Fantasy

Background

The Two Towers is the sequel to The Fellowship of the Ring. It continues the story of Frodo and Sam and the Ring of Doom.

My Thoughts

I always feel a bit like I just want to get through this book. However, so much happens in it, you can’t just skip it. I’ve read it enough times and I still mix up what happens in each book.

It isn’t the first and it isn’t the last. It’s like the middle child who can’t quite get enough attention…

Recommendation

Great book. Try not to rush through it.

Background

The Maze Runner was written in 2009 by James Dashner and is the first book in the Maze Runner series. It is a post apocalyptic juvenile fiction book that centers on a gifted 16 year old named Thomas. He finds himself placed in a maze without memories and needing to survive.

My Thoughts

This was a good book and may even want to see the movie. (If nothing else, I’d like to see how they depicted the reavers. Though it was pretty campy at times it was an engaging read and I didn’t get bored reading it.

Recommendations

Be aware there is some nasty violent scenes and some messed up situations. However, if you are good with that, I would recommend the book.

Background

Divergent is the story of post-apocalyptic world where the main character is just coming of age. It is part of the Divergent Trilogy and was made into a movie by the same name a mere 3 years after the book’s release.

My Thoughts

I haven’t seen the movie and I don’t know that I will. This book reads a lot like the Twilight Series. That is to say it is teenage girl fodder. It is a decent story and all but there are some surprisingly sensual parts of it that I don’t think the average teenager needs in their life. As a forty something man, it was a bit comical to read about the male characters. If you dropped a teenage girl in the body of man and she tried to act male, this is what you would get.

Just like Twilight, it was made into a movie pretty quickly after the books. It feels a bit like it was made for it.

Recommendation

Probably stick to the movie on this one and skip the book.

Background

I don’t think there needs to be too much introduction to this book. The Fellowship of the Ring is J.R.R. Tolkien’s the first book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed this rendition of the book. I’ve read it a few times now and I enjoyed the audiobook. It was much quicker and still enjoyable. However, it did skip a good deal of the details.

The story itself keeps you engaged throughout the story. The whole series is the classic hero’s epic of how Hobbits saved all of Middle Earth.

Recommendation

Read it rather than watch the movies. They are good but the book is better.

Background

The Hobbit is the first book which kicked off the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien over 80 years ago. It is the tale of a halflings, or Hobbits, or rather, one Hobbit and an adventure he hadn’t planned on taking. This is a fantasy story of dwarfs, elves, dragons, goblins, trolls, and others… The book was originally a children’s book before it was taken and made into 3-PG-13 movies.

My Thoughts

I’ve read this book several times and this go around was the most unique. I was scheduled for 2 teeth which were in need of root canal re-treatments and was facing at least 3 hours in a dentist’s chair. I wanted something to take my mind off of the drama and felt this was a good way to go.

For the most part, it worked. I still enjoyed the book, which is saying something as I was literally being drilled during it. Particularly, I enjoyed the BBC radio version. All the characters had their own voices and it really made it come to life.

Recommendation

Great book! Well worth the time and effort.