[AuntToots]

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.

[Skywalk]

A lack of a prominent woman? LOL

You sound like one of those leftists, but since I know you're not, I'll give you some reason for hope. There are several prominent women characters fast approaching...

[Senator Pardek]

Wait until you get to Shelob...

[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.

[RobbyS]

It may just be my personal experience, but I have often found that while I can "get into a "woman's " story, they can't get into a "man's| story, unless the hero is a hunk.

[Sabertooth]

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.

There's a reason why things are mundane so far. But check your stirrups...

You're about to leap the chasm.

[piasa]

I'm a woman and I loved Tolkien's books. But then, I liked the nautical Hornblower Saga books as well, so my tastes aren't typical.

American women seem to prefer movies that show women getting beat up repeatedly by drunken or jealous men, if the cable 'Lifetime' station is an indicator. And they cling to daytime TV talk shows with psychopaths scratching each other's eyes out, or short sitcoms with a lot of cruel sarcasm from snotty New Yorkers. I have no idea why these genres are so popular, since I despise these three basic types of programming for women. None include adventure... not that popular romance novels seldom stray far from home either.

[KeepUSfree]

It does take a while to get going. It really isn't until the middle of "The Two Towers" that things start to heat up. And, I do agree that it appeals more to men as it is a "Good vs. evil/save the entire world" fantasy - something that is more of a male fantasy (call me sexist.... I think men and women think differently!)

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

What you need to do is this: Set aside 3 or 4 days, preferably rainy, cold and gloomy ones. Build a fire in your fireplace (if you have one). Put on some classical music and snuggle up with blanket on your couch. Start reading. Read until you finish all 3 books. You will like it.

[Silly]

Frodo has already reached Rivendale

Did he visit the Hebrew Home? Oops, that's Riverdale...

[MarkWar]

>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 think you hit the nail on the head (so to speak). I got some fans a bit heated at me when I pointed this out in another LOTR thread. Check it out: Young boy places himself in old man's hands... (not a pee wee herman thread!)

Mark W.

[Wm Bach]

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.

The Trilogy is absolutely spellbinding. Women tend to be quite dull, unless they happen to be strong like Maggie Thatcher or mostly naked like Britney Spears , and there are few strong women in real life, so it is no suprise that the same sex that endowed Bradd Pitt with stardom might want to take a pass on this movie.

A woman's idea of exitement is being told by a man what to do, after waiting around doing nothing.

I'm wondering, do you think I'll get flamed?

[ThomasMore]

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.

This epic is about a titanic clash of VIRTUE and VICE. It is chivalry and honor in a struggle for survival against the tyranny of absolute evil. It is "white knights" and "damsels". If chivalry is no longer a virtue then this is a meaningless, dated story. I believe the women in the story are real heroines. Women whose virtue is worthy of imitation. It is not a modern romance story, but it is a great romantic piece in the true sense of the word.

Read on AuntToots, I think you'll get into eventually.

[ArGee]

I'm waiting for something to happen.

A hint - this isn't a Tom Clancy novel. The trilogy is all about the characters and how they rise to the occasion. It is almost not at all about the particulars of the occasion and it is definately not about the action.

Shalom.

[SuziQ]

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.

Oh honey, just wait til you meet up with the 'Lady of the Golden Wood', Galadriel. You want power, you got it!!

I wasn't much interested in these books even 10 years ago when Sir SuziQ read them to our two oldest boys, but we're now reading them to our two younger kids (13 and 11) and I am enjoying them immensely. Tolkien writes so beautifully that it is a pleasure to read aloud. We have finished 'Fellowship' and had started 'Two Towers', but decided to backtrack and read 'The Silmarillion' to get the back story of Middle Earth and the lives of the Elves and Men. I'm not sure if some of it in icluded in the movie, or not, but just in case.... We can't wait for the movie, either!

[SauronOfMordor]

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.

The Lord of the Rings is very-much oriented towards males, particularly boys.

It is a tale revolving around small males (hobbits) coming from conventional lives who suddenly find themselves having to become more than they were, overcome impossible odds and god-like foes, and stick close to their buddies. It is a male-bonding tale which has women being very-much secondary. You could realisticly remove all the female characters and retain the guts of the book

My 13-year-old daughter also had difficulty retaining interest in it when she first tried it a couple of years ago, but she's giving it another shot. I think this will not be a successful "date" movie for the most part

[copycat]

Frodo has already reached Rivendale, or whatever. But I'll keep struggling along.

It doesn't get going 'til they leave Rivendell. Everything before that is setup.

[contessa machiaveli]

i read the trilogy in my freshman year of college, then reread it as a junior. it's a wonderful story and i can't wait to see it although at first i didn't think it could be translated into film. it's beautiful and magical and good against evil so in a way it is a very romantic narrative. it's difficult not to love some of the characters. the absence of a conventional romance makes it more etherial and sweet.

[Tench_Coxe]

There is a very powerful scene at the end of 'The Fellowship of the Ring". I wonder if you had any interest in the encounter of the hobbits and Tom Bombadil. He was one of the more interesting characters in the trilogy and his significance is a bit greater than what it seems.

[Tench_Coxe]

Actually, there are several prominant women.

In 'The Return of the King', a woman figures very prominantly in a battle scene in which men cannot prevail. I won't give away any more hints, but it is enough to make even the feminists cheer.