The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King

Title: The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

Pages: 16 discs

Genre: Fantasy

Grade: A-

Synopsis: Frodo and Sam continue on their trek into Mordor to try and destroy the ring at Mount Doom. At the same time, the remaining members of the fellowship are fighting battles for Rohan and Gondor. Gandalf the White hatches a plan to divert Sauron's eye to them so that he will not be aware of Frodo and the ring's presence in his own backyard.

My Review: The Lord of the Rings is truly an epic story. As you read this series, there are so many stories that could have been told about everything in middle earth, which allows your imagination to fill in the blanks. My only complaint is that the climax of the story happens just over halfway through the book, but the benefit of this is that the completion of the story is very satisfying as most loose ends have been wrapped up.

The Two Towers

Title: The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

Pages: 17 discs

Genre: Fantasy

Grade: B+

Synopsis: The fellowship has broken up with Frodo and Sam sneaking off on their own to try and destroy the Ring in Mordor at Mount Doom. Pippin and Meriadoc have been abducted by Orcs who are taking them to Saruman at Isengard. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli are carefully tracking their trail in an attempt to save them.

My Review: Once again I enjoyed being immersed in Middle Earth as I followed along Frodo and the others adventures. There were a couple of parts of the book that got a bit long-winded, but the story is still engrossing and enjoyable. I'm looking forward to the conclusion.

The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring

Title: The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

Pages: 18 discs

Genre: Fantasy

Grade: B+

Synopsis: Bilbo Baggins is preparing to celebrate his eleventy-first birthday in the Shire. All of the Hobbits are excited for the eccentric Hobbit's birthday celebration. At the end of the party, Bilbo mysteriously disappears by putting on a ring that he found in his journeys long before. He gives the ring to his heir Frodo Baggins and the wizard Gandalf tells Frodo that the ring is the ring of power that was created long ago by Sauron for evil purposes. Frodo and three other Hobbits end up traveling to Rivendell to council with the elves and on the way they are pursued by the evil black riders. In Rivendell a fellowship of an elf, two men, a wizard, a dwarf, and the four Hobbits head out on a journey to destroy the ring.

My Review: I've read these books once before and I thought that the time was ripe to read them again (this time by listening to them...). I really like the series and I've especially enjoyed listening to them because the reader has actually been singing all of the songs and poems that can be so long and boring when reading the book. The depth of the world that Tolkien has created amazes me.