[Arkinsaw]

This work of fiction is truly a man's fantasy. I am a woman and I have been reading the 1000 page book for the last few days, and I am finding it quite dull. I'm waiting for something to happen. Too much about travelng through beautiful scenery, too much about fears and black riders, and what's to happen next. Maybe it is the lack of a prominent woman in the story so far. Frodo has already reached Rivendale, or whatever. But I'll keep struggling along.

That's one of the difficult things about Lord of The Rings. The first book is very much about setting up the environment and a lot of atmospherics. I know several people who had difficulty getting through it. But the payoff is in the third book and there is a mighty scene coming up for you towards the end of book one.

Tolkien also gets a lot of criticism for the lack of women in LOTR and it is true. But the two major women characters that you WILL encounter are about as strong and amazing as you can get.

[blackbart1]

I fell in love with the first book, The Hobbit. But then I love all the scenery and descriptions, hobbit hole with a round green door on the side of a hill, hobbits eat at least 6 times a day etc, etc, etc. I love all the books but my favorite is the first one. Have read them all many times.