorraine. I look forward to discussing the book with you at the end of the month.

Steven wrote: "I just reread this in January and would like to join in as well."

Thanks so much for joining us, Steven.

I’m currently reading the foreward and I find it very interesting as to how the ring has transformed from something good to something ultimately evil in this book.

I love the poem about the ring that opens the book!!!<3<3<3

I didn’t know that Tolkien wrote this book shortly after The Hobbit was written and also before that book was published and yet he didn’t continue writing this book because he wanted to write a detailed mythology and more legends about the history of Middle Earth.

I’m surprised that some people think that this book is too short!!!

I’m surprised that Tolkien said that there is no message or meaning to this book!!! I’m surprised that he states that it’s not an allegory even though the book deals with the battle between good and evil very much like C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. He even stated that he hates allegory.

Still can’t get over the fact that hobbits have six meals a day!

I think it’s super cool that hobbits are more closely related to humans than elves and dwarves!

I didn’t know that there are three different groups of hobbits!

I hope to start rereading the book next week. I'm enjoying your comments, Nora, but I really need to finish the books I'm reading now!

That’s perfectly okay and I definitely understand. Thanks so much for enjoying my comments , Rosemarie!

There’s a museum in the Shire?!!

I will take a break from this book until you can join me next week.

Nora - thanks for all the tidbits. I have now read this twice and there are still gems to be discovered.

Steven wrote: "Nora - thanks for all the tidbits. I have now read this twice and there are still gems to be discovered."

You are welcome, Steven. I definitely agree with you that there’s always gems to be discovered with Tolkien.

I’m going to continue reading this book starting today.

I'm going to start reading today.

Rosemarie wrote: "I'm going to start reading today."

I’m so happy you are going to be reading again with me, Rosemarie!

I wish that all mayors can be selected at an Midsummer fair!

I didn’t know that Gollum can kill orcs even though they are so much bigger than him!

I’m so happy that Bilbo pitied Gollum and didn’t kill him!

Nora wrote: "I wish that all mayors can be selected at an Midsummer fair!"

I wish we had a midsummer fair! It sounds like fun.

I’m so happy that there’s several libraries located in the Shire!

I didn’t know that Frodo’s birthday is the same day as Bilbo’s!

I read the entirety of Lord of the Rings in spring/summer of 2018. I wish I had time for a reread right now! I fell in love with the world after The Hobbit and more so after this story. I now have some special editions including having purchased the newly released illustrated editions of The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and LOTR over the past few years as they released in the fall. The illustrations are Tolkien's own, and many of them are in color!

Samantha wrote: "I read the entirety of Lord of the Rings in spring/summer of 2018. I wish I had time for a reread right now! I fell in love with the world after The Hobbit and more so after this story. I now have ..."

That's super cool that you collect illustrated versions of Tolkien's works and that they are in color too, Samantha!

Rosemarie wrote: "Nora wrote: "I wish that all mayors can be selected at an Midsummer fair!"

I wish we had a midsummer fair! It sounds like fun."

I definitely agree, Rosemarie! It sounds like a ton of fun!

Poor Drodo Baggins!!!

I'm glad you're continuing with LOTR. Everyone should read it at least once and preferably more than once.

Book Nerd wrote: "I'm glad you're continuing with LOTR. Everyone should read it at least once and preferably more than once."

Thanks so much for saying that, Book Nerd. And I definitely agree with you that everyone should read this series and preferably more than once.

Nora, if you end up loving LOTR, the recently released illustrated editions of it, Hobbit, and Silmarillion are not super expensive. The only prices I paid as each released was only $45. The retail price I think is $75. (US prices). There is some deluxe illustrated special edition of LOTR that's I think around $300 or more, but that's too expensive for my wallet.

The online* prices I paid. (dang autocorrect on the app)

Samantha wrote: "Nora, if you end up loving LOTR, the recently released illustrated editions of it, Hobbit, and Silmarillion are not super expensive. The only prices I paid as each released was only $45. The retail..."

I will definitely check them out! Thanks so much for telling me about the illustrated versions of these books, Samantha!

I'm so happy Gandalf has returned!!

It's so lovely that Hobbits give other people gifts on their own birthdays!

Love this quote: "The art of Gandalf improved with age."!!!<3<3<3

No problem, Nora! I haven't read the Silmarillion yet, but I have a gorgeous edition to dive into when I have the mental capacity.

Samantha wrote: "No problem, Nora! I haven't read the Silmarillion yet, but I have a gorgeous edition to dive into when I have the mental capacity."

Wonderful, Samantha!

Samantha wrote: "Nora, if you end up loving LOTR, the recently released illustrated editions of it, Hobbit, and Silmarillion are not super expensive. The only prices I paid as each released was only $45. The retail..."
Lol there are way too many nice editions of LOTR.

Love Gandalf’s comment that “Magical rings are...well magical “!!!

Yes, Book Nerd, there are a ton of beautiful editions of these books out there. I was happy the new illustrated ones were relatively cheap, considering the high price tags on so many special edition books!

Nora, Gandalf has a great sense of humor when the situation allows.

Samantha wrote: "Yes, Book Nerd, there are a ton of beautiful editions of these books out there. I was happy the new illustrated ones were relatively cheap, considering the high price tags on so many special editio..."

I definitely agree with you that Gandalf has a great sense of humor, Samantha.

I'm noticing in the book that it's more obvious that Bilbo is turning into Gollum earlier than in the film. And I didn't realize that his and Gandalf's friendship was at stake.

I can't seem to imagine Gandalf being unpopular!!!

I've read the first two chapters and reading them slowly, looking for details I missed on my previous readings-like Frodo's age when he starts his adventures.