Comfort Reads discussion

Join us "officially" on May 1 to discuss the third book on the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Or, join us now.... :)

I'm aiming at May 1. I know that Kim read all three, straight through, so I wanted to get this up to remind everyone.

Yeah, I find it hard to not read them all if I read one.

The seventh gate on the seventh level sort of thing? ;)

Hey everybody,

I join in the discussion and start reading the third part today. Is it going to be a hot discussion about PJ and our beloved Tolkien.

Lots of things to talk about as the story wraps up. :)

Just to stirr up the discussion. I love the Battle of Gondor as described by Tolkien much better than PJ's version. When reading Tolkien I was drawn into the battle and a the death of Théoden and what happened there after made my eye wet and made shivers run down my spine. PJ's version was only violence.

In the book Aragorn is called into Minas Tirith to heal Faramir, Éowyn and Merry. I can't remember having seen that in the movie.
The way Aragorn is working as a healer and the way he adresses Faramir, who accepts him as his king made my eyes wet. Tolkien describes this in such a wonderful way.

Sylvia wrote: "Just to stirr up the discussion. I love the Battle of Gondor as described by Tolkien much better than PJ's version. When reading Tolkien I was drawn into the battle and a the death of Théoden and w..."

I was really quite disappointed with the movie version of ROTK, both the Battle of Gondor and the scenes in the House of Healing when Aragorn (as the anointed King, the anointed one) heals Faramir, Éowyn and Merry were what I would call butchered a bit by Peter Jackson (I don't even remember him having Merry healed by Aragorn at all, Pippin finds Merry but the scene where Merry is actively healed by Aragorn does not appear in the movie version, if I remember correctly).

Yeah, I doubt I'll ever go out of my way to see the second two movies (the first one was ok; visually good, but don't start me about Arwen, warrior elf princess.).

Sorry I've been late in starting this read -- busy day today.

In the extended version of RotK, Peter Jackson adds in the Houses of Healing scenes, but it messes up the timeline with Pippin and Merry. We see Aragorn tending Eowyn, and then Eowyn and Faramir gazing at each other -- poor Merry seems to get left next to that dead Mumak for several days!! There is another scene between slaying the Witch King and the death of Theoden that should have been left on the cutting room floor. :(

I did think Theoden saying goodbye to Eowyn was very moving. I love Bernard Hill!

The third movie was not the best, sadly. I think Two Towers was the best of the three.

Question: Are we going to read and discuss the Appendices at the end of ROTK too?

I'm not sure about all of them, at least I never have, but there are some interesting stories there. I think Appendix A is worth reading.

Any other opinions?

Jeannette wrote: "I'm not sure about all of them, at least I never have, but there are some interesting stories there. I think Appendix A is worth reading.

Any other opinions?"

They do take a while (better to have some more months dedicated to the appendices), but I would not mind.

I will add the thread. They are another 130+ pages.

Jeannette wrote: "I will add the thread. They are another 130+ pages."

I agree. The appendices tell the origin of the people of Middle-Earth and what happened to Gondor in later times.

I'm right behind you. This is way different than the movie. A lot of RotK is. I love Beregond, and his son, and the way they befriend Pippin, too!

Simran wrote: "Pippin's made a pretty positive impact on the people of Gondor, at least the ones they've mentioned so far in the book. It didn't seem that way to me in the movie. The Steward especially, seemed to..."

Actually, Denethor's reaction to Pippin was rather in character, I think. Denethor was becoming more and more unhinged and had just learned that Boromir had died saving Pippin and Merry (from the way he was approaching his own son, Faramir, his reaction to Pippin was, in my opinion, as positive as it likely could have been). I think that in the movie, Denethor was perhaps painted a bit darker and unstable than in the book (where I think he is portrayed as a bit more nuanced), but all in all, I do think that Peter Jackson successfully showed the instability and power hungriness of Denethor (and from where Boromir might have inherited this aspect of his personality). I do agree that Jackson did cut too much, though (the fact that on most of the inhabitants of Gondor, Pippin made a very very positive, even heroic impression is not shown all that strongly in the movie, and Pippin's whole character and his impacts definitely were somewhat reduced in the movie).

I remember as the movie was coming out there was some serious praying going on that Beregond's son (a measure of how long since I read this: I can't think of his name) wasn't going to be in it - he irritated some just that much. I never minded him; did anyone find him obnoxious or annoyingly precocious or anything?

There was (iirc) almost no attention paid to the dead Tree in the movie... Which in a way makes sense, as it would be hard to introduce a whole new element to the story, but which I think would be one of the deepest blows to Tolkien himself.

So far I find Bergil to be portrayed about typical for a kid his age, left behind in the city to be useful. I'm sure it made him feel a bit self-important. But, Pippin set him straight at their first meeting. He certainly is a comfort to Pippin.

The tree was important in the movie when G&P first arrive to see Denethor. It was part of Pippin's vision in the Palantir in the movies, but in the book Pippin walks right past it, with just a glance. The only other time the tree plays a part in the films is very subtle: when Denethor takes Faramir to the crypts, and bemoans the end of his line, a single blossom is shown on the tree. A bit subtle, but it shows the line of kings is not yet ended.

Did you watch all the films? Otherwise, you'll miss part of what we're talking about. The tree is explained later in the book. You got a glimpse of it when Pippin saw it in the courtyard, by the fountain.

Simran wrote: "Denethor has lost his marbles....."

*thinking of the film* Maybe he ate them.

That was one of the most interesting dinner scenes I think I have ever watched. It seemed to almost perfectly convey the state of Denethor's mind, and the fate that awaited Faramir.

Not to mention Billy Boyd singing, and that song. That almost made up for what I hated. Some.

Lovely voice, and he composed the music, too. I love that part of the soundtrack, even if it is so sad.

I sure do. The tomatoes, too. :P

Simran wrote: "Oh yeah, that was bloody disgusting ! Unfortunately, i still have a clear picture of him tearing that dripping flesh apart with his teeth :("

It was definitely "bloody" disgusting (shiver).

I think I am glad I have no idea what y'all are talking about!

Here's a description of the scene, so you don't have to see it:

http://www.amagpiesnest.com/cbc_analy...

However, I do highly recommend finding a recording of Pippin's song. It's wonderful.

I finished over the weekend, reading the second book partly aloud in the car (while my husband drove) and the majority on audiobook. This is not my favorite volume of the three, but there are some wonderful scenes that play out in RotK. I read the ending aloud and had a hard time keeping back the tears.

"Well, I'm back."

Jeannette wrote: "I finished over the weekend, reading the second book partly aloud in the car (while my husband drove) and the majority on audiobook. This is not my favorite volume of the three, but there are some..."

Jeannette wrote: "I finished over the weekend, reading the second book partly aloud in the car (while my husband drove) and the majority on audiobook. This is not my favorite volume of the three, but there are some..."

I agree with you. It's not my favorite too, but the way Tolkien has written the final parts and all the farewell from Middle-Earth, so full hidden emotion, always bring tears to my eyes. That's what's making this third part great.

I'm glad you finally made it! Some day you'll read it again at your leisure. :)