lord of the rings

Non Fiction Review: Understanding the Lord of the Rings

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Understanding The Lord Of The Rings by Rose A. Zimbardo

Understanding The Lord Of The Rings: The Best of Tolkien Criticism
by Rose A. Zimbardo (Editor), Neil D. Isaacs (Editor)

4 out of 5 stars

This collection of essays brings together positive criticism of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, diving deep into the literary modes and philosophic views that make his work so lasting and impactful. Exploring the meaning behind the myth, we learn about good and evil and Tolkien’s deep faith in Christ. Analyzing his literary style, we learn about fairy tales, the universal truth behind every myth, and Tolkien’s ideas of sub-creation. We get to consider the history of the hero quest going all the way back to ancient times and how that affects our ideas of hero worship today, and how Tolkien used different types of heroes in Lord of the Rings.

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Book Review: Tolkien’s Ordinary Virtues

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Tolkien's Ordinary Virtues by Mark Eddy Smith

Tolkien’s Ordinary Virtues : Exploring the Spiritual Themes of the Lord of the Rings
by Mark Eddy Smith (Goodreads Author)

5 out of 5 stars

Why is it that The Lord of the Rings continues to inspire and fascinate generations of readers? I think it is because it mirrors elements of a much larger story- the spiritual story of God and his Creation. In this book, we explore different themes found in LotR and see how the virtues of the characters originate (as do all good things) in the virtues of God.

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Non Fiction Review: Tolkien: A Look Behind the Lord of the Rings

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Tolkien by Lin Carter

Tolkien: A Look Behind the Lord of the Rings
by Lin Carter

4 out of 5 stars

This book was written only a few years after Lord of the Rings was published. It is like a little historic peak into what people thought of Lord of the Rings in the beginning, before it was established as the colossal modern classic we know it as today. Before the modern genre of fantasy was really defined, the Lord of the Rings was difficult to classify. It was like the epic stories of the Greeks and Romans, and some people called it “super science fiction” or a “giant-sized fairy tale”.

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Trilogy Review: The Lord of the Rings

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The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings
by J.R.R. Tolkien

5 out of 5 stars

Frodo learns that a magic ring that was left to him by his Uncle Bilbo is incredibly dangerous. The wizard Gandalf warns Frodo that the Dark Lord is searching for the ring, and Frodo must leave his home in the Shire. A few of his loyal friends accompany him through the wilderness, hoping to discover a way to destroy the evil ring.

Every time I reread this trilogy, my heart soars and I get inspired! I just love the deep spiritual themes about friendship, grief, duty, honor, love, and courage. There have been many times in my life when I have faced a difficult circumstance and I found courage and hope in the examples of these characters. There is so much meaning behind every scene. There is always another layer to unpack and explore. I especially find encouragement in the Christian themes and imagery. Tolkien’s writings are saturated with faith.

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Book Review: Bilbo’s Last Song

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Bilbo's Last Song by J.R.R. Tolkien

Bilbo’s Last Song
by J.R.R. Tolkien, Pauline Baynes (Illustrator)
4 out of 5 stars

As Bilbo sets off on his last journey from Rivendell to the shores of the sea, he sings this last poem as his farewell to MiddleEarth before boarding a ship that will take him to Valinor with Gandalf, Frodo, and Elrond. The poem itself is not very long, with one stanza on each page.

This book is beautifully illustrated with gorgeous settings that show Bilbo on his way to Valinor. The illustrations begin with Bilbo at Rivendell. He talks with Elrond about making the last trip, and they make plans for travelling. Bilbo and the company of Elves pass through the Shire, where Frodo and Sam join them. They reach the harbor where Cirdan the shipwright is waiting to greet them. They say goodbye to Sam, Merry, and Pippin. The final illustration shows Bilbo reaching the shores of Valinor.

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Book Review: Finding God in the Hobbit

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Finding God in the Hobbit
Finding God in the Hobbit by Jim Ware

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this in-depth look at the Christian themes found in the Hobbit! Tolkien is one of my top three favorite authors, so I was hanging on every word.

The author takes various characters, events, dialogue, and plot points from the Hobbit and then uses them to illustrate a Biblical truth. He really brought forth some excellent points that I had never thought of before! I loved how the author worked “around” a principle, and showed you all the facets and different sides, and then hammered it home simply and concisely. I loved the forceful writing style!

I wish that there had been more literary analysis though. It read more like a devotional book with personal stories, nuggets of wisdom, and a “thought for the day” kind of moral at the end of each chapter. I liked that, but I was hoping for more analysis of literary history, fairytale story structures, classical writing influences, Greek philosophy, etc…
In short, I wanted it to be more intellectual than it was.

But the devotional style of the book was good too! I enjoyed reading it so much, and I was even brought to tears a couple of times.

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Anatomy Book Tag

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1. Integumentory (Skin) System: A book cover that describes the inside of the book well.
2. Skeletal System: A book in a series that puts a firm standing in the series (backbone if you will).
3. Muscular: a book or series that moved you into the reading world.
4. Nervous: Book that made you do crazy things.
5. Endocrine: Book/series that gave you deep feelings (all the feels).
6. Cardiovascular: Series that kept your heart pumping.
7. Lymphatic: A series/book you change/purge and start over.
8. Respiratory: A book/series you felt breathless when you finished.
9. Digestive: A book you had to let sit and digest in your head before you could move on.
10. Urinary: A book/ series you feel had potential but was peed away.
11. Reproductive: If you could mix 2 books/series to make a new book/series what would they be and why?

10 Favorite Siblings

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A list of my top ten favorite fictional siblings! Who are your favorites?
And an honorable mention to Molly and Cynthia, who are stepsisters in “Wives and Daughters” by Elizabeth Gaskell ! They aren’t technically siblings, but they get credit for being so sweet to each other. They may not share DNA, but they share their hearts. Aawww….

Books Mentioned:
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The Story of the Treasure Seekers by Edith Nesbit
Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit
Little Women by L. M. Alcott
Little Men by L.M. Alcott
Rainbow Valley by L. M. Montgomery
Cheaper by the Dozen by Ernestine and Frank Gilbreth Jr.
Belles on their Toes by Ernestine and Frank Gilbreth Jr.
Lord of the Rings- by J. R. R. Tolkien
Knock Three Times by Marion St. John Webb
The Books of Pellinor by Alison Croggon