# I'm going to try to get through LOTR one last time... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 15, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132 "2009-04-15T01:05:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/41 "2009-04-24T19:05:28Z")
This thread confirms what I’ve observed before: lots of people think _The Lord of the Rings_ is too long, but they differ widely over what should be left out. Every part that somebody thinks is draggy and unnecessary, somebody else thinks is wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/42 "2009-04-24T19:46:42Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > And the bitching about being hungry and eating all the damn time is annoying, but comes in the context of wartime rationing, so people wanted to read about and imagine good food and tobacco and such. Someone once said/wrote to C.S. Lewis that he was very clever to put scenes of teas and meals into the Narnia books (all written post-war) because kids like eating. He said (paraphrased), “No, I did that because I like eating!” (Well, who doesn’t? 🙂 ) Granted, some rationing was still in effect into the 1950s, and that probably was a factor for Tolkien and Lewis. But if someone claimed those scenes were included just to appeal to readers, that was a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/43 "2009-04-24T20:25:54Z")
As for reading the trilogy, I first read it in HS when the Ballantine paperbacks came out. I liked it but found it somewhat confusing. I didn’t really appreciate it fully until I read it again just after I had graduated from college. I tend to need at least two readings to “get” a book: the first relatively fast just to absorb the plot, and the second to catch up on details. So it’s really up to the individual to decide. I’m glad the OP is getting into it. But if someone doesn’t like it or just can’t get through it, they shouldn’t force themselves. It’s not a huge deal. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/44 "2009-04-24T21:24:19Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I’ve read the whole trilogy from cover to cover countless times over the years. I just skim what I find are the “boring parts” (that is, poems and Elvish) - no one says you have to read each and every sentence, and if something doesn’t make sense because you missed something, I daresay that’s what the SD is here for! > > Myself, LOVED the Tom Bombadil chapter, even though it has no connection to the main story. My 12 year old fairtytale-loving self could totally get with dressing in a green gown with gold or silver accessories, flitting around in the woods…My 12 year old self was moved to tears at the best description of death I ever read anywhere, to this very day. In Tom Bombadil’s house, Frodo had a dream …“the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise”. I was inordinately pleased the movie makers worked this lovely phrase into the dialogue. It gets reprised on the next to the last page, when Tolkein describes Frodo’s ship arriving at the Promised Land, which is why it gets worked into the movie. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/45 "2009-04-25T11:20:27Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Someone once said/wrote to C.S. Lewis that he was very clever to put scenes of teas and meals into the Narnia books (all written post-war) because kids like eating. He said (paraphrased), “No, I did that because I like eating!” (Well, who doesn’t? 🙂 ) Granted, some rationing was still in effect into the 1950s, and that probably was a factor for Tolkien and Lewis. But if someone claimed those scenes were included just to appeal to readers, that was a mistake. Well, that was the justification I heard for it. If it lacks even that justification, then Tolkein made an even bigger mistake in including that drivel than I previously thought. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/46 "2009-04-25T12:32:46Z")
Actually, I like that sort of talk. It’s part of what makes it seem real. Too many fantasy authors get all focused on the “fantasy” aspects, forgetting that even elves and hobbits have to eat. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/47 "2009-04-25T21:22:56Z")
Double post. Firefox said I hadn’t posted it yet. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/48 "2009-04-25T21:25:42Z")
Since there seem to be so many dopers who love RPing, and love LoTR, I thought I might pass on a link that combines those two passions. It kinda fits in with the topic of this post, as it is somewhat of a parody of LoTR (similar to BoTR) [DM of the Rings](http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=612) [(Table of Contents)](http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?cat=14) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/49 "2009-04-26T00:26:38Z")
Done. I just finished ROTK about 5 minutes ago. (Btw, THANK YOU, Continental Airlines for hiring such incompetents as the freaktard who apparently forgot he was supposed to gas up the airplane, causing it to be delayed 20 minutes at the gate (they realized this after we were all boarded). This delay then caused the plane to be delayed another 1/2 hour 'cause of bad weather. This caused me to miss my connection by, oh, 6 minutes, so I had a couple of extra hours at Hobby (Houston) to kill). It was an awesome read. All of it, even the denounement, which I didn’t find long at all. (BTW, **Well he’s back** , I now know where your name came from). I choked up (but in a manly way, I swear!) at Theoden’s death, especially when reading the following lines spoken by Eormer: > [@](#): > > _Mount not overmuch! Mighty was the fallen, > meet was his ending. When his mound is raised, > women then shall weep. War now calls us!_ > > Yet he himself wept as he spoke. I enjoyed the fact that the characters actually changed, and not in that “His big character flaw is now fixed” kind of way: Frodo couldn’t find happiness in the Shire, Gandalf, worn from years of strife, realizing his time has passed, and more. (I’d go on but my connecting flight is beginning pre-boarding. Fortunately, I always prefer to be the last person boarding a plane (you then have your choice of seats, you see) so I can type a bit more). I felt Sam and Frodo’s pain as they trudged through Mordor, especially the lack of water and the dearth of hope. As in the movie, I really enjoyed the fact that Frodo _failed_, that at his moment of triumph, he caved to the Desire and refused to give up the Ring. This isn’t something that commonly happens in fiction (Sherri Tepper does this at times, notably in _Grass_), but I enjoy it when I read it. I have more to go on about, but I want to grab a soda and they’re doing regular boarding. ETA: Oh, and I really enjoyed the Scouring! That was more of that “growth” thing I mentioned above: These hobbits faced down Sauron/Saruman, they weren’t going to be pushed around by a few ruffians! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/50 "2009-04-26T02:59:11Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Done. I just finished ROTK about 5 minutes ago. How’d you like the Appendices? Which one was your favorite? I’m torn between the one recounting of the Dwarf and Orc wars vs. the one about the various alphabets… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/51 "2009-04-26T05:19:14Z")
JohnT - I’m happy happy that you finished reading LOTR and enjoyed it! Yes - the characters grow & change; yes the scouring is meaningful; yes there’s lots of points to tear up at. Sigh. And yes, the incredible moment where Frodo cannot destroy the ring. Wow - I thought that was downright brave of the writer way back when I first read it. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/52 "2009-04-26T16:26:31Z")
Skip the poetry and just read the story. Much better. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/53 "2009-04-26T20:17:53Z")
Good God, no! Don’t skip it! Make up tunes in your head that fit the words!! 😃 I remember managing to bore a room of contestants and judges at a seventh grade speech contest by reading “Earendil was a mariner” in its entirety. 😛 Needless to say I liked the poem. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/54 "2009-04-26T21:32:52Z")
By reading it? You mean, you don’t have it memorized? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/55 "2009-04-26T22:58:02Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Good God, no! Don’t skip it! Make up tunes in your head that fit the words!! 😃 You mean like Emily Dickinson and _The Yellow Rose of Texas?_ ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/56 "2009-04-27T00:21:08Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Actually, I like that sort of talk. It’s part of what makes it seem real. Too many fantasy authors get all focused on the “fantasy” aspects, forgetting that even elves and hobbits have to eat. 🙂 I guess, but they don’t have to go on about it. Besides, Tolkein never rambles for pages about the elves taking vicious dumps. Even George RR Martin has characters sitting on toilets, and while he probably includes it partly for the realism you mention, he doesn’t feel the need to ramble about that or about the meals and feasts that come up. Plus, it’s fantasy for a reason. I can watch myself eat and smoke. I can’t watch myself battling a balrog. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/57 "2009-04-27T00:28:51Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > I can watch myself eat and smoke. I can’t watch myself battling a balrog. True, but after eating some of Tom Benzedrene’s Old Lady’s brownies, or smoking his stuff, you can _see…_ Sorry. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/58 "2009-04-27T00:47:40Z")
IMO, some “vicious dumps” are akin to battling a balrog. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/59 "2009-04-27T01:37:37Z")
> [@](#): > > You mean like Emily Dickinson and The Yellow Rose of Texas? Along the same lines, any song at all, ever, can be sung to the tune of _Greensleeves_. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132/60 "2009-04-27T01:43:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Along the same lines, any song at all, ever, can be sung to the tune of _Greensleeves_. Have you tried it with _Paint It, Black_? 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-try-to-get-through-lotr-one-last-time/493132.md?page=2)