The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
I feared to read the book for several reasons: first: it might make me all excited and thus I shall feel the extreme urge to read and read until I reach the third installment; second: Tolkien's world is like a maze, and I hate mazes, I hate everything I don't know by heart; third: the movie was too beautiful, and I was afraid that the movie will be one disappointing thing to me after I'm done; fourth: I might cry (haha).
However, since the whole package arrived to me as a present from my parents, I decided to read anyway. It was amazing, from the first page to the last of this first installment, that is the one word I could say.
I had heard from several people that the book might be boring because of the slow phase - this wasn't really true. Perhaps, it was due to the fact that the movie had been faster, and had cut days to shorter lengths.
The Fellowship of the Ring told a great deal about trust, and camaraderie. All the characters are special in their own ways.
The four hobbits seemed smarter in the book, especially Merry. It amazed me how he's like Pippin's older bro. I can't help but picturing them like that. In a way, Merry's like the brother I've always wish to have.
Pippin on the other hand was really consistent in his playfulness. He's smarter in the book too, but he seems to be Gandalf's little pest. It's both adorable and sad whenever he gets scolded, the poor thing. What's funny is that he seems to never let it bother him for a long long time.
Sam is the kind of friend I wish I have; Frodo is one lucky hobbit. He talks in the simplest way, but I am glad that he likes poetries and stories, and elves. His verse about Gandalf's fireworks really made me smile. He showed a great deal of loyalty to his Mr. Frodo, and that just made me send a message to my own best friend.
Frodo, oh what can I say more about the fiercest hobbit of them all? He's a darling, and I cannot praise him even more. I've always believed that authors base their characters on somebody, because that's what I do with the craps I write. I think Frodo is somebody close to Tolkien, and I'm now dying to die and meet him in Middle-earth just so I could squeeze out the answer from him.
The old wizard, Gandalf the Grey, reminded me much of my grandfathers, wise and...old, alright. I think he's a representation of a respectable man who was so loving and caring he need no magic to prove it. When Gandalf fell in Moria, I still became sad even if I knew it was going to happen anyway and he'd return anyway. I can't help it, it's Gandalf. He's one of the reasons why I wanna read right away the Two Towers.
As for Gimli and Legolas, they sure are surprising as well. Gimli wasn't as playful as he was in the movie. He was sort of more respectable, and wiser, especially when he was in Moria. And when they arrived in Lothlorien, I was thankful he and Legolas finally became real friends. I had never been so happy. Legolas was one great elf and he have my respect, even if his folks let Gollum away.
The proud lord of Gondor, Boromir...is somebody I cannot hate but also cannot like. It pains me that he was so persistent in taking the ring to Gondor, and yet I knew two evils drove him to be that way: his Father and the One Ring.
Last, but not the least, Aragorn, the lost king of Gondor. He is one exceptional character and I was like, stunned with the way Tolkien described him. He had my respect even during the time when he's still Strider. He was so humble, and kingly, just like those in the fairy tales I grew up with. Yet, there is a great deal of strength in him, and man, he could lead. There's nothing better than a man who could lead.
When I reached the last page, all those fears I stated above were washed away. And when I looked at the maps, man, I wasn't lost at all. In fact, it's as if I could live there.
I think Tolkien is one hell of a storyteller. I can't wait to start Two Towers.
View all my reviews
