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The Fellowship of the Ring
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Fellowship of the Ring
Audiobook3 hours

The Fellowship of the Ring

Written by J.R.R. Tolkien

Narrated by Ensemble Cast

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

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About this audiobook

The original American dramatization as broadcast on National Public Radio.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateMar 1, 2007
ISBN9781598874501
The Fellowship of the Ring
Author

J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892–1973) was a distinguished academic, though he is best known for writing The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion, plus other stories and essays. His books have been translated into over sixty languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide.

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Reviews for The Fellowship of the Ring

Rating: 4.383469122857343 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

14,258 ratings207 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Didn't realize this was such a short version. Was looking forward to listening to the whole novel. Disappointed that I spent a credit on this sped up version.

    3 people found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It's so difficult to review this book, mostly because it's such an epic tale, such a magnificent collection of work by Tolkien, it would seem improbable anyone would have NOT read this by now. But around the turn of the century, Peter Jackson created some wonderful (although not particularly accurate) movies which attempted to fit this wondrous world into 12 hours of film. If you are one of those people who've seen the movies, but not read the books, I strongly recommend reading the Hobbit and then working your way through the Lord of the Rings series. The process will bring to light a lot of what you missed in the movie adaptation. I read the Hobbit when I was 11, and then tried to read the LOTR with no success at that time. It was too confusing. It wasn't until I was in my late 20's that I started reading the series and I've read it at least once a year since then (going on 23 times!). Definitely worth at least one good read for anyone who is interested in fantasy books, character development, linguistics, and the battle of good over evil.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really enjoyed the dramatization. It felt like I was listening to a movie. However some of the pronunciations were different than the movie which was a bit difficult.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Most of the character’s voices are very hard to listen to.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    The Hobbitt is the best. The rest is a long, dull read except for a handful of pages.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    really fun having a full acting cast for the reading and the music and I really liked this mini play for the ears
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Best fantasy series ever.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved the Hobbit and it is one of my absolutely favourite books. I have read it in swedish, english and german.The Lord of the Rings was also great books and a journey in itself. It was kind of sad when I had finnished the third part. Tolkien was a genious.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    what is there left to be said about LOTR that hasn't been said already. The grandfather of all fantasy/fiction, an inspiration to all of us authors. Best critique I ever heard about LOTR, however, was one reviewer said 'He drew a map and spent 500 pages describing it.' True, but what descriptions they were.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Certain parts could be louder, but overall a decent production.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    outstanding read!!!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Four of the greatest works of literature ever written.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Utterly fantastic read!This is a book about a quest, a quest to dispel evil through the means of a ring. Nine companions are joined together to dispose of the ring where it was once made in the fiery chasm of Mount Doom in the land of Mordor. This is the story of their quest.This book is definitely one of the great ones. Tolkien officially kicks off the Lord of the Rings series in wonderful style. Fantasy and mythology mix in this book as we are met with such characters as wizards, dwarves, elves, and of course, hobbits.The settings are beautifully laid out, the characters are wonderfully described. And though I am one of the ones who have seen the movies before I read the book I found that the book still held a lot of surprises for me. Though they are the same story they hold subtle differences which is a delight to any who experience either.This is indeed one of the great epic fantasies and I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I've read this book several times in my life, and seen the films, but the rick layers of narration in this audio recording bring new depth to the narrative. It was a delight and I intend to listen to the two subsequent installments as well! 10/10 Would recommend!
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Couldnt stand the narration. Have to post six more words...
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Not perfect, but obviously one of the classics. An amazing world and story.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It has been so much fun revisiting these books. I completely recommend them. I can't even name a genre that I would recommend them to, I just recommend them to everyone. Okay, realistically there is no romance to speak of, but everything else that is fun and interesting is here. We have sci-fi, fantasy, mystery/thriller, magic and fantasy, young adult, classic, friendship and legend. It's just fun. I love these stories. I never got around to watching the movies, maybe I'll have to do that soon.

    Happy reading.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Always a good read! Loved this book since I was a young boy
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    This production was cheesy and horrible. It sounded like a middle school production at best.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I must admit that this was one of the only cases where I enjoyed the movie version just as much as the books. The pages and pages of description can get a bit tiring, but the series is still one of my favorites....Frodo lives!!!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I finally read the entire thing - well, I listened to it via audiobook. This was my third attempt, although the other two were over a decade ago. I never could finish the trilogy. Inevitably, I'd get lost somewhere in the third book (having skimmed most of the second) and quit. Well, due to it being audio, I managed to finished the entire thing. My favorite part was the Ride of the Rohirrim, followed closely the arrival of Aragorn at the Fields of Pelennor, with his banner unfurled! Other than that, the story was good - with the right amount of introspection and adventure. I found the lack of female characters disappointing, but the female characters that are in the story are strong - particularly Eowyn - who is my favorite. There seemed an excessive amount of singing, but in a society and culture were most stories are told via song, that makes sense.While I recognize and honor the historical and literary value of Tolkien's work, and understand that Tolkien work is monumental in the realm of fantasy literature, I don't think Tolkien will ever be a favorite. It's just not for me.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Difficult to read with old fashiond language and some parts felt heavy to read, a little bit depressing. But then I read it when I was young. I liked Bilbo a lot better, it was more like a feairy tale.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was a great read- the right time in my life. Most people read this when they were young, but I read it in my twenties. It still clicked. Tolkien' descriptions and narrative stuck with me and really drew me into the fantasy world of Middle Earth. A real coming of age book for any reader at any age. Read the books before seeing the movies. I love fantasy and imagination, and Tolkien took me for a real ride in his deep, immersive fantasy world.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Sweet reading!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I almost hesitate to review this book series because it has become so iconic in our culture - especially since the release of the excellent movie adaptatations released in the early 2000s. If you have never read these books, you should be warned that they are not always easy reading. Tolkien was an academic, steeped in old languages and mythology. His use of English can be a little ponderous in places - especially to people who are used to reading light "page turners" written to eigth grade reading level. (8th grade reading level is the publishing industry standard for all but scholarly treatise and high literary fiction.)However, for those who persevere to the end, these books greatly reward the effort. Tolkien used his knowledge of mythology to create a richly imagined world with vivid characters and levels of symbolism that run deep. I have found elements of Norse mythology (notably the Ring of the Niebling - Fall of the Gods) , Saxon mythology (the Elves, ents, Balrog...) , Greek Mythology (the Atlantean legends, and descriptions of the Elven aristocracy - this is more evident in the Ring pre-quel, The Simarylian (SP), Celtic Mythology (the sacred elven homelands in the west, and European mystery schools (The hierachies and initiation levels of the wizards - Gandolf's transformation from "Gray' wizard to 'White' wizard after his battle with his ancient subterrean foe.)Of course, you don't have to see of understand these influences to enjoy the books. For for those who are interested in such things, recognizing some of the influences behind the stories adds a level of appreciation.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Ok so whether you like fantasy (or love it like me!) or hate it, these books are a MUST READ for everyone.I've read this series three times in my life now (i'm 26) and I'll probably read them at least once more. Tolkien creates some of the most fascinating characters you'll ever read, and the epic scale of the history he's created can't be understated!! He even went so far as to create separate languages for elves and dwarves in the appendix. It's just a great story and it stands up today as probably the best fantasy series ever written. And it's one that MANY series try to imitate, but often fall short.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    There's nothing I can say about this that won't 1) take up hours and hours of your time, and 2) sound incredibly ( but lovingly! ) biased. So I'll just insist with every crazy bit of me to pick up this set and read it yourself.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I read and re-read these books, something like four times, and they never lost their appeal for me. I never donned a cape and elf ears, but I loved this series. Thoroughly engaging. I also thought the film versions were perfectly creditable, so you hard-core nay-sayers just keep it to yourselves.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It's been a long time since I reread Lord of the Rings, but it felt like time, with a lot of things reminding me of it lately. The last straw was reading about Ursula Le Guin's thoughts on it in Cheek By Jowl. Since the last time I read it, I've heard a lot of hard words about LOTR -- about the terrible writing and the terrible pacing and the xenophobia and the lack of moral grey area and all of that, and reading it again I notice faults in it that I'd never have admitted when I was younger, but I also remember all the ways I think people are wrong about it. However, an overview of the trilogy can wait! For now, I'll review The Fellowship of the Ring alone.

    It starts off very slow, set in The Shire, giving us a glimpse of the peaceful happy life that Bilbo longed for so often during The Hobbit, and building up the tension slowly. Slowly seems to be the key word in this book, in fact. I forgot that it takes the whole first 'book', which probably has almost as many words as The Hobbit, to get as far as Rivendell. One thing you can't accuse Tolkien of is rushing. A lot happens in that time, really, including the introduction of the Nine and of Strider/Aragorn, which is important... but it's such a small step, The Shire to Rivendell, that some people dismiss it as pointless. I can't see as much point in the part with the Old Forest and Tom Bombadil... it feels like a digression, as if Tolkien is in love with his world and wants to show us more of it. I like that part, but I can see why people don't.

    The second half of the book feels more purposeful. Frodo learns more and knows more clearly what he's going to have to do, and we learn about the Company. And then -- eventually -- they get under way. I suppose that really they don't do that much more in the second book -- in the first book there's the Shire, the Old Forest, The Prancing Pony, and Weathertop, and in the second book there's Rivendell, Caradhras, Moria, Lothlorien and the Anduin. But things feel more imperative and desperate, I suppose. And things keep speeding up from here.

    I can't decide what my favourite part is. The Lorien part is beautiful, but obvious. The Moria part is dark, but I think maybe I like that best because of Balin, and in honour of Gandalf. My favourite characters are... hmm. Gandalf, Sam and Aragorn, probably, although it's nice to see Bilbo again. And I wish we knew more about Glorfindel, actually -- that he'd gone with the company, or something, because I think more could've been done with him. He appeared and disappeared quite quickly.

    In any case, yes: I can see the flaws in the writing, and I'm beginning to see what's meant by the xenophobia -- I missed that, through not being a very subtle reader when I last read it, I think. I didn't look beyond the face value. But I still do love the writing -- it tastes nice, which is good enough for me -- and the rest.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Definently worth a read. The story is epic, and the characters very interesting.