The Return of the King

J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings Part #3

Summary:

The armies of the Dark Lord are massing as his evil shadow spreads ever wider. Men, Dwarves, Elves and Ents unite forces to do battle against the Dark. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam struggle further into Mordor in their heroic quest to destroy the One Ring.

Plot:

If I had to describe this part of the story in one word it would be ‘epic’. The huge battles, incredible creatures and strange settings all make this a worthy ending for a great story. I liked that there was a bit of romance thrown in in this part, and I also liked the fact that I was never sure that good was going to prevail, which kept me interested. As I said in my previous reviews: Tolkien’s writing is extremely detailed and descriptive, and while I really like that I don’t know if everyone will.

Characters:

I loved how the characters I came to love in the previous parts grew and developed in this installment. I grew to like Sam (who I think is my favorite hobbit in the story) and Aragorn (my favorite human) a lot more. I would’ve liked to read more about Legolas (my favorite elf), but he was not as present in this part of the story as in the previous ones. I still really like how Tolkien made me care for the characters, so that when they were in danger it was really tense and when they were happy I was happy.

Who should read this:

13+, there is no sexual content or language, but there is some violence and some really scary things happening. Also the writing style might bore younger readers. If you enjoyed the previous two parts (or even just finished them, no matter your enjoyment of it) you just can’t stop now. If you’re a fan of fantasy you should have read this already.

My rating:

This book just kept getting better as it went along. My rating would’ve gone up after this part if it hadn’t been for the fact that it’s already at it’s max...so 5/5.

Quote:

“For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”

Read my reviews of the first two parts here: The Fellowship of the Ring & The Two Towers 

The Two Towers

J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings Part #2

Summary:

The Company of the Ring is sundered. Frodo and Sam continue their journey alone down the great River Anduin – alone that is, save for a mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go...

Plot:

I found this part of this story much more exciting than the first. I now really care for the characters, and any danger to them makes me feel very uneasy. We don’t see much of Frodo in the first half of the book, which mainly tells the story of the rest of the Fellowship, but the second half is in turn mainly Frodo and Sam’s adventures. There were many light-hearted moments, and also some very sad ones as well as some scenes that made me pretty anxious. There was more action in this one, I feel, and also more strange settings, that were unlike the ones I’d read about in the Hobbit and the Fellowship. Some parts, however was a little hard to understand, and I got a little confused by all the different names of places. As I said before, Tolkien’s writing is exquisitely detailed, and his descriptions are beautiful.

Characters:

There are some new characters, but not too many, most of which are pretty interesting. There are of course, the likable characters we met in the first part, and many I dislike. The ‘villians’ (or just bad characters) are pretty creepy, and definitely serve their purpose in making the story more exciting. I enjoyed getting to know more about the characters from the first part of the novel, but I must say the new characters that were introduced made this book incredible.

Who should read this:

13+, there is still no language or sexual content, but some thematic material that might be frightening, including violence and some pretty scary creatures. Once again, the writing is good, but very detailed and descriptive, so if that kind of thing bores you I would suggest reading the Hobbit first as a test. Fantasy-fans, you should have read this already...or at least be planning to soon... You cannot read this one without having read part one, that's like starting a book on the 100th page, you won't get it...

My rating:

I really, really enjoyed this book. I have very high hopes of the last part, and I really hope the ending doesn’t let me down like I felt the Hobbit’s did. This rating is for the entire book, I’m not rating each part separately. This part didn’t lower my opinion of the novel at all, and so it stays 5/5.

Quote:

Frodo and Sam have a conversation about whether their story will be told in years to come. This is part of that conversation, which sums up this part of the novel very well for me:

‘You and I, Sam, are still stuck in the worst places of the story...

Read my review for Part 1: the Fellowship of the Ring  and Part 3: The Return of the King!

The Fellowship of the Ring

J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings Part 1

Summary:
In a sleepy village in the Shire, a young hobbit is entrusted with an immense task. He must make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ruling Ring of Power – the only thing that prevents the Dark Lord Sauron’s evil dominion.

Plot:

This story has so many twists and turns an things happening it would be impossible to sum it up in a couple of sentences. There’s a lot of action, a lot of beauty, some pretty sad parts, and some that are more humorous. I know this is not a trilogy, and I know Tolkien wrote it as one (very long) novel, but since that novel would take forever to finish, I’m doing my review in three parts. However I don’t see this as a series, but as a very long story. This is a very long, very detailed story, and at times it becomes almost too detailed, but that is Tolkien’s style and I really like the way he wrote these novels. They’re different from most of the other fantasy novels I’ve read in so many ways.

Characters:

This book gets a little confusing at times because there are just so many different characters. You get to know the main ones pretty soon, but the other, less important characters gets a little muddled. This is not really a problem, you don’t need to remember all the characters for the story to make sense. I loved all the characters. I think they’re flawed enough to make them believable (even the ones who are described as flawless, like the elven ‘Queen’ figure), yet they’re likable, and most of them are honourable. The anti-heroes aren’t described very graphically, but the little you know of them is enough to make you nervous when they’re near.

Who should read this:

13+, there’s no language or sexual content, but I wouldn’t suggest this to younger readers, because of the length of this story. It is not an easy read. The style of writing is not hard to understand, but it’s very descriptive and might bore some people. If you’re a die-hard fantasy fan, you should definitely have read this already. I do recommend reading ‘The Hobbit’ first, since it’s shorter, but written in the same style. It will help you decide if you will enjoy this novel or not.

My rating:

I enjoyed this novel much more than the hobbit. Therefore I must give it a higher rating. I truly loved this book, and I will definitely be reading it again, as it’s one of those books where you will discover something new every time you read it. 5/5

Quote:

‘It’s the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish.’

I'll link my review for the movie here as soon as I watch it! Read my Review for Part 2: The Two Towers and Part 3: The Return of the King!

The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings Part #0.5

Summary:

Whisked from his comfortable hobbit-hole by Gandalf the wizard and a band of dwarves, Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon...

Plot:

This is one of the books that are always seen on must-read lists, and now I understand why. A great story, full of adventure and danger and magical creatures , this book probably inspired many, if not most, of the great fantasy writers of our time. The author’s style can be compared to C.S. Lewis’, although this book proved a quote I have disliked from Roald Dahl’s Matilda, namely that C.S. Lewis doesn’t use enough humour to keep children interested. As a big fan of The Chronicles of Narnia, I have never agreed with this statement, however The Hobbit may have changed my mind. While I still love Narnia I now see what some light, funny moments can bring to a book like this. All that I disliked about this story is the ending, it was slightly disappointing after the whole journey Bilbo made.

Characters:

None of the main characters are heroes, it says somewhere in the book, and this is true. Bilbo prefers his little hobbit-hole to the great unknown, and is rather reluctant to go on an adventure. The dwarves may be brave and loyal, but they have many faults, some of which make them slightly unlikable at times. Gandalf is probably the only character who could be described as heroic, since he always seems to be saving the day. All the magical creatures are fascinating, and inventive, but there aren’t too many of them, so it never gets too confusing.

Who should read this:

10+, there is some violence, but I don’t feel like it’s too graphic for younger readers. This was written with children in mind, however the author’s style of writing may make it harder for kids to read. If you’re a fantasy fan, you should probably have read this already. I also agree that this is a book to put on anyone’s must read list, since it, and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, inspired so many other great fantasy works.

My rating:

I really, really enjoyed this book. If it weren’t for the ending, which was slightly disappointing, to me at least, I would have added it to my favourites. However, I will be reading it again, because I feel like you would discover something new every time you read this. 4/5

Quote:

It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish.

Great Expectations

Charles Dickens

Summary:

Pip is headed for an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's forge. Then an anonymous donor appears, and sends Pip to London to live as a gentleman. Great Expectations tells the story of a young boy’s life as he grows up, and learns about love, pride and friendship.

Plot:

This story is much like Dickens’ David Copperfield in that it tells the life story of a young orphan. This is a good story, it’s interesting and there are some surprises along the way. However, it’s not a story that inspired me, or had me jumping up and down with excitement. Maybe because I knew what surprises lay in store for me or because I knew the story after having read most of the book, but not finishing. Or because I watched a movie based on it. Dickens’ writing is marvelous, he creates mood and atmosphere, but doesn’t over-describe everything.

Characters:

The characters are all flawed. The nicest character is probably Pip’s friend Herbert Pocket, who is a very optimistic and generally nice guy. Pip, the main character, changes a lot during the novel, starting of as an innocent, naive little boy, growing proud and then learning some important life-lessons. I liked the fact that Pip isn’t a perfect, good guy. He’s just human, with faults, and that makes him very relatable. His love interest, Estella, is a very interesting character. She’s not only proud, but believes herself to be completely incapable of loving anyone. While she’s not a nice person, she is quite fascinating to read about. Miss Havisham, Estella’s guardian, and Provis (who has many names, but I’m just going with this), an escaped convict whom Pip helps as a little boy are also very interesting characters.

Who should read this?

10+, there are very little to no mature content, except some references to hanging, which are not at all descriptive. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who doesn’t enjoy classics or older books. It’s not an easy read, and I think it’ll be very hard to read in one sitting, but that’s just because it spans over so much time, not because the writing is hard to read. If you’re a fan of Dickens you should have read it already, since this is one of his most famous works.

My rating:

I really did like this book, although I prefer David Copperfield’s story. I’m giving it a 4/5.

Quote:
“So throughout life, our worst weaknesses and meannesses are usually committed for the sake of the people whom we most despise.”

Mansfield Park

Jane Austen

Summary:
Taken from the poverty of her parents' home, Fanny Price is brought up with her rich cousins at Mansfield Park, acutely aware of her humble rank and with only her cousin Edmund as an ally. When Fanny's uncle is absent in Antigua, Mary Crawford and her brother Henry arrive in the neighbourhood, bringing with them London glamour and a reckless taste for flirtation. As her female cousins vie for Henry's attention, and even Edmund falls for Mary's dazzling charms, only Fanny remains doubtful about the Crawfords' influence and finds herself more isolated than ever.

Plot:

I enjoyed this story, it’s not my favorite classic, but it’s nice. The story is about a girl, Fanny Price, who is asked to go live with her aunt and uncle, because of poverty in her own home. It seems that much of this book is revolving around money, the effect of wealth and the way it makes different people behave. The story has a bit of romance and drama thrown in, and is quite likable.

Characters:

There are many unlikable characters in this book. I only really liked two, which is not necessarily a bad thing. The two characters I did like was Fanny, the main character, and Edmund, her cousin, although they were very good people they weren’t perfect. They could be seen as slightly dull, though. Fanny’s uncle is also a good character who develops well during the book. Most of the other characters are essentially flawed, and while this is a good thing, they were generally not very likable.

Who should read this?

10+, there’s hardly any mature content. It may be a bit of a boring read for some people, it’s quite long and written in old-style English, so if that bores you, skip this one. If you’re a fan of Jane Austen, or just classics in general, you should try this one.

My rating:

While I like this book, it’s not going to be added to my favorites any time soon. It didn’t draw me in or keep me interested enough for that. 3/5

Quote:
“Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings.”

Les Misérables

Summary:
Prisoner 24601, known as Jean Valjean, is released from prison and breaks parole to create a new life for himself while evading the grip of the persistent Inspector Javert. Set post-revolutionary France, the story reaches resolution against the background of the June Rebellion.

During the French Revolution, convict Jean Valjean is released on parole by prison guard Javert after serving a nineteen-year sentence. He is offered food and shelter by the Bishop of Digne, but later steals the Bishop's silver dishes after everyone is asleep. He is caught by the authorities, but the Bishop states that he gave the convict the silver and demands that Valjean be set free. Ashamed of his crimes against the generous holy man, Valjean breaks his parole and vows to start a new honest life under a new identity

Plot:

This was a very good story, a bit violent for my taste, but I get that it was necessary. It was heartfelt, and although it was quite long it didn’t bore me at all. The romance was great, although a little Romeo and Julietesque (not a word, I know...), and I loved Jean Valjean’s whole story. The music was fantastic, the acting superb.

Characters:

Wonderful! Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) is a marvelous character, he is caring and humble, but not perfect. Fontine (Anne Hathaway, who totally deserved that Oscar!) is also a great character, you can feel her every emotion. Javert (Russel Crowe) is the ‘bad guy’, but he truly believes everything he does is right, his character fascinated me personally. Cosette (Amanda Seyfried) is a pretty, innocent girl who falls in love for the first time, a wonderful contrast to most of the others, she is like a ray of sunshine the darkness of the rest of the film. Also the child Cosette (Isabelle Allen) was incredibly cute, and what a wonderful little actress! Marius Pontmercy (Eddie Redmayne) is Cosette’s love interest, as well as Éponine’s (Samantha Barks), he is a revolutionary, who sides with the poor people, although he comes from a wealthy family. I personally think Éponine was my favorite character, she was the most relatable for me. Then there is the Thénardiers (Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen) a pair of thieving innkeepers who were intended to provide some humor in this otherwise tragic tale. They were funny at times, although the humor was quite crude.

Cinematography:

Beautiful, stunning! This is a photographic masterpiece. The darkness that could be seen throughout the movie, and the lights at the end made the atmosphere in this movie so much more intense. The costumes and make-up were very well done as well. The singing were a little off-key at times, but considering the fact that the actors were singing live in many parts, this is completely understandable.

Who should watch this:

(PG13), there is quite a lot of mature content especially violence and crude humor. I’m not sure what I would compare this with, only know that it’s going to make you cry, so if you don’t like that you won’t like this.

My rating:

I really liked this movie, it was just a very well-made film, with wonderful acting and a good storyline. Like I said before, I’m not a huge fan of violent movies, but it was necessary. I’m also not a fan of crude humor, so that part bothered me a little…3/5

Quote:
I had a dream my life would be so different from this hell I'm living!

Sorry this was such a long review, it seems that the length of my reviews depend on the length of the book/movie!

The Little Mermaid

 Summary:
A mermaid princess makes a bargain with an unscrupulous sea hag in order to meet a human prince on land.

Disregarding her father's order to stay away from the world above the sea, she swims to the surface and, in a raging storm, rescues the prince of her dreams. Determined to be human, she strikes a bargain with the devious sea witch, Ursula, and trades her fins and beautiful voice for legs. With her best friend, the adorable and chatty Flounder, and her reluctant chaperone Sebastian, the hilarious, reggae-singing Caribbean crab, at her side, Ariel must win the prince's love and save her father's kingdom - all in a heart-pounding race against time!

Plot:

I love this story, I always have. It’s just so beautiful and fun and sad and wonderful! I love musicals, or any movies with music, and this is one of my favorites of Disney. The story is so well known, I don’t really know what else to say about it.

Characters:

Oh, I love the characters in this movie! Flounder, the wimpy best friend. Sebastian the crabby, singing crab. Ariel, the headstrong, beautiful, innocent mermaid. King Triton, stern, but loving. Ursula, the evil sea-witch. Her two pets, the eels! The French cook! The prince (no need to say more)!!! They’re all marvelous.

Cinematography:

This is quite an old movie, so the animation isn’t quite as good as today’s, but I like the old feel of it. The best part as far as the animation go is probably the scene where they sing ‘kiss the girl’. The fireflies and the different birds, makes it wonderfully romantic.

Who should watch this:

(A), is the official rating. There is no adult content, although Ursula might scare some little kids (she scares me! :P). Lovers of all the Disney princess classics, or any Disney classics really should have watched this already! Perfect for little girls (like me).

My rating:

I love this movie, because I’m a kid and a hopeless romantic (heehee). 4/5

Quote:
Scuttle: I haven't seen this in years, this is *wonderful*!
Ariel: What is it?
Scuttle: A banded, bulbous snarfblatt.
Ariel, Flounder: Ohhh.

Peter Pan

J.M. Barrie

Summary:

One starry night, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell lead the three Darling children over the rooftops of London and away to Neverland- the island where lost boys play, mermaids splash and fairies make mischief. But a villainous-looking gang of pirates lurk in the docks, led by the terrifying Captain James Hook. Magic and excitement are in the air, but if Captain Hook has his way then, before long, someone will be walking the plank and swimming with the crocodiles.

Plot:

Oh, wow, how do you even begin to explain the wonderful magic that is Peter Pan? Few stories have captured people’s imaginations as this one did. If you ever pretended, as a child, to be anything impossible, like a princess, an animal, a superhero…whatever, then I believe that some part of you will understand the brilliance that is Peter Pan. The whole story sounds like a children’s game, I have yet to find another book that is so well written, but still so completely silly. This story is unrealistic, even in its description of the ‘normal’ Darling family…at times it makes absolutely no sense, and yet I find myself drawn to the sheer imagination of it all.

Characters:

Pirates, Indians, fairies, dogs as nannies, people who fly, mermaids, birds who save people, the characters in this novel are so diverse,  to write about all of them would be impossible. You have the cocky boy Peter Pan, who doesn’t grow up. Motherly, loving Wendy, who despite her caring nature, breaks her mother’s heart. The incredibly evil, but charismatic Captain James Hook who thrills and terrifies you. The funny lost boys. Jealous, vain Tinker Bell. Most of these characters are so marvelously childish, innocent and like it says in the book, heartless. You find yourself wanting to throttle them at times and yet almost wishing you could still be like that.

Who should read this?

Anyone. Adults, children, teenagers. No matter your age, I think this is a book that can be enjoyed by everyone. However, if you like realistic, simple books, this might not be the one for you. If you like fantasy, or just a book that seems to go deeper than just the story definitely read this one.

My rating:

I adored this book. It was excellently written, fascinating and made me wish I was still little. 4/5

Quote:
“For to have faith, is to have wings"

Read my review on the movie about J.M. Barrie's inspiration for Peter Pan, Finding Neverland, here.