# I've never read LOTR. Is this a dealbreaker? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673 "2003-01-19T20:05:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/1 "2003-01-19T20:05:03Z")
I saw _The Hobbit_ movie a loooooooooong time ago, and couldn’t tell you a thing about it now, except that some of the characters were short and had hairy feet. I’ve never read any Tolkien, and I haven’t seen any of the current movies. Does this make me a failure as a human? Will I lose friends because of this? And should I actually read these things? The closest I’ve come to reading fantasy was the first two Harry Potter books, which I did enjoy very much, but I haven’t seen the movies. I’ll admit, I am kinda curious about them. They’re pretty classic, after all, and I do like a good classic. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/2 "2003-01-19T20:09:42Z")
It’s over between us. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/3 "2003-01-19T20:23:30Z")
Bear in mind that everyone who has read _The Lord of the Rings_ was at one time someone who had never read _The Lord of the Rings_ There’s no shame in that. Remember, you’re only a failure as a human if you read the books and don’t like them! Kidding, of course. Seriously, if you enjoyed J. K. Rowling’s books you might well enjoy reading _The Hobbit_ as well. _Lord of the Rings_ is a totally different kettle of fish, even though it has many of the same characters. Those books represent a later stage in Tolkien’s career, when he was more keenly interested in creating an internally consistent, fully realized fantasy world. So those books tend to be a lot more textured. There’s a good reason why they come with a set of appendices. It’s common to enjoy _The Hobbit_ while not really caring for _Lord of the Rings_, and vice versa. I’ve heard that some people who love the later books come to dislike _The Hobbit_, as it is written on a very child-friendly level. Me, I started with _The Hobbit_ and moved on to the others to find out what happened to the characters, and I still love 'em all. So, sure, give 'em a read! Hope that helps. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/4 "2003-01-19T20:24:38Z")
Don’t say anything … Just … step … away … ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/5 "2003-01-19T20:29:11Z")
I feel so betrayed ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/6 "2003-01-19T20:36:15Z")
Well, okay, I stand corrected. Apparently there _is_ shame in not having read Tolkien. Yes, people will shun and mock you, you will be cast out from polite society, children will throw eggs at you, dogs will spit on your grave. Me, I don’t know you; I was never here. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/7 "2003-01-19T20:49:37Z")
“The Lord of the Rings” is a fine story, but it’s not the best novel(s) I’ve ever read, and probably isn’t one of the 20 best. It’s a better _story_ than it is a book, if you can understand that. It’s a great story, but as a work of literature it’s overrated by a factor of about twenty billion. To its credit, it’s the most COPIED story in modern literature. But so what? ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/8 "2003-01-19T21:11:11Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by RickJay_ > \*\*It’s a great story, but as a work of literature it’s overrated by a factor of about twenty billion. To its credit, it’s the most COPIED story in modern literature. But so what? \*\* Well, Persephone has read J.K. Rowling’s books, and enjoyed them, though few would argue that any of those fall into the category of Great Literature. Whether Tolkien is overrated or not depends on who you’re talking to. He’s certainly responsible (along with Robert E. Howard and a few others) for the modern fantasy genre, which could be considered a crime. ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/9 "2003-01-19T21:35:00Z")
I just don’t know who you _are_ anymore. It’s not me, it’s you. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/10 "2003-01-19T21:41:28Z")
On the contrary, you should be proud. The Hobbit is a pretty good book. LOTR, on the other hand, is tedious garbage. It appeals to children who liked The Hobbit for an essentially childish reason; the desire to know more–even though this knowledge is an illusion. If it weren’t continued from the previous superior work, it never would have been published. It is rather impressively overlong, however. Save yourself the hassle. > [@](#): > > _Terrifel:_ > Whether Tolkien is overrated or not depends on who you’re talking to. He’s certainly responsible (along with Robert E. Howard and a few others) for the modern fantasy genre, which could be considered a crime. I quite agree. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/11 "2003-01-19T21:58:09Z")
> [@](#): > > It appeals to children who liked The Hobbit for an essentially childish reason; the desire to know more Dude, you sure you’re on the right board? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/12 "2003-01-19T23:40:55Z")
If you enjoyed the Harry Potter books, you’ll probably like _The Hobbit._ I read _The Hobbit_ first, then LOTR, then some of Tolkien’s other works, like _Silmarillon_. I liked it all, but the best I’ve ever read, it ain’t. Committed it all to memory, I haven’t. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/13 "2003-01-19T23:41:39Z")
Hm. I wonder what would happen if I told everyone that I’ve never watched \*Friends, \* either. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/14 "2003-01-19T23:44:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Persephone \* > \*\*Hm. I wonder what would happen if I told everyone that I’ve never watched \*Friends, \* either. \*\* I guess we could both be stoned at the same ceremony, 'cause I’ve never watched _Friends_! ---
**Author:** ![thi6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@thi6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thi6)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/15 "2003-01-19T23:47:36Z")
Can I join your outcast club? I don’t watch Friends either, I read The Hobbit and the LOTR trilogy so long ago I don’t remember anything about them, and if it has teenagers screaming over it, I avoid it like the plague (also like the plaque, dental hygiene is important). On the other hand, I have read all the Harry Potter books. 🙂 thi6 ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/16 "2003-01-20T00:04:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Does this make me a failure as a human? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/17 "2003-01-20T00:15:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Carter of Mars \* > \*\*but the best I’ve ever read, it ain’t. Committed it all to memory, I haven’t. \*\* Talking like Yoda you are… ---
**Author:** ![The\_MacDairmuid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_MacDairmuid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_MacDairmuid)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/18 "2003-01-20T00:22:35Z")
Persephone, If you can add that you don’t watch Reality (_cough_) shows either, I can forgive your having not read LOTR. 🙂 … But you _should_ mend your ways. As for teenagers screaming for over the books, perhaps they are now. But I would guess that that is a result of the movies. I read The Hobbit and LOTR for the first time as a teenager twenty years ago. There were few among my peers who had also read the books. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/19 "2003-01-20T01:38:03Z")
I got ya beat. I’ve never read Tolkien, never watched _Friends_, don’t watch Reality TV, and I’ve never seen an episode of _Seinfeld_ either. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go back into my cave now, this light is hurting my eyes. Sheesh, people actually _live_ out here??!! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673/20 "2003-01-20T01:49:15Z")
I liked _The Hobbit_. I had to read the first one of the trilogy for eighth-grade English and skimmed the first half before giving up. Hated, hated, hated it. My officemate keeps threatening to get me the trilogy for my birthday but has resisted so far. (This year he got me a cheesy acrylic Dr Pepper laprobe which was infinitely preferable.) Hating “reality” TV, though – that’s problematical. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-never-read-lotr-is-this-a-dealbreaker/149673.md?page=2)