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!!

Fan Art Friday

showcasing

It goes with our Read Along. Enjoy!

I love them all! These people are so talented!

Which is your favorite?

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!!

The Two Towers

Goodreads Description:   The Two Towers is the second part of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure, The Lord of the Rings.

Frodo and the Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord, Sauron, by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard Gandalf in a battle with an evil spirit in the Mines of Moria; and at the Falls of Rauros, Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape, the rest of the company was attacked by Orcs.

Now they continue their journey alone down the great River Anduin -- alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go.

My Thoughts:

-    I get the feeling that Tolkien didn't like technology or machinery.

-    Alan Lee's illustrations are beautiful and so accurate!  I love how they added those in this version.

-    Thank you publisher or whoever for the map at the front and end of the book!!  It was SUPER helpful.

-    I like how the book is split into book 3 and 4.  Book 3 is all about Aargorn, Gimli, Legolas, Merry, and Pippin.  Book 4 is all about Frodo, Sam, and Gollum.  I like that Tolkien didn't go back and forth.  I got to read their stories all the way through.  

-    I like how the perspective changes.  The book has so much in it, and it is nice to see things from different characters.

-    The Frodo and Sam ending was a pretty big cliffhanger!  You'd think Tolkien could have chosen to split the book in a different spot, but no! 

Re-Read Thoughts:

-    I love the friendship between Gimli and Legolas. 

-    I love the way Same talks. The words he uses and the way he describes things are funny. 

Previous Lord of the Rings Book

(click on cover to see my thoughts)