LOTR or the Hobbit

[Frederick Bergstrom]

Having never read any of these books I have purchased the fellowship of the ring book to read before the movie comes out. I understand the Hobbitt came first....Will it matter if I dont read the Hobbitt first, or should I read it before the Fellowship of the ring book. I know a lot of members have read these books so let me know your opinions

[Jill]

Fred, it's hard to assess whether you should read either of them or not, since I don't know you. The Hobbit has been termed as a children's story, while LoTR most certainly isn't. Do you prefer to keep the suspense of a story throughout to the end without knowing anything about it in advance? If so, then don't read them until after you've seen them, at least, until you've seen Fellowship of the Ring, then you can begin, I guess. On the other hand, if you're like those of us who like to read the last chapter of a book first :1devil: , then you should begin Fellowship first and get through it before the movie starts in Dec. Personally speaking, I've read the trilogy so many times that I've lost count, so the point was long moot with me. Sometimes on the Tolkien websites, those of us who have been around for awhile forget that there are people on those websites who don't like spoilers, so when we accidentally let slip secrets, we don't mean to. We're just so used to talking about it that we forget! You might read The Hobbit later as a reference, as well as The Silmarillion if you want to understand the origins of the Sindar and Sindarin (the Grey Elves' speech) and the Quenya (the Eldarin or High Elf speech forbidden by King Thingol), as well as background of the histories of elves, men, and dwarves.

[Domenick Fraumeni]

Well if you're going to read the books, then read The Hobbit first,
as it is the prelude to LOTR and sets up future events quite nicely while being a seperate story on it's own.

As for starting The 1st part of LOTR, you can, but it's hardly necessary to follow the film as Sir Ian Mckellan himself even states something to the effect that the film introduces events very well for the uninitiated.

Of course, I couldn't recommend the books enough. As good as the films seem to be, there is nothing like reading Professor Tolkien's own words. Enjoy :)

[Juan Aneiros]

I agree with Jill, first see the film and then read the book. I was lent the book by Mr Lee but won't dare to read a page until I've seen the film, I feel that knowing the story would spoil it for me.

[Old Soul]

There was a discussion about this in another post a while ago about books v movies

[Charles Prepolec]

Hmmm, some valid reasoning for all approaches, but personally I prefer to read the books before seeing the film versions, whatever the subject may be. Once I've seen a film, I generally find myself less likely to read the source material, as the plotline has then been revealed, which bothers me less when seeing a film. Of course I'm a book fiend so this likely comes as no surprise.

For me, there is a certain pleasure in knowing what to expect, but the real joy comes in seeing how well, or how poorly, a geat work has been adapted for the screen. This is particularly true, I find, when dealing with a text that makes use of great language or has a definite narrative style that captures a reader's imagination. While LOTR has a basic quest plot at its centre, the texture of the characters, location, and themes is something that will be hard to completely translate to the screen, so a little advance knowledge of what your heading into can't hurt.

As to whether one should read The Hobbit or The Fellowship of the Ring first, my vote is for The Hobbit, if for no other reason than to get a full picture of how such a thing of power, like the ring, should come to be in the hands of so unlikely a creature as a hobbit. Besides, it is a great book and wonderful, but far gentler, introduction into the world of Middle -Earth than the more demanding text of The Fellowship of the Ring. Mind you, whichever route one chooses to discover Tolkien's works, the reader simply can't lose!

Cheers!

[Paul Greenwood]

I feel a little out of place here, being that I am a new member and you all seem to be good friends,or at least good respondents, with many posts(and experience) under your belts..but I would like to reply to Fred's question, not only because I have a strong belief regarding his particular question, but also because I am very opinionated and when someone asks for a response I give mine! Anyway, I believe that you should read the Hobbitt first, because you will then be able to start the trilogy with a bit of history in your head, stored away. After you have read the Hobbitt, you will know where the characters are going in the trilogy. You will have stored the memory of the Shire and Misty Mountain and Mordor, and you will have a picture in your head of the world that Mr. Tolkien created. To me this is the best part of reading the trilogy...having a mental picture already in your head of the surroundings...nothing can compare to the images your mind creates when reading a great book. Unfortunately this "kills" many a movie for me. For example, when I was much younger I read many many of Mr. Robert E. Howard's Conan books...I remember to this day many of the images my mind created while reading these. Then, along came Arnold, and completely ruined my images. Even now, I am apprehensive to go watch a film after I have read the book, only because I know I will be disappointed with the translation to the screen. Not to say I don't want to see the Fellowship,on the contrary, I am very much looking forward to seeing it...however, I also know that after seeing this film I will never be able to read the books again without seeing the faces of Wood, Rhys-Davies or Mr. Lee. Nothing at all wrong with that, except you are denying your senses the ability to create mr. Tolkiens world in your head as you would see it... you will be seeing the movie in your head when you are reading the book.

[Vicky]

Hi Guys,

Some interesting and strong opinions here.
Well, its been so many years now since I read The Hobbit, yet despite my inability to read a book twice for whatever reason it may be, i can still remember the images it created in my mind. I then remember going and playing the old RPG of LOTR and The Hobbit on my old Spectrum way back in the old days of the late 80s.

For me, i have created many an image from a book - notably The Hobbit in this instance - and yet whatever other material appears to detract or shape my images those original visions do not disappear.

Sometimes I find im seeing a film and I've read the book, oh the shame in it! I mean, I haven't so much ended up have the influence of seeing people in books, except maybe now with Goldmine and Shout At The Devil by Wilbur Smith, yet I will always come up with my own images as to how these people look act and speak. I find seeing them on film fantastic, especially if it can be pulled off, because in many cases a good - great performance will encourage you to go back to the martial from which they have been derived.

I agree with the comments above that you will find it useful and enjoyable to read The Hobbit first, for although it is a seperate story it always comes in the box sets!!! I think that says it all

Have a nice day :)

Vicky

[Colin Bushby]

I used to read the books before the films and like what has been mentioned you conjure up your own images, voices and so on, then when seeing the film I tend to be a bit dissapointed, not because the book was better, but because the images you thought of are different to what's on screen.

I started to read Lord of the Rings a couple of months back and was realy enjoying it, then I decide I did not want to know what was going to happen so put it down and haven't touched it since. Now I'm just waiting for the movie and because I realy don't know much about it I will enjoy it much more. It's a bit like watching previews, they show you all the good bits and theres nothing decent left to watch, sometimes you can work out a whole storyline including the ending just by watching previews.

There's one good thing about books, if you don't understand something you can always go back and re-read until you do, you can't do that in the cinema.

Now for those who cannot make up their mind wether to read the book or see the film first, how about this, take the book to the cinema and read it the same time it is on, That way you will enjoy reading it and have the sound effects and music to go along with the book. Or is that too daft?

Cheers.
Colin