[griflotin]

I've read part of loth up to page 180 and it's not at all entertaining yet, should I keep on reading or not (i've read the hobbit but found it a 7 out of 10)

griflotin

[Xayn]

Don't know how far 180 pages takes you in your edition of LOTR, but for me from Book One/IX (At the Sign of The Prancing Pony) up to and including Book Two/V (The Bridge of Khazad-dûm) was the most fun from the first of the three volumes.
Yeah, I know, the Tom Bombadil parts were a bit "slow", and might have made a great short piece on their own, but just didn't fit in there right then...

[wastra]

Keep reading. Two reasons here:

1.) LotR is THE defining work of Fantasy Fiction, so read t if only to be able to aptly discuss it later.

2.) If you found the Hobbit a 7 of 10, you should theoretically like LotR more since it is a more mature work. I think it takes a bit getting started, however. The whole Shire section in the beginning is rather slow, like a fairy-tale rather than mature fiction. From about the time the Hobbits meet up with Strider, the LotR gets moving really well, and you start to get into the meat of the story.

Anyway, LotR is a great story. If you liked the Hobbit, which was written by Tolkien more as a fairytale for his grand children than a novel (it's far less developed, less 3 dimensional, less mature), you probably should like LotR even more once it gets rolling.

[FitzChivalry]

Someone should make a survey on how popular LoTR is among people who read it first and among people who read it after they already read few fantasy series.
I got the feeling that most of its die hard fans read it first and it is their favorite for nostalgic reasons.

[Zsinj16]

Trust me, keep on reading!! The LOTR Trilogy definitely gets much better as you go!! Soon you'll find Gandalf and the hobbits confronting demonic forces from the depths of darkness in epic, fast-paced battles! Don't worry, it's definitely not going to turn out like a boring ol' Eddings novel! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif I take that comment back if you like Eddings. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif LOL
Anyway, the LOTR Trilogy is definitely worth the read! I've heard of so many people putting it down before the really exciting scenes come and thus they sadly miss out on one of the greatest fantasy epics of all time! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/frown.gif

[This message has been edited by Zsinj16 (edited June 25, 2001).]

[Cadfael]

TLOTR began as a continuation of a childens story... The Hobbit, but as Tolkien wrote more it kind of developed into a more deeper story, to put it into Tolkien's words "This Story grew in the telling".

[Demandred]

Definitely carry on reading, I found the first book pretty slow and boring in bits, but it soon picks up, and really starts getting good later on in the book. So dont stop now carry on and enjoy one of the best Fantasy books around!

[Eventine]

My 15 year old sister recently read the first book after I put undue amounts of pressure on her (I told her I wouldn't take her to see the movie if she hadn't read the book). After spending about a month reading the first half of the book, she finally got hooked and finished the second half in record time. She is currently burning through The Two Towers.

In deabting I learnt that you never use yourself or your family as a way to prove a topic - it is too easy for the person on the other side of the argument to say "You could be nuts for all we know". So while my family does enjoy LOTR, keep in mind we may be crazy.

[Excalibur]

Stick to it! You won't regret it.

[wolfshead]

Keep reading! I thought of it as a 'pleasant hobbit tale', enjoyable but not unduly thrilling until the Black Riders appeared. They piqued my interest. By the time they attacked at Weathertop, I was staying up until 2 AM to read 9I was only 11 at the time.)