Return of the King: Book 6 Discussion Post

It's over :'(

This is our last discussion post!

This has been a fun 3 months!

Thank you to everyone who participated!

Jenni's Discussion Questions:

1.    Has your favorite character changed in The Return of the King? If yes, why?

A little, I really liked Eowyn's role a lot. I also loved Aragorn and Theoden. Gimli wasn't as prominent in this one. If I had to choose one, I'd go with Theoden.

2.    Which is your favorite book of the series? Why?

Probably The Two Towers, It had more action and a lot going on. I really liked the content and what happened during that book, but my favorite part is in The Return of the King.

3.    Do you like how the series ended? Why?

Yes, It was a good ending. Everything wrapped up nice. I love that Sam inherits Bag-End. I like how the Fellowship had one last meeting and parting. I like how Bilbo and Frodo get to sail away with the elves. It was good. I'm content.

4.    If you could change one thing about the ending what would it be and why?

I wish Sam had the opportunity to go with Frodo. Obviously he had a family to take care of and everything, but they could have at least extended the invitation. 

5.    Were there any changes in The Return of the King movie that you liked or disliked?

Ugh! Faramir!!! WHY!? 

I wanted them to show Aragorn healing people in the movie.

I liked Theoden's death better in the movie. I liked that his last words were to Eowyn instead of Pippin.

6.    What was your favorite moment in Book 6?

The ending, when Frodo passes along the book to Sam. It is one of those tingly moments when you know something special is ending, but life is going to continue. 

7.    Which death affected you the most?

This might be getting repetitive, and I'm sure you can all guess, but I LOVE Theoden's last words! They are so awesome! His death is so amazing.

8.    Why do you think Frodo didn't want to kill Saruman and Wormtongue, even after all the destruction and heartache they caused in the Shire?

I DON'T KNOW! Frodo didn't want to kill anyone! Saruman needed to die! Thank goodness Wormtongue stabbed him in the back, and thank goodness the other hobbits shot Wormtonge. Geez!

9.    If you were in Frodo's place, would you have done the same thing? (See previous question.)

No! I would have encouraged Saruman's death. 

10.    If J.R.R. Tolkien were still alive and wrote a sequel to The Lord of the Rings, which character would you want to see the most and why?

That is a hard one. I'd like to read about Gimli and Legolas traveling together. I liked to read about Aragorn as king. I'd want to know about Sam and the Shire. I'd want to know how Eowyn and Faramir are doing. I would want an epic story with everyone again.

You won't want to miss:

Twitter Chat

Monday, August 4 @ 7:00 PM Mountain Time

We'll be discussing the books and stuff.

#LotRreadalong

Movie Night

Saturday, August 9 @ 6:00 PM

We'll be watching The Return of the King!

If interested, ask for more details!

Some Lord of the Rings Vids

I found these videos on YouTube, and I wanted to share for the read along.

Enjoy!

He he! Funny!

The Return of the King: Book 5 Discussion Post

Can you believe we are almost done!! Only one more book left!! AH!

Discussion Questions:

I'm going to do something a little different for this post. There are a lot of symbols in The Lord of the Rings, and there a lot of lessons to learn. For example: fighting evil, fighting for what is right, friendship, willpower, one's duty, sacrifice, etc. I would like everyone to pick a topic from Lord of the Rings and write a little something about it. 

My Answer:

 

I would like to talk about Theoden vs Denethor or in other words Courage vs Despair. Their lives and stories have so many similarities, but their outcomes are so different. Lets list some stuff:

They are both rulers of their lands 

Theoden is King of Rohan while Denethor is the steward of Gondor. 

Both are troubled by the war

They both lost a son

Theoden loses Theodrid, and Denethor loses Boromir.

Both are shaken by the loss of their son.

They are both influenced by the enemy.

Theoden is heavily influenced by Wormtongue/Saruman, and Denethor is influenced by the palantir/Sauron.

They both die

They die in very different ways, but they both die.

There are other similarities, but my mind is drawing a blank. These are the big ones though.

Anyhoo, Gandalf is able to help Theoden regain himself, and Theoden becomes an amazing character! He leads his people with courage and great leadership. He is kind and loving with Eowyn and Eomer. His death is one of my favorites, and his lines are EPIC! "I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed." I LOVE THAT! My favorite line in any movie! There are a lot of lines in books that are awesome, so I can't really say it's my favorite for books. Theoden knows he has done all he can, and he is not afraid to die. He dies in peace. I can only hope of having that kind of peace and knowledge when I die. 

p.s. I think Theoden's death was better in the movie. I like that Eowyn is the last one he sees and speaks to.

Denethor succumbs to grief, anger, and pain. I don't feel like he ever gets over his mourning for Boromir. He doesn't ride out to battle with his soldiers. He gives up. He decides everyone is going to burn, and he wants to commit suicide! AND he wants to take Faramir with him. How sad is that? Denethor could have been a great man like Theoden, but instead he chooses despair. 

Theoden dies leading his people into battle, and facing off with the enemy. He has overcome his grief. He is a mighty man. It is a tragedy that he dies. Denethor dies with the ultimate act of despair, suicide. 

This makes me really think about my life and what I choose. There are always ups and downs in life. I want to face my challenges with courage, not despair. I want to pick myself up and do what I feel is right. 

I look forward to everyone insights on things. Please link up your post!

The Return of the King Kickoff

We are starting The Return of the King today!!!

Can you believe we are on the last book?

I'm so excited!

Here is my edition:

Page Break Down:

Book 5:    11

Book 6:    9

My book has a lot of Appendices and things at the end. I don't know if I'll read them all, but they look interesting.

I'll be doing a discussion post on Book 5 on July 15.

Jenni will be discussing Book 6 on July 31.

The Two Towers: Book 4 Discussion Post

Woo! We only have 1 more book to go!

This has been a fun read along!

Today's discussion post is hosted by Jenni. 

Make sure to link your answers over there!

Questions:

1.    Has your favorite character changed in The Two Towers? If yes, why?

No, Gimli is still awesome! I love the friendship that grew between Gimli and Legolas.

2.    Which do you like more, The Fellowship of the Ring or The Two Towers? Why?

This one is a toughie. I like both for different reasons. I think I enjoyed The Two Towers just a tad more though. It had more action, and that fight between Sam and Shelob was SO epic!



3.   Do you think Frodo and Sam should have killed Gollum? 

Yes! I think Bilbo should have killed him!
No! He had a purpose and a part to play in the overall story. 

4.    What do you think about Book Faramir vs Movie Faramir?

Movie Faramir is AWFUL!!!! WHY!? Why did they decide to change his character? It is my biggest complaint about the movies. Faramir was the opposite of Boromir, and they should have showed that!! They should have stuck with the book! You can't just change a character's personality! 

The actor for Faramir did a good job though. I liked that Faramir and Boromir looked like they could actually be brothers. 

5.    Why do you think Frodo trusts Gollum?

I think Frodo should be more wary of Gollum. Sam has the right attitude. I think Frodo can feel a connection with Golllum on some sort of level. They were both bearers of the ring, and I think Frodo is afraid of becoming like Gollum, and he wants to believe someone who had the ring so long isn't completely corrupted. 

6.    If you were in Sam's place, would you have made the same choices if you thought Frodo was dead?

I would have taken the ring and tried to finish the quest, but I wouldn't have left Frodo out in the open like that. Shelob could have come back and eaten him. I would have hidden him somewhere. 

7.    Frodo is very blessed to have Sam with him on his quest. He is a great support and companion, and Frodo even admits he wouldn't have made if far without Sam. If you could choose one person to take on an epic quest with you, who would it be and why? (Choose anyone! They can be fictional, family, role model, etc.)

I hate narrowing this down to one! There are so many people to choose from! Normally I would say Batman, but for an epic quest like Frodo's I'm going to go with:



Sebastian Michaelis

He is simply one hell of a butler!

I'd always have good food.

He'd kill everyone in our way with no problem.

If he couldn't help me on this quest, what kind of a butler would he be?




8.    On the flip side, do you think Frodo should have had a different member of the fellowship with him instead of Sam?

Yes and No
I don't think anyone would have followed Frodo with the same determination and diligence as Sam, but Aragorn would have been more useful. Then again, Aragorn had his own role to play. I think things worked out the way they were supposed to. 

9.    What was your favorite moment in Book 4?

Like I said before, Sam vs Shelob is EPIC! I loved it! GO SAM!

10.    How has the ring affected Frodo so far in the story?

I don't think the ring is strongly influencing him yet. It is definitely a burden. The book talks about how heavy it is. I think the ring is constantly on Frodo's mind. At this point, I think Frodo is just exhausted. Once the ring wears him out physically, it will be easier to take his mind. 

Housekeeping Items:

We won't be doing a Twitter Chat, but keep following and using #LotRreadalong for thoughts, quotes, comments, and updates.

We'll be watching the Two Towers on Saturday, July 5 @ 6:00 PM.

We'll be pitching in for pizza, and there will be other refreshments.

Let me or Jenni know you want to come, and we'll get you directions to my place.

We'll be kicking off The Return of the King tomorrow!!

Two Towers Book 3 Answers

Sorry I never got around to giving answers to the Book 1 questions!

1.    Do you like how the book is split? Book 3 is all about Merry, Pippin, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, and book 4 is all about Frodo and Sam.

Yes! I really like this. I like that I didn't have to go back and forth trying to remember what just happened. I liked being able to read their different story lines completely. 

2.    What differences between the book and movie do you like?

Boromir's death was way more epic in the movie. 

3.    What differences between the book and movie do you dislike?

I don't want to spoil anything, but I don't like that Saruman dies at Isengard in the movie!! I get that didn't want to show what actually happened, but . . .

4.    Why do you think Grima Wormtongue threw the Palantir out the window?

I don't get it? Why would he give his enemies something like that? Why would he want to piss of Saruman? I think he is just a spiteful little worm that just does stupid things. Maybe he thought it would be bad for Saruman and Gandalf. 

5.    Have you noticed any differences in character from Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White?

Gandalf the White seems more sure of himself. He seems more wise, and he always knows what to do. I think his magic has increased as well. 

6.    What was your favorite moment or scene in the book?

I love when Gimli and Legolas count their kills! They turn war into a competition between them. It is funny.

I really love Gimli and Legolas's friendship in the book. 

7.    Magic always has to have constraints. If it didn't, we'd want all the problems to be solved with magic. There is some powerful magic in Lord of the Rings. How do you think it works? What are the constraints? Why doesn't Gandalf just transport the ring to the Mount Doom or wipe out the armies with magic?

I feel like the magic can't always be used. It is like a gift. 

I also think there are physical constraints. The user can only do what they can physically bear. 

I think willpower had a lot to do with it too. Frodo has to constantly fight the influence of the ring. The ring is constantly trying to fight it's way back to it's master. Willpower seems to be a big theme when magic is involved. 

8.     I feel like Tolkien wasn't a fan of technology or machinery. Did you pick up on any of that?

Saruman's wheels and everything are evil, and they are frowned upon by everyone! The Ents, being one of the oldest beings in Middle Earth and trees, go to war against Saruman and his machines.

Each race works with the land and doesn't destroy it, except for men of course. Dwarves care for the mountains, Elves care for trees, hobbits build their homes insides hillsides. I feel like Tolkien loved the Earth. 

The Two Towers: Book 3 Discussion Post

Sorry again about the delay!

Random Thoughts:

-   How come Merry and Pippin were surprised to see Gandalf alive?

-    I love the Gimli and Legolas are friends. It took a lot of forgiving and forgetting to do that, especially since Legolas's dad imprisoned Gimli's dad for a while. 

Discussion Questions

Link up your answers below!

1.    Do you like how the book is split? Book 3 is all about Merry, Pippin, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, and book 4 is all about Frodo and Sam.

2.    What differences between the book and movie do you like?

3.    What differences between the book and movie do you dislike?

4.    Why do you think Grima Wormtongue threw the Palantir out the window?

5.    Have you noticed any differences in character from Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White?

6.    What was your favorite moment or scene in the book?

7.    Magic always has to have constraints. If it didn't, we'd want all the problems to be solved with magic. There is some powerful magic in Lord of the Rings. How do you think it works? What are the constraints? Why doesn't Gandalf just transport the ring to the Mount Doom or wipe out the armies with magic?

8.     I feel like Tolkien wasn't a fan of technology or machinery. Did you pick up on any of that?

No twitter chat this time, but you can still follow along with #LotRreadalong for quotes and thoughts on the book.

We'll be doing a Discussion Post on Book 4 with Jenni on June 30.

Two Towers Kick Off

We are starting The Two Towers today! 

Welcome to those of you who are joining us! You can sign up here

Welcome back to the rest of you! I hope you'll stick with us!

This is the edition I'll be reading!

I'm so in love with my Lord of the Rings box set!

I love Alan Lee's illustrations!

Page Break Down:

Book 3:    13.5 pages a day

Book 4:    10.5 pages a day

Not bad at all!

I'll be doing a discussion post on Book 3 on June 15

Jenni will be doing a discussion post on Book 4 on June 30

Please use #LotRreadalong on twitter for quotes and thoughts while reading!

Good luck everyone!

Let the reading begin!!

Don't forget about our Fellowship of the Ring movie night!!

Fellowship of the Ring: Book 2 Discussion Post

Woo! What a great book! I love Tolkien!

Some Random Thoughts:

-    I loved the symbolism of Saruman's robes. He was Saruman the white, but when he turned evil, the white was fractured and he became Saruman of many colors.

-    I loved how Gloin and Bilbo reminisced and talked about what happened to our friends from The Hobbit.

-    There is a line in the book that says "O Lady of Lorien of whome were sprung Celebrian and Arwen Evenstar." Does that mean Arwen is Galadriel's daughter?

Discussion Questions
from Jenni

1.    Even if you've read the books before (or you've seen the movies), were you surprised by who Elrond picked for the fellowship?

Not really, It isn't a surprise if you've read the books or seen the movie. I don't understand why Elrond picked Legolas to represent the elves though. I would have chosen someone from my own house. I think he should have picked Glorfindel. 

2.    How do you feel about Gandalf's fate in Moria?

It is sad, but it is something he had to experience to become more than a grey wizard. I thought it was good for the fellowship. They relied on him so much, and I think they learned and grew a lot without him. I think Aragorn is more than qualified to lead the fellowship.

3.    What do you think you would see in Galadriel's mirror?

Probably things I don't want to see. I think I would be too scared to even look. 

4.    If you could have any of the gifts the elves from Lothlorien gave to the fellowship which one would you choose and why?

This is actually something that kind of bugs me about the movie. They get different gifts. Why was that necessary to change?

I don't really need a belt or a scabbard. The bow would be cool, but I'd just hurt myself. I guess I would choose the dirt from Galadriel's garden. I don't have much of a green thumb, so that would help me a lot!

5.    Do you think Boromir had any logic in his thinking about using the ring to fight Sauron?

Yes and No. I think Boromir was more power hungry than the others, so the ring influenced him more. I also think Boromir truly believed he could use the ring for a valiant cause. Too bad he was too arrogant to listen to council's warnings. 

6.    Do you think Frodo was rash for leaving the fellowship behind?

Yes! If I was Frodo, I'd want their help! I'd for sure take Aragorn. Good thing Sam was able to go with him. If not for Sam, the ring would never have been destroyed. 

7.    Do you have a hard time following the action? Do the movies, if you've seen them, make it easier to envision the events taking place?

No. I grew up with Tolkien. I think the movies captured a lot of things accurately, but they messed up on a few things as well. 

8.    Who is your favorite and least favorite character in The Fellowship of the Ring?

Favorite:  This is SO hard!!!! Bilbo will always be my favorite Tolkien character. I really like Sam in the book, and I really like Gimli. Aragorn is always awesome! Barliman kind of makes me laugh. 
I'm going to go with Gimli.

Least Favorite:  I don't know. I like everyone. Oh wait!! I know!!! Lobelia Sackville-Baggins!! Horrible greedy hobbit! 

9.    What is your favorite and least favorite scen in the The Fellowship of the Ring?

Favorite:  I have to say when Bilbo and Gloin are talking. I get so happy when things from The Hobbit pop up. I also love the beginning when Tolkien describes hobbits. Bilbo's party is a favorite. I also like the Council. It's all good!

Least Favorite:  Lothlorien is always slow for me. I wouldn't say I hate it, but it is the slowest part of the book for me. 

10.    These books seem to be very male-centric. Does this bother you? Do you wish there were more important female characters? How do you think the book would've changed if one of the main characters were female?

This doesn't bother me at all. I have no problem picturing hot men while I read. 

Back in Tolkien's day, women didn't go to war. The few women in the books are pretty revered. I'm okay with that. Plus, Eowyn is awesome! She is one of my favorite book ladies! 

Jenni will be hosting a Twitter Chat tomorrow!

Sunday, June 1

6:00 PM (mountain time)

#LotRreadalong

We will be having a party to watch The Fellowship of the Ring movie!

My house

Saturday, June 7

6:00 PM

If you'd like, you can pitch in for pizza.

There will be other food as well.

Bring your spouse and friends.

It's going to be fun!!

If you want to come, contact me or Jenni for directions to my place. I live in Orem, I hope that isn't too long of a drive for people.

We'll be kicking off The Two Towers tomorrow!! Woo!

Fellowship of the Ring: Book 1 Discussion Post

Is everyone enjoying the book? I am!!

Ready for my questions?

Please link your answer post below! I look forward to reading your thoughts!

1.    Is this your first time reading or a re-read? What do you think so far?

2.    Jenni hates the songs, I love them. How do you feel about them?

3.    The Hobbits live a simple and peaceful life. Tolkien considered himself a hobbit. How about you? Do you relate to the hobbits, or would you be another race?

4.    What are some differences between the movie and book that you like?

5.    What are some differences you hate?

6.    Why do you think the ring didn't work on Tom Bombadil?

7.    How do you feel about Frodo selling Bag End, especially to the Sackville-Bagginses?

8.    What do you think about Tolkien's writing style? 

9.    Do you picture the actors from the movie in your head, or do you picture your own characters?

10.    Jenni wanted me to ask about Tom Bombadil. She hates him, I enjoy him. How do you feel about him?

I'll be hosting a Twitter Chat tomorrow!

Friday, May 16

7:00 PM (Mountain Time)

#LotRReadalong

Join us!

Fellowship of the Rings Starting Line

Let the reading begin!

This is the version I'm going to read!

Isn't it pretty!? I love the illustrations by Alan Lee! They inspired the movies.

My Lord of the Rings books were one of the best Christmas presents ever!

Anyway, for this read-along here is the page break down for my version or a similar one:

Book 1:    14.5 pages a day

Book 2:    About 12 pages a day

Doable right!?

Let's do this thing!!

Don't forget to follow and use #LotRreadalong

Fellowship of the Rings Read a Long Sign Up

My friend Jenni, and I will be hosting a Lord of the Rings Read-a-Long!

We'll be reading one book a month, and May's book is The Fellowship of the Ring! 

If you'd like to join us in this epic reading, please sign up below.

Schedule:

May 1
The reading begins!
May 15
Discussion Post about Book 1
May 31
Discussion Post about Book 2

We'll also be having Twitter Chats after these discussion posts. 
Those will be announced later.

We'll be using #LotRreadalong
I'll be tweeting thoughts, quotes, and other stuff.

Please join us, and tell your friends! This is going to be awesome!