The Fellowship of the Ring
by J.R.R. Tolkien
The (a) story follows Frodo Baggins, a hobbit from the peaceful Shire, who finds himself unwittingly entrusted with an object of dark power: the One Ring. Now, with evil closing in on all sides, Frodo and his friends must journey across Middle Earth to dispose of it for good in the fires of Mount Doom, deep in the heart of Mordor—the lair of the evil lord Sauron. But the One Ring has a mind of its own, and hobbits are not known for their bravery and daring.
And yet, an unlikely hero may be exactly what Middle Earth needs.
The (A) story is about power and corruption. But it is also about friendship, and more than anything it demonstrates how even the seemingly small and insignificant can change the course of history.
I avoided this book for years for the same reasons I was hesitant to read The Summer Tree: I thought I would be in for a dry, mythos-and-exposition-slogged fantasy that would read more like the Bible than something meant for entertainment. And, to be fair, it kind of is—just not to the extent that I had anticipated. In fact, I actually found it easier to read in the long run than The Summer Tree, though that might be because Kay’s writing helped prepare me for the more conventional epic fantasies of Tolkien’s era.
Similar to my thoughts on The Hobbit, I was surprised that such an epic fantasy didn’t feel more…epic—but, also like The Hobbit, the lack of intense action scenes did not take away from my enjoyment of the story. The characters are charming (particularly Samwise, who—portrayed so well in the movies by Sean Astin—proves time and again that he is truly the heart of the Fellowship); the story and its messages are timeless; and despite my original misgivings, the writing does flow well.
Hopefully, I will be moving on to The Two Towers soon!
Memorable Quote(s):
“But I do not seek allies in war. The might of Elrond is in wisdom not in weapons, it is said.” – Boromir
“It is not our part here to take thought only of a season, or for a few lives of Men, or for a passing age of the world. We should seek a final end of this menace, even if we do not hope to make one.” – Gandalf the Grey
“This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong. Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.” – Elrond
“The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.” – Haldir
