Lord of the rings or the Hobbit? - Page 2

usuallee · 07-24-2013, 10:35 AM

Finally got around to reading The Hobbit just before the movies came out. It was excellent. Then became a huge fan of the films. Then tried to read Fellowship of the Ring. Found it rather tedious to be honest and gave it up early on, about the time the companions met up with the woodland hermit fellow (a scene justifiably excluded from the film).

So far I've been leery of the Hobbit film. I'm not sure why that slim novel would need three lengthy movies to tell the story. The cynic in me says it's a cash grab. The reviews were mixed. I may check it out at some point, and will probably have another go at FOTR at some point as well.

Graham · 07-24-2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usuallee

Then tried to read Fellowship of the Ring. Found it rather tedious to be honest and gave it up early on, about the time the companions met up with the woodland hermit fellow (a scene justifiably excluded from the film).

That section can safely be skipped. It all picks up again after that...

Graham

DiapDealer · 07-24-2013, 10:50 AM

You've been bombadiloed. Happens to many.

HarryT · 07-24-2013, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

You've been bombadiloed. Happens to many.

It's a part of the book which grows on your with re-reading, but yes, it's a struggle for many on the initial read. It's really not very long, though; just skip the "In the House of Tom Bombadil" chapter if it gets too much.

HomeInMyShoes · 07-24-2013, 11:01 AM

Heathens, unbelievers.

mewmartigan · 07-24-2013, 01:00 PM

Another vote for the obvious:

The Hobbit, get to know Bilbo
The Lord of the Rings (awesome!)

Then, if you really feel like delving into the other stuff, go ahead. I have read the Silmarillion but it didn't exactly wow me and I haven't read the others.

Rizla · 07-25-2013, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's a part of the book which grows on your with re-reading, but yes, it's a struggle for many on the initial read. It's really not very long, though; just skip the "In the House of Tom Bombadil" chapter if it gets too much.

Sacrilege.

HarryT · 07-25-2013, 06:18 PM

Perhaps, but better than abandoning it. There was a very good reason why this was the only major part of the book to get entirely dropped from the films.

DiapDealer · 07-25-2013, 06:21 PM

Ring a dong dillo!

Rbneader · 07-25-2013, 06:27 PM

Hm. For reading order, I'd start with the Hobbit, then go to Lord of the Rings, then the Silmarilion (it covers the children of Hurin too). This goes from easiest-read to hardest-read.

The really lovely thing about Middle-Earth is that it's very layered (despite having few trolls, and not many onions

). There's some parts of the Hobbit you won't understand until you've read the Lord of the Rings, and parts of Lord of the Rings that won't become completely clear until you read the Silmarilion. Everything is explained adequately in the books themselves, but as you learn more about Middle-Earth you start seeing extra layers. Kind of like learning history as a child and then coming back to it as an adult. The greater experience and knowledge enriches and expands how you understand the events, even though the events themselves haven't changed.

It makes you appreciate just how much work Tolkien put into his world, and makes Middle-Earth more alive.

pwalker8 · 07-25-2013, 06:44 PM

You can read LOTR without reading The Hobbit and you can read The Hobbit without reading LOTR. The Hobbit is more of a children's book, while LOTR is more of an adult's book. I love them both, but they have very different flavors. The rest of the Middle Earth material is mostly for the hard core Tolkien fan. I greatly enjoyed the Sillmarilion (I've got a first printing, first edition of it), but reading it is more like reading the Bible, or a book of Norse or Germanic myths.

elcartero227 · 07-26-2013, 01:56 AM

Thank You guys. According to poll results, most of you have suggested to read The Hobbit first and therefore, I am going to order a copy of the book. Lets see how it goes.

Will post again after I finish the book.

vxf · 07-28-2013, 02:39 PM

I would beg to differ. LOTR first, The Hobbit second. LOTR creates this vivid world in which the events of The Hobbit take new light. It's the shorter book that benefits from the extensive background work in LOTR.

Said so, they are very different in tone and perfectly self-standing works.

rkomar · 07-28-2013, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vxf

I would beg to differ. LOTR first, The Hobbit second. LOTR creates this vivid world in which the events of The Hobbit take new light. It's the shorter book that benefits from the extensive background work in LOTR.

Said so, they are very different in tone and perfectly self-standing works.

I think you're right about LOTR bringing a new light to the Hobbit. So, if the OP likes to re-read books, then they should read the Hobbit first, then LOTR, and then read the Hobbit again.

HarryT · 07-28-2013, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vxf

I would beg to differ. LOTR first, The Hobbit second. LOTR creates this vivid world in which the events of The Hobbit take new light. It's the shorter book that benefits from the extensive background work in LOTR.

By that logic you should read "The Silmarillion" first, since gives you "the big picture" within which LOTR is set...

View Poll Results: Which books should I read first?
History of Middle Earth series	0	0%
The Lord of the rings trilogy	15	24.19%
The Hobbit trilogy	47	75.81%
Voters: 62. You may not vote on this poll

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07-24-2013, 10:35 AM	#16
usuallee Media Junkie Posts: 278 Karma: 2039392 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Device: Kobo Libra H20, Kindle PW	Finally got around to reading The Hobbit just before the movies came out. It was excellent. Then became a huge fan of the films. Then tried to read Fellowship of the Ring. Found it rather tedious to be honest and gave it up early on, about the time the companions met up with the woodland hermit fellow (a scene justifiably excluded from the film). So far I've been leery of the Hobbit film. I'm not sure why that slim novel would need three lengthy movies to tell the story. The cynic in me says it's a cash grab. The reviews were mixed. I may check it out at some point, and will probably have another go at FOTR at some point as well.

07-24-2013, 10:50 AM	#18
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,892 Karma: 207182180 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	You've been bombadiloed. Happens to many.

07-24-2013, 11:01 AM	#20
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	Heathens, unbelievers.

07-24-2013, 01:00 PM	#21
mewmartigan Guru Posts: 852 Karma: 8242060 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Kindle Oasis (2019)	Another vote for the obvious: The Hobbit, get to know Bilbo The Lord of the Rings (awesome!) Then, if you really feel like delving into the other stuff, go ahead. I have read the Silmarillion but it didn't exactly wow me and I haven't read the others.

07-25-2013, 06:18 PM	#23
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Perhaps, but better than abandoning it. There was a very good reason why this was the only major part of the book to get entirely dropped from the films.

07-25-2013, 06:21 PM	#24
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,892 Karma: 207182180 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Ring a dong dillo!

07-25-2013, 06:27 PM	#25
Rbneader Fanatic Posts: 503 Karma: 2661351 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: None	Hm. For reading order, I'd start with the Hobbit, then go to Lord of the Rings, then the Silmarilion (it covers the children of Hurin too). This goes from easiest-read to hardest-read. The really lovely thing about Middle-Earth is that it's very layered (despite having few trolls, and not many onions ). There's some parts of the Hobbit you won't understand until you've read the Lord of the Rings, and parts of Lord of the Rings that won't become completely clear until you read the Silmarilion. Everything is explained adequately in the books themselves, but as you learn more about Middle-Earth you start seeing extra layers. Kind of like learning history as a child and then coming back to it as an adult. The greater experience and knowledge enriches and expands how you understand the events, even though the events themselves haven't changed. It makes you appreciate just how much work Tolkien put into his world, and makes Middle-Earth more alive.

07-25-2013, 06:44 PM	#26
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	You can read LOTR without reading The Hobbit and you can read The Hobbit without reading LOTR. The Hobbit is more of a children's book, while LOTR is more of an adult's book. I love them both, but they have very different flavors. The rest of the Middle Earth material is mostly for the hard core Tolkien fan. I greatly enjoyed the Sillmarilion (I've got a first printing, first edition of it), but reading it is more like reading the Bible, or a book of Norse or Germanic myths.

07-26-2013, 01:56 AM	#27
elcartero227 Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jul 2013 Device: none	Thank You guys. According to poll results, most of you have suggested to read The Hobbit first and therefore, I am going to order a copy of the book. Lets see how it goes. Will post again after I finish the book.

07-28-2013, 02:39 PM	#28
vxf Guru Posts: 944 Karma: 1490348 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norman, OK Device: Sony PRS 350, 900, 950; Kindles (ALL of them!); Kobo Aura One	I would beg to differ. LOTR first, The Hobbit second. LOTR creates this vivid world in which the events of The Hobbit take new light. It's the shorter book that benefits from the extensive background work in LOTR. Said so, they are very different in tone and perfectly self-standing works.