Most Challenging Parts to Read - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Quirkette · 03-19-2003, 09:56 PM

I am having the hardest time with the start of Return Of The King, when the fighting hasn't really started. I keep wishing I could skip ahead to Sam and Frodo's chapters.

What parts of the books do you find hard to follow?

Beren87 · 03-19-2003, 10:00 PM

Heh, when I was younger and first read the books, I skipped over pretty much all of book 4 in the hopes of getting to see what happens to Gandalf and Pippin. Later I found out there was battling between Sam and a Giant spider and I quickly ran back to read the part I skipped!

Scott · 03-19-2003, 10:47 PM

I've found that when reading anything that may tend to become a little heady, its best to just put the book down for a bit and do something else to clear your mind. It might take you a little longer to finish the book, but you won't just be rushing through it and possibly missing out on some very good parts.
Personally, the hardest part to read in The Lord of the Rings was The Council of Elrond. I still think that it was a bit too drawn out.

elven maiden Earwen · 03-19-2003, 10:59 PM

I thought the the first part in Fotr and the chapter Minas Tirth in Rotk were hard to read because I new it would get better and I kept on waiting for the better parts.

Ruler of the Frogs · 03-20-2003, 06:22 AM

I also found the Council of Elrond to be very long and difficult to read. It just could not keep my attention for more than three sentences! The first time I read the book, I skipped it. I kind of regretted doing that, and so all the times I've read the book since, I have read the Council of Elrond, even if it was three sentences at a time. I also found the part with Tom Bombadil really trying on my attention span. People seem to love Tom Bombadil, and I was fascinated with him and the whole area at first, but after a while I was getting quite bored of Bombadil and was like 'Can we keep it moving, please?!' But lately I've come to appreciate the Tom Bombadil portion a bit more (I still find it long, though) [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Mordor_Queen · 03-20-2003, 07:56 AM

yeah that was quite a hard bit to get into. i kinda rushed it cos i really wanted to see what happened to frodo, sam and gollum. part 6 was a lot easier to follow and thats what i found with the two towers and the return of the king-the 2 parts of each book were easier to follow. [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img]

Mordor_Queen · 03-20-2003, 07:58 AM

i found the tom bombadil bit and the council of elrond hard to follow and almost gave up the book because of it and im very glad i didnt! [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img]

Quirkette · 03-20-2003, 09:03 AM

I must be a wimp. The first half of ROTK makes me nuts.

I wonder what Goldberry thinks about Tom's rhyming? She must be an especially tolerant person. "Stop saying your boots are yellow! They already know that, honey!"

Gorwingel · 03-20-2003, 02:36 PM

Two Words... Tom Bombadil!
I got so lost during that part, and also Fog on the Barrow-Downs, it took me reading that part about 5 or 6 times until I finally realized what was going on.

Adutincowen · 03-20-2003, 03:19 PM

For me, the most confusing part was the war scenes in RotK.

Arwen Imladris · 03-20-2003, 09:16 PM

For me, I always wanted to find out what happened to Frodo and Sam, so any part without them I found harder to read. I also had a hard time will the battles. I had trouble visualizing what helms deep looked like. Funny, but I have a very clear picture of Minas Tirith, but not helms deep (before movie). I never had problems with Tom Bombadil, but I agree that the council of Elrond could be considered too long.

Scott · 03-20-2003, 09:39 PM

If we're not limiting this discussion to only the trilogy, then I must add that the Ainulindale (sp?, Music of the Ainur) was almost a chore to read my first time through with all of the names, and changes to names, and more name variations. Now, however, its one of my favorite excerpts.

LeGoLaSz gUrL · 03-20-2003, 10:50 PM

I remember when i was reading the prologue of FOTR at the airport long time ago..i was like AHH! i was really confused, and i tried reading it again on the plane and i had a headache, but when i read it at home, it got more easier to read

Talon Stormcrow · 03-21-2003, 03:28 PM

Tom Bombadil confused me too... I had to read it a couple of time til I got it. Flight to The Ford kinda confused me too just because I had the way it was in the movie in my head and was expecting that. Oh and what confused me the most was when Gandalf was telling what happened to him after he fell in Moria. I had no clue what he was talking about! But the movie helped me understand it better. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Sapphire_Flame · 03-21-2003, 03:35 PM

The Council of Elrond. Way, way too drawn out. I read it the first time I read the Trilogy, and I've never read it again (and I'm on my 8th time through the books now...). Then some of the stuff at the end of RotK, when they're at Minas Tirith and when going back to Rivendell. It might just be the writing style (all Bible-like) but, yeah. Just what I think...

Iarwain · 03-21-2003, 06:09 PM

Contrary to all belief, I loved the Council of Elrond. But, I did find Book V to be quite precarious the first time around (I had to listen to it on tape to get through it), and in following reads I could barely get past the first few chapters of book VI.

Iarwain

Hirilaelin · 03-21-2003, 06:13 PM

The very beginning of FotR nearly made me put the book down and stop reading. The party was all right, but once I got to the passing of time, I was so confused. Also, when they first set out it is so slow. Everyone I know says that FotR is the most exciting book, but I liked TTT better, it has a lot more action! The only thing that I don't like is how you can't read about everyone at once, you have to wait for a certain chapter. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Demloth of Dol Amroth · 03-21-2003, 07:43 PM

the only part i found trying was the barrow-downs, the longest part of the book. i still can't envision barrow-wights properly either.

mark12_30 · 03-21-2003, 08:41 PM

They look like one-handed filmy green penguins.

Iarwain · 03-21-2003, 08:49 PM

No, no, Mark. They look like angry one handed filmy green penguins. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

If you look at the book "Tolkien's World" you'll get the idea, Demloth. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Iarwain

[ March 21, 2003: Message edited by: Iarwain ]

03-21-2003, 09:17 PM

the first time i read the fel i didnt understand the council of elrond at all. but now that ive seen the movie i get it better and it's one of my fav parts. the part with sam and frodo in the two towers was sooo hard to get through for me. ya well thats it : )

Diamond18 · 03-21-2003, 09:49 PM

The single most challenging part of the book for me was that dry, boring and painfully difficult Appendix E. I felt my brain shrivel up and die, screaming in agony as my eyes swam with the endless parade of directives on how to pronounce Elvish.

[img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

Quirkette · 03-21-2003, 10:03 PM

I skip that bit. It looks like doing homework, to me! Listening to book V on tape would be a great idea, now that you mention it.

Kalimac · 03-22-2003, 12:01 AM

The Council of Elrond I always kind of liked, but that's probably because it's mostly dialogue, even if it's extended - you can imagine the speakers' voices and try and put something into it.

The part that always kills me is the muster of Rohan. I don't know why, but every time we read through that - aloud - I always feel exhausted like I've just spent several hours mustering horses etc. myself. Those paragraphs are very hard on the tongue. Granted, that's not exactly a *bad* effect considering the subject matter but it's not necessarily great either.

Incidentally, Quirkette - if you have to, it's OK to skip ahead to Frodo and Sam [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]. I did that the first time I read the books - I was so frantic to find out what happened that I just skipped and returned to the previous stuff later. It didn't spoil anything for me, though there were a few points that confused me. But it was a relief to know.

03-19-2003, 09:56 PM	#1
Quirkette Haunting Spirit Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: A shotgun shack Posts: 86	Most Challenging Parts to Read I am having the hardest time with the start of Return Of The King, when the fighting hasn't really started. I keep wishing I could skip ahead to Sam and Frodo's chapters. What parts of the books do you find hard to follow? __________________ "No food, no rest, nothing for Smeagol," said Gollum. "He's a sneak."

03-19-2003, 10:47 PM	#3
Scott Wight Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ohio/Grey Havens Posts: 183	I've found that when reading anything that may tend to become a little heady, its best to just put the book down for a bit and do something else to clear your mind. It might take you a little longer to finish the book, but you won't just be rushing through it and possibly missing out on some very good parts. Personally, the hardest part to read in The Lord of the Rings was The Council of Elrond. I still think that it was a bit too drawn out. __________________ Those who the Gods would destroy, They first make mad. ~Those Crazy Greeks

03-19-2003, 10:59 PM	#4
elven maiden Earwen Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: A world that never was and never will be Posts: 1,300	I thought the the first part in Fotr and the chapter Minas Tirth in Rotk were hard to read because I new it would get better and I kept on waiting for the better parts. __________________ We pillage and plunder, we rifle and loot, Drink up me hearties, Yo Ho. the looniest site in the world!!!

03-20-2003, 06:22 AM	#5
Ruler of the Frogs Animated Skeleton Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Minas Tirith Posts: 49	I also found the Council of Elrond to be very long and difficult to read. It just could not keep my attention for more than three sentences! The first time I read the book, I skipped it. I kind of regretted doing that, and so all the times I've read the book since, I have read the Council of Elrond, even if it was three sentences at a time. I also found the part with Tom Bombadil really trying on my attention span. People seem to love Tom Bombadil, and I was fascinated with him and the whole area at first, but after a while I was getting quite bored of Bombadil and was like 'Can we keep it moving, please?!' But lately I've come to appreciate the Tom Bombadil portion a bit more (I still find it long, though) [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ What a joy to meet! We only wish to catch a fish, so juicy-sweet!

03-20-2003, 07:56 AM	#6
Mordor_Queen Haunting Spirit Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mordor Posts: 53	yeah that was quite a hard bit to get into. i kinda rushed it cos i really wanted to see what happened to frodo, sam and gollum. part 6 was a lot easier to follow and thats what i found with the two towers and the return of the king-the 2 parts of each book were easier to follow. [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img] __________________ "In place of a Dark Lord you shall have a Queen! Not Dark but beatiful! All shall love me and despair!"-Galadriel

03-19-2003, 10:00 PM	#2
Beren87 Master of the Secret Fire Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Between fire and ice, death and life Posts: 2,241	Heh, when I was younger and first read the books, I skipped over pretty much all of book 4 in the hopes of getting to see what happens to Gandalf and Pippin. Later I found out there was battling between Sam and a Giant spider and I quickly ran back to read the part I skipped!

03-20-2003, 07:58 AM	#7
Mordor_Queen Haunting Spirit Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mordor Posts: 53	i found the tom bombadil bit and the council of elrond hard to follow and almost gave up the book because of it and im very glad i didnt! [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img] __________________ "In place of a Dark Lord you shall have a Queen! Not Dark but beatiful! All shall love me and despair!"-Galadriel

03-20-2003, 09:03 AM	#8
Quirkette Haunting Spirit Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: A shotgun shack Posts: 86	I must be a wimp. The first half of ROTK makes me nuts. I wonder what Goldberry thinks about Tom's rhyming? She must be an especially tolerant person. "Stop saying your boots are yellow! They already know that, honey!" __________________ "No food, no rest, nothing for Smeagol," said Gollum. "He's a sneak."

03-20-2003, 02:36 PM	#9
Gorwingel Beholder of the Mists Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Somewhere in the Northwest... for now Posts: 1,419	Two Words... Tom Bombadil! I got so lost during that part, and also Fog on the Barrow-Downs, it took me reading that part about 5 or 6 times until I finally realized what was going on. __________________ Wanted - Wonderfully witty quote that consists of pure brilliance

03-20-2003, 03:19 PM	#10
Adutincowen Pile O'Bones Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: I hail from Middle Earth Posts: 18	For me, the most confusing part was the war scenes in RotK. __________________ * Reality is a crutch for people who can't handle drugs. ~Adutincowen Whitetree~

03-20-2003, 09:16 PM	#11
Arwen Imladris Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In a box with a fox Posts: 1,347	For me, I always wanted to find out what happened to Frodo and Sam, so any part without them I found harder to read. I also had a hard time will the battles. I had trouble visualizing what helms deep looked like. Funny, but I have a very clear picture of Minas Tirith, but not helms deep (before movie). I never had problems with Tom Bombadil, but I agree that the council of Elrond could be considered too long. __________________ "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, sleepies, we must go, yes, we must go at once."

03-20-2003, 09:39 PM	#12
Scott Wight Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ohio/Grey Havens Posts: 183	If we're not limiting this discussion to only the trilogy, then I must add that the Ainulindale (sp?, Music of the Ainur) was almost a chore to read my first time through with all of the names, and changes to names, and more name variations. Now, however, its one of my favorite excerpts. __________________ Those who the Gods would destroy, They first make mad. ~Those Crazy Greeks

03-20-2003, 10:50 PM	#13
LeGoLaSz gUrL Animated Skeleton Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 36	I remember when i was reading the prologue of FOTR at the airport long time ago..i was like AHH! i was really confused, and i tried reading it again on the plane and i had a headache, but when i read it at home, it got more easier to read

03-21-2003, 03:28 PM	#14
Talon Stormcrow Animated Skeleton Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Realm of the Sons of Elendil the Fair Posts: 42	Tom Bombadil confused me too... I had to read it a couple of time til I got it. Flight to The Ford kinda confused me too just because I had the way it was in the movie in my head and was expecting that. Oh and what confused me the most was when Gandalf was telling what happened to him after he fell in Moria. I had no clue what he was talking about! But the movie helped me understand it better. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] __________________ -Talon- "Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens" -Gimli Son of Gloin.

03-21-2003, 03:35 PM	#15
Sapphire_Flame Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The World That Never Was Posts: 1,232	The Council of Elrond. Way, way too drawn out. I read it the first time I read the Trilogy, and I've never read it again (and I'm on my 8th time through the books now...). Then some of the stuff at the end of RotK, when they're at Minas Tirith and when going back to Rivendell. It might just be the writing style (all Bible-like) but, yeah. Just what I think... __________________ The Hitchhiking Ghost

03-21-2003, 06:09 PM	#16
Iarwain Pugnaciously Primordial Paradox Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Birnham Wood Posts: 800	Contrary to all belief, I loved the Council of Elrond. But, I did find Book V to be quite precarious the first time around (I had to listen to it on tape to get through it), and in following reads I could barely get past the first few chapters of book VI. Iarwain __________________ "And what are oaths but words we say to God?"

03-21-2003, 06:13 PM	#17
Hirilaelin Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Immersed in a Good Book Posts: 367	The very beginning of FotR nearly made me put the book down and stop reading. The party was all right, but once I got to the passing of time, I was so confused. Also, when they first set out it is so slow. Everyone I know says that FotR is the most exciting book, but I liked TTT better, it has a lot more action! The only thing that I don't like is how you can't read about everyone at once, you have to wait for a certain chapter. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] __________________ ...so I fired two warning shots. Into his head. - Chicago Let Helky stay! Bree\|Imladris\|guess you'll never know...

03-21-2003, 07:43 PM	#18
Demloth of Dol Amroth Wight Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 105	the only part i found trying was the barrow-downs, the longest part of the book. i still can't envision barrow-wights properly either. __________________ One by one the Free Lands of Middle Earth fell to the power of the Ring-but there were some, who resisted...

03-21-2003, 08:41 PM	#19
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	They look like one-handed filmy green penguins. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

03-21-2003, 08:49 PM	#20
Iarwain Pugnaciously Primordial Paradox Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Birnham Wood Posts: 800	No, no, Mark. They look like angry one handed filmy green penguins. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] If you look at the book "Tolkien's World" you'll get the idea, Demloth. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Iarwain [ March 21, 2003: Message edited by: Iarwain ] __________________ "And what are oaths but words we say to God?"

03-21-2003, 09:17 PM	#21
Nenuial Guest Posts: n/a	the first time i read the fel i didnt understand the council of elrond at all. but now that ive seen the movie i get it better and it's one of my fav parts. the part with sam and frodo in the two towers was sooo hard to get through for me. ya well thats it : )

03-21-2003, 09:49 PM	#22
Diamond18 Eidolon of a Took Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: my own private fantasy world Posts: 3,460	The single most challenging part of the book for me was that dry, boring and painfully difficult Appendix E. I felt my brain shrivel up and die, screaming in agony as my eyes swam with the endless parade of directives on how to pronounce Elvish. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] __________________ All shall be rather fond of me and suffer from mild depression.

03-21-2003, 10:03 PM	#23
Quirkette Haunting Spirit Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: A shotgun shack Posts: 86	I skip that bit. It looks like doing homework, to me! Listening to book V on tape would be a great idea, now that you mention it. __________________ "No food, no rest, nothing for Smeagol," said Gollum. "He's a sneak."

03-22-2003, 12:01 AM	#24
Kalimac Candle of the Marshes Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Flyover Country Posts: 780	The Council of Elrond I always kind of liked, but that's probably because it's mostly dialogue, even if it's extended - you can imagine the speakers' voices and try and put something into it. The part that always kills me is the muster of Rohan. I don't know why, but every time we read through that - aloud - I always feel exhausted like I've just spent several hours mustering horses etc. myself. Those paragraphs are very hard on the tongue. Granted, that's not exactly a bad effect considering the subject matter but it's not necessarily great either. Incidentally, Quirkette - if you have to, it's OK to skip ahead to Frodo and Sam [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]. I did that the first time I read the books - I was so frantic to find out what happened that I just skipped and returned to the previous stuff later. It didn't spoil anything for me, though there were a few points that confused me. But it was a relief to know. __________________ Father, dear Father, if you see fit, We'll send my love to college for one year yet Tie blue ribbons all about his head, To let the ladies know that he's married.

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