How many of you have read the hobbit or LOTR?

[Guest]

[samwise16]

I am curious to how many of you have read all of the books , or maybe just one and whether reading the books made the film better to watch. Or whether you think they missed key happenings in the book which should have been used in the film.

I havn't read any of the books, and i am glad i never as i would find it
hard to take in and it may have made the film a disapointment  

What say you? and do you think you have to read the books to be a true LOTR fan? Which is what i hear alot  

[ferdinand_the_yak]

I find that having read the books made viewing the movies more enjoyable, I could understand it and appreciate it a bit more. That said, it can get annoying for some purists who say things like 'wheres Tom Bombadil?' etc

I've read the LOTR trilogy (for the first time when I was 9, which is scary ) and the Hobbit. Aiming for the Simarillon next

So yeah, I 'd recommend reading them. Be prepared to isolate yourself for at least a week though

[saruman]

ya i am with you Ferdi(hope its ok to call you that) i think it enhanses the movie and makes it better to watch. however i must say that the books are much better than the film.not that the film isn't the best thing i have seen but there is so much more in the book

[robwaddle]

Only thing I can't get into is the Silmarillion! I try again & again, but to no avail.

Re the book/fim argument - two very different things, I think.  If you accept that the films are "based" on the books, it makes life much simpler IMHO.

I recommend the books to everyone who loves the films. Trouble is, the books can be quite hard going and i suspect  that a lot of people have trouble with the verse.

Rob

[ferdinand_the_yak]

Hey saruman, I ahve been known by many a name and Ferdy is fine (as is FTY, yak etc). I agree with you about the books, but I reckon they did a great job with the time they had.. imagine a movie where they put in everything... 5-6 hours at least   Not that I would have a problem with that though

[savage727]

I have read the LOTR's and The Hobbit yearly since 1976.  I also have The Trilogy and The Hobbit on CD in several versions.  I have unabridged versions for LOTR's and The Hobbit that is read word for word from the books.  I also have two different versions that were initally installments produced for radio that are quite enteraining.  These are great to listen to if you drive long distances and have a CD player in your vehicle.  It makes the drive very enjoyable.  

[Maegna]

Why wasn't the Silmarillion included in the vote? Anyways, I've read all about tolkien's middle earth world. And silmarillion is by far the one with the most information in it. And it really is the one you should read to begin with, and not like most people do, first The Lord of The Rings, then The Hobbit, and then maybe Silmarillion. So if you liked The Lord of The Rings, you'll LOVE Silmarillion!

Maegna

[samwise16]

Why wasn't the Silmarillion included in the vote? Anyways, I've read all about tolkien's middle earth world. And silmarillion is by far the one with the most information in it. And it really is the one you should read to begin with, and not like most people do, first The Lord of The Rings, then The Hobbit, and then maybe Silmarillion. So if you liked The Lord of The Rings, you'll LOVE Silmarillion!

Maegna

sorry, to be honest i never new of this book, i see now that i should have  

[Roz]

This is the book I was planning to send you with your boxes... but I forgot