The Two Towers

[Dillson]

Huzzah.  Similar to The Fellowship Of The Ring, post comments on this book.  Enjoy.[/size]

[The Seventh Witch (Me!)]

I like the way this book is in two separate parts (yes I know it's actually two books in one! ) but JRR could have interchanged between Frodo and Sam and the others. It works the way he did it.

[Idril]

I really liked the pace of this book.  In FOTR, you have the bit in the beginning that's a little slow to start and in ROTK, you have the Scouring bit that's slows things down in the end, but in TTT, things get started and it's just non-stop throughout the whole book.  I love the character development, we're introduced to the Rohirrim and to Faramir and that ending is just fabulous.  It really is my favorite of the three.

[elbereth]

I have mixed feelings about it to be honest...it is transitional...but you get to meet the Ents...who I just love...keep in mind that they are mentioned in the fellowship of the ring...and Faramir...I love his character...I don't think that in the movie that they really brought it out enough...I hope that in the extended version of RotK...and Gandalf...when they meet up with him in Fangorn forest...you adsolutely feel the difference in him...

[Dillson]

I am reading TTT at the minute, and since I read it last, I noticed the transition of Gandalf as well.  The difference in him is very noticeable.  I think in paticular the chapter 'The Voice Of Saruman' you realise what Gandalf has become, when he is able to resist Saruman, and basically defeat him.[/size]

[elbereth]

see...and I think that Gandalf always had the ability to defeat Sauramon...he just didn't want to..he was to humble...and tried to work with Sauramon not against him....til he had to

[Aulë]

Erkenbrand has it right. The Gandalf first met in The White Rider, as Gandalf the White, had that ability, while Gandalf the Grey did not.

Tolkien further explains this point, referencing Gandalf's words from that self-same chapter ...

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
No. 156
To Robert Murray, SJ. (draft)
4 November 1954

[...] The 'wizards', as such, had failed; or if you like: the crisis had become too grave and needed an enhancement of power. So Gandalf sacrificed himself, was accepted, and enhanced, and returned. 'Yes, that was the name. I was Gandalf.' Of course he remains similar in personality and idiosyncrasy, but both his wisdom and power are much greater. When he speaks he commands attention; the old Gandalf could not have dealt so with Théoden, nor with Saruman. [...]

Also, remember Gandalf's recalling of his exchange with Saruman just prior to his imprisonment in Orthanc ...

The Fellowship of the Ring
Book II Chapter 2
The Council of Elrond

[...] "You were head of the Council, but you have unmasked yourself at last. Well, the choices are, it seems, to submit to Sauron, or to yourself. I will take neither. Have you others to offer?"

He was cold now and perilous. "Yes," he said. "I did not expect you to show wisdom, even in your own behalf; but I gave you the chance of aiding me willingly, and so saving yourself much trouble and pain. The third choice is to stay here, until the end."

"Until what end?"

"Until you reveal to me where the One may be found. I may find means to persuade you. Or until it is found in your despite, and the Ruler has time to turn to lighter matters: to devise, say, a fitting reward for the hindrance and insolence of Gandalf the Grey."

"That may not prove to be one of the lighter matters," said I. He laughed at me, for my words were empty, and he knew it." [...]

[Ellie_Greenleaf]

I really like this book because you learn a lot more about the characters and you get to meet new characters and it's not one journey all together it's three separate journeys so you can't lose interest in it as much as you could in FOTR because you just want to read on to see what happened to say Merry and Pippin whilst you are reading about Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli

[elbereth]

you know I had read that lots of times...but it just never sank in til now...why did Gandalf not have the same power as Sauramon...was it a willing sacrifice that he made to come to ME...or was it that he just was never as powerful as Sauramon...?

[Dillson]

There is a problem with that though, of getting used to one characters, or a group of characters' journey, then suddenly the book shifts back in time and to new characters.  For me, it works well, though I don't think it worked as well in the film.

EDIT - Too slow ... this was in reply to Ellie's post.  :-[ [/size]

[elbereth]

welll...I always thought that Gandalf had a...understated power...if you will.....and Sauramon was always so...greasy to me....just creepy if you like.....was he always that way...I would hve liked to been a fly on the wall at the meeting of the while council...when they decided to storm Dol Goulder...(is that how you spell it) anyway...I would have like to have seen the power plays....Sauramon must have been really slick to get past all the players...and who all was on the council...elrond, galadrial, gandalf, sauramon...and who else...

[The Seventh Witch (Me!)]

I think that was the whole point with Saruman though wasn't it? He did have that power over people, to draw them in with his voice. But to draw the likes of Elrond and Galadriel into his illusions, yes he must have had very great power indeed.


And on the White Council were supposed to be all the wizards/Istari but if the Blue wizards dissappeared presumably they weren't on it? Radagast I suppose would be there.

[elbereth]

well that was just it...I don't think that Galadriel or Elrond were drawn into it...

[Ellie_Greenleaf]

I don't like this book as much as the others, I don't know why to be honest! But I love the parts in Rohan in this book, especially Edoras because I could really imagine it and the way I imagined it was almost the same as it is in the movie it is that well described!

I didn't get a chance to really appreciate this book because I wanted to read it quickly so I could hurry up and get on to ROTK before the movie came out, but I am almost finished FOTR (Again!) So I will appreciate it more and be able to remember more of it.

I wish Helms Deep in the film was shorter like the book because I lost interest in the film with it but in the book it wasn't so long so it was over and done with and i could get back into the rest of it.

I love all the bit with Treebeard because you learn all about the Entwives and stuff and it's pretty sad

And I love the chapter "Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit" Because you can really see how Sam is getting annoyed with Smeagol and it's typical Sam (If you get my meaning!)    

I hated the parts with Shelob though, I couldn't read it without actually going all squeamish and everything! It really made my skin crawl because of how scared I am of spiders and it was that well described

[MrsBloom]

All of the books are very good

Call to undefined function tportal_version()