The Fellowship of the Ring

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The Fellowship of the Ring
J.R.R. Tolkien
1954

The Summary
Bequeathed the One Ring by an aging Bilbo Baggins, Frodo and his friends are given the task of returning it to the fires of Mount Doom in the lands of Mordor.

The road they follow, however, will not be an easy one, for they must face Ringwraiths, orcs, and the Dark Lord Sauron's all-seeing eye.

But Frodo and his half-ling companions will not be alone in their journey.  In the elves' city of Rivendell, they are joined by Gandalf (a tempestuous wizard), Strider (a Ranger with a mysterious family legacy), Legolas (an elf from the forests of Mirkwood), Gimli (a rather loud and loyal dwarf), and Boromir (a son of the Steward of Minas Tirith).

And so the Fellowship is forged.

The Good
J.R.R. Tolkien is an exceptional writer.  He infuses his work with great detail and depth.  Everything in his novel has a name - and every name has a meaning - and everyone has a history.  Whether it is a memento passed down through the ages or an individual reciting the lineage of his family, everything and everyone has a long, detailed history.

Tolkien is nothing if not thorough in his work.

Additionally, Tolkien creates enchanting and endearing characters, such as the ever-faithful Sam, or the playful Tom Bombadil, or the heroic and honorable Strider (less frequently known as Aragorn, son of Arathorn).  More to the point, he crafts characters who will become a part of our lives for a short moment in time and last forever in our memories.

The Bad
The Fellowship doesn't complete the first portion of their journey and remain entirely unscathed.  If you have read this book in the past (or, yes, even watched the movie), then you understand what I mean.

If not, find a book or a DVD player and see for yourself.

The Ugly
I wouldn't necessarily call the songs of Tolkien's novel "ugly," but I would occasionally call them annoying.

You see, Tom Bombadil sings.  The elves sing.  The hobbits sing.  Everyone sings, at one point in time or another.

Granted, it's amusing and it certainly shows Tolkien's talent (of which there is a great deal).  And yet it may compel you to skip a page or two - or three - for the sake of your sanity, if you find yourself unable to hold a tune.