The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
Yup. Still a favorite. There are moments when I read this book where I can hear the call by Theoden as he leads Rohan to Gondors aid. I can smell the ash in Mordor as Frodo and Sam make their way across the barren lands and creep up the side of the mountain.
What is amazing to me is that, for a book that is centered so solely about the Ringbearer and his quest, there is actually not that much time devoted to Frodo and Sam. There is always so much happening, battles and the rallying taking place to get to those battles. But all the while, as I read about these huge scenes and feel the enormity of them, I also feel how closely tied everything is and how small the world is in the sense that if Frodo fails – Middle Earth fails.
I have a few favorite moments in The Return of the King. One the movie did fantastically well, the other was completely ignored by the movie.
The first is, of course, Eowyn’s battle with the Lord of the Nazgul. If Middle Earth were a real place, if we were allowed to go there and to live in whichever place we choose I wouldn’t choose the peaceful land of the Shire, the cold beauty of Lothlorian or the regal beauty of Minas Tirith. I’d choose Rohan. The strength of character in the men there is apparent even through the treachery of Wormtongue. (And I have to admit having a bit of a crush on Eomer – even more so than on Aragorn). Eowyn facing down the Lord of the Nazgul is such a powerful scene that even as I think back on it, my heart leaps into my throat and I feel a thrill from my head to the very tips of my toes.
And my second favorite moment in this book is the Hobbits return to the Shire. I love feeling the confidence that they themselves feel and enjoy watching them take their newfound knowledge, skill and judgment and show themselves to be the worthy Hobbits they are. And there’s something just.. satisfying about seeing their enemy reduced to what he is.
I seriously could go on and on about this book and how fantastic it is. I know I’ve seen some comments from folks who have not read the trilogy informing me that they haven’t read it because it intimidates them. Don’t let these books intimidate you if you haven’t read them. I envy you your chance to explore them for the first time. And if you think you know the story because you’ve seen the movies – let me assure you that you don’t. The level of detail and back-story woven through these books is so complex that the movies, although they were beautiful and well-done, just cannot compare to the original tale put down here by Tolkien.
