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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Double post. Firefox said I hadn’t posted it yet.
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)
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:
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!
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…
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.
Skip the poetry and just read the story. Much better.
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.
By reading it? You mean, you don’t have it memorized?
You mean like Emily Dickinson and The Yellow Rose of Texas?
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.
True, but after eating some of Tom Benzedrene’s Old Lady’s brownies, or smoking his stuff, you can see… Sorry.
:rolleyes:
IMO, some “vicious dumps” are akin to battling a balrog.
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?