I owned the paperback version of Lord of the Rings and it fell apart after 3 years. Not a problem as I had read it front to cover 6 times under tough environments. This book is well made with a nice cover and looks good on my book shelf. Great price and quick delivery.

I'm finally reading this! The book is amazing. I have never read a book in which the author has put so much effort. As for this edition, everything is indexed, from people to songs, and all of the original appendices and maps are included. Every lover of fantasy should read this, and this is a good edition to do so.

This review is not meant to slight the genius--yes, genius--of J.R.R. Tolkien or his imaginary world. Countless millions have found sustenance in this incredible tale. Moreover, the trilogy practically spawned the entire genre of "fantasy" and inspired innumerable writers to their craft. The debt we all owe to this trilogy is unpayable. However, as a read, the trilogy is a bit of a slog. I labored through it first as an eleven year old and then as a 25 year old. Both times I found it difficult to get through pages of elven songs, multi-layered histories, and a universe that was bigger that its author could control.

With many readers and critics, I find the first book's 100 page romp with Tom Bombodil an awful diversion from the journey. Anyone reading the first book (or the trilogy) would do well to simply bypass those 100 pages without the least cost to your understanding or pleasure. The Bombodil misadventure foreshadows many lesser diversions and deviations from the story.

Yes, its almost unthinkable but true: the trilogy could have been even richer had Tolkien been as good a writer as he was an inventor. Another heresy: for storytelling the films (some of the best movies ever made) were actually better than the novels.

When you survey the reviews here know this: a five-star rating is orthodox among Tolkien fans and fantasy fans. And many of these devotees have read the trilogy multiple times: like the Bible it gets easier and more readable on later reads, because one becomes more learned and literate in the land of Middle Earth.

If you're looking for a world with infinite depths of imagination, you have arrived at the right place. If, however, you are also looking for a pleasurable read, you can do better elsewhere. To get through this three part novel (let's be honest: it's a 1200 page novel, not a trilogy), one has to be willing to do a lot of work--it's more than Tolkien himself can carry.

I've read many books in my life, not many being fantasy(Robert Howard being the exception) But of all the books I've read this is by far the most detailed story of the lot, and that includes Hemingway and even Homer. Hemingway's battle and retreat at Caporetto leaves nothing on the battlefield of Minas Tirith. And while one may say that I am comparing fiction and fact, that isn't the point. The story blurs the line between fact and fiction and almost seems like it did happen and you are reading a first hand account of history.
Also, every major character in the story and even most of the secondaries are given a detailed background and full depth. Very rare for most novels. The character Aragorn is as complex a person you will find in literature. He has known happiness and grief, hard toil and loss. You get a true sense of the life he has led. All of the players are given such treatment and while it's been said that the women are given less importance than the men many point out that three of the strongest characters in the book, Eowyn, Arwen, and Galadriel are women.
Perhaps my favorite moment in the book is the reunion of the Three
Hunters with Gandalf in Fangorn forrest. Gandalf's retort to Gimli's asking if Fangorn was dangerous: "Dangerous? And so am I, very dangerous: more dangerous than anything you will ever meet, unless you are brought alive before the seat of the Dark Lord." He goes on to point out that we are all dangerous in our own fashion, and no one should be underestimated. At least that's my take on it.
There have been many papers and such written on this book that go much deeper than I can but I have read this book at least 5 times and will read it again. It, like all great books, becomes better everytime you read it. And like all good books it takes you away, expands your mind, and makes you think. Highly recommended for all young and old.

"The Lord of the Rings" is one long novel, often presented in parts. It is "Great Literature" for adults. But for younger readers who were enticed by "The Hobbit", LOTR proves to be hard work that gets harder as the novel progresses. Also, LOTR is considerably darker than is "The Hobbit".

There are plenty of reviewers here who will give you the gist of what happens in the story. I just want to let you know that you may have to prepare yourself for some work in reading this long novel.

Three stars may be a poorer rating than the novel deserves. I am not kidding about LOTR being "Great Literature". There is a lot of stuff going on and the author spent a lot of work building up the background for the story. However, "Beowolf" also is "Great Literature", but is not a great deal of fun to read. Fortunately, LOTR is fairly good reading. Still, I will stick by the three stars. I think I, mostly, felt exhausted by the end of the story. Frodo does most of the hero stuff. But, I could not help but feel that Samwise was the hobbit to really admire in this story.