The Council of Elrond (FOTR) - by Hildie

It looks like I'm the only one keeping up with the reading schedule right now.  I know everyone else is probably a bit more busy than I am, so I'll just continue on my merry path.

The Council of Elrond is one of the longer chapters we've come across thus far.  It's not a boring chapter but it isn't action packed and fast moving like some of our other chapters.  It is what it says, a chapter about a council held where Elrond presides over the discussion. 

I actually didn't mind the history, and updates given in this chapter.  I found the info Gloin gave to be interesting and I actually wish that he'd have told more.  I do prefer the way this Boromir speaks to the way they've got him played in the movie.  He seems like a better person here, though still sure of himself, and really in favor of anything to help his homeland. 

Ooo we find out something about Moria here!  Very interesting, so where is Balin and what's happened to them.  A bit of foreshadowing that I've not really noticed as much before this.

All in all I have to say this chapter means a heck of a lot more to me now that I"ve read the Sil and Unfinished Tales.  The names of people in history (middle earth history that is) make a lot more sense and I can connect events and stories better.

This council seems to have more important people and actually be more of a discussion than the one in the film.  I think that is good for a book but I definitely think that it would have made for a bit of a boring part in the film that only Tolkien fans (of the book) would have wanted to sit through. 

We find out something about the rings here.  I know it's forbidden to speak about The Three Rings of Elven Kings... so was it a slip when Galdor said "Power to defy our Enemy is not in him (Tom Bombadil), unless such power is in the earth itself.  And yet we see that Sauron can torture and destroy teh very hills.  What power still remains lies with us, here in Imladris, or with Cirdan at the Havens, or in Lorien.  But have they the strength, have we here the strength to withstand the Enemy, the coming of Sauron at the last, when all else is overthrown?"  I mean those locations are where the Three Rings are (or thought to be since we know that Gandalf was given one of the rings by Cirdan to keep safe).  Just something to think about... did he just stick his foot in it and say something that could have gotten them in trouble if people would have made a couple connections?  (For those who don't know, Elrond, Gandalf though previously Cirdan, and Galadriel have the rings of the elves).

Ah so Frodo does his line: "I will take the ring though I do not know the way... " However here it seems that they figured he would be the one to do it.  I do like the fact that Gandalf was hoping he wouldn't be the one in he movie.  I think it made it all seem a bit more distressful, serious and urgent...

Ah a very long chapter (sorry for the shotty review) and now we're ready to start another part of the adventure.  The Fellowship is decided upon!

Many Meetings (FOTR Book II) by Hildie

We've finished book one of The Fellowship of the Ring now and are on to book two.  Many Meetings the first chapter sets the stage of Rivendell, fills in a few holes and gives a bit more into the character of elves. 

We finally see that Frodo is okay, and has come through the ordeal at the Ford alive, and getting better (but not quite completely well).  We also find Gandalf!  Thank goodness he's there, what a worry when he wasn't around!  Also, the first bit gives us a little bit more of an idea how close Frodo was to really meeting a nasty fate, and how strong Hobbits actually seem to be. 

Who could possibly have held Gandalf captive?  I think that the bit when Gandalf is saying this shows a great deal of foreshadowing he says "Yes, I, Gandalf the Grey.  There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil.  Some area greater than I am.  Against some I have not yet been measured.  But my time is coming.  The Morgul-lord and his Black Riders have come forth.  War is preparing!"  Sounds pretty intense to me!  I know if I was Frodo and Gandalf had said that sort of thing, I'd have had the sense to pass right back out and fake a coma in Rivendell until it was all over!  EEK!

WOOHOO!  Finally we find out more about Strider.  He is a Ranger, but that's not nearly important enough name.  Too bad "normal" folk don't realize who they are and show some respect.  Them being the last remnant of the Numenorians!

Here we learn that Elrond called the flood and that Gandalf put on some touches.  While I loved the Arwen part up to the Ford in the film, I do think that she shouldn't have called the flood, and left it to be more like the book.  Ah well, it didn't ruin it at all so that's all good.

Sam, what a sweetie...  Frodo doesn't deserve a friend like that at all.  He's been so worried over him, and I think it was Sapphie that mentioned it... would Frodo have been so utterly worried if it was the other way around?  It's good to see Sam in his element though, he so deserves to be happy.

Man I think I could do with a feast like that.  It would be just about perfect right now.  Perhaps if we all ever meet we can put on a feast like that, and of course since we're the Tolkien nuts the three of us will have to be in the Glorfindel, Gandalf and Elrond positions!  *grins and winks*

Impressive that we meet Gloin here, and very endearing that Tolkien kept the simple bow and "Gloin at your service," from The Hobbit.  This is the perfect time to catch Frodo (and the reader) up on what's happened since The Hobbit.  We find out about the last of the twelve companions of Thorin, and also that something isn't right with the dwarves.  It's really setting up the next chapter isn't it.  At least the Beornings get a mention here.  I really loved them and always enjoy hearing about them.  Also the Dale seems to be doing quite well again! 

OOOO The Hall of Fire!  I think I could quite happily live there if it is anything like it is in my imagination.  I love poetry and singing and quiet. 

Bilbo!  Lovely, old Bilbo Baggins.  Frodo had wanted to see him.  Looks like everyone is getting their wish here!  I was a bit worried when the ring thing happened when Bilbo wanted to see it again.  We see where they got the icky look for that moment in the films, and that Bilbo seems to have more wits than Frodo because he was able to stay his hand.  Frodo really would have hit him if he'd tried to reach for the Ring more than he did.  That thing is sooooo EVIL!   

I think it's extremely cute that the elves let Bilbo do his songs and verse.  Actually I thought he did a pretty good job of it, though I'd probably have to say I also agree with Aragorn  when he said that Bilbo had cheek to write verses about Earendil in Elrond's house!  Ooo T!  We again see the Green Stone thing here!  Very interesting, you've got me watching for that now! 

I honestly wouldn't have been able to leave the hall as early as Frodo did.  Especially when they left right at the start of the A Elbereth Gilthoniel verse! 

Again good old Sam looking out for his master.  What a sweetheart!  Frodo should have the good sense to do for himself once in a while though. 

Can't wait to read the next chapter, it will definitely be answering a lot of questions!

Flight To The Ford (FOTR) by Hildie

I do enjoy this chapter! It always goes by quickly...

I feel so sorry for Sam at the first part of this chapter. We have all already noticed just how devoted he is to Frodo (even if Frodo doesn't deserve it). I feel awful when Strider tells Sam that Frodo may have a deadly wound. Poor fellow!

I thought that Tolkien's description of the way the wound effects Frodo is done very well. I love the introduction of Athelas in the book, but also thought it was done well in the film as well. Remember Sean Astin's Sam saying "Ai, athelas, king's foil tis a weed."

Gotta love Bill the pony. Sure he's not a main character but I've always been an animal lover and I remember telling my Dad how glad I was that the poor beast wasn't with that nasty no good Ferny anymore!

I thought that the beryl elf-stone in the middle of the bridge (Last Bridge) was pretty cool, and like Aragorn I took it as a good sign. I was really intrigued by who could possibly have put it there. I initially thought it was probably Gandalf, or someone he had sent.

One of my favorite scenes also comes when Pippin and Merry run back and warn them of the trolls. It seems silly that I even forgot they were in broad daylight and that the trolls couldn't possibly be a danger considering they would be stone and not able to move at all! I love the whole "you could have noticed the bird's nest behind his ear comment" and how Strider broke the stick on the one that was bending over! What a great tie in to The Hobbit! Beck you should really enjoy that one considering you've just finished reading it too! I was glad to see that in the film.

You get your hopes up with Frodo getting slightly better and then they're dashed when he goes back into his dim world of shadows and fog. I remember being really worried about him, and still I get that feeling of anxiety. It seems like it takes forever for them to get from Weathertop to Rivendell!

The Road is so dreadful! I hate it when they have to get back on the road and I have to honestly say that I can feel my own ears straining to pick up the sound of horses hooves! What a great writer to make the reader feel that way! I think that if a horse rode by outside when they're on the road dreading to hear the rider's coming that I"d probably be a bit jumpy!

Now on to the best part of the chapter. I love elves. I am completely enamoured with them. I suppose that I'm a bit like Sam in that respect, and I never can get enough stories of the elves and all their doings. Glorfindel is awesome. I have to say I was a bit sad to see that he didn't make the movie (either movie in fact: cartoon or Peter Jackson's films). We finally figure out who put the beryl in the middle of the bridge and also that he faced down three of the Riders. The most intriguing bit of this chapter to me upon this reading was actually the bit where Glorfindel says "There are few even in Rivendell that can ride openly against the Nine; but such as there were, Elrond sent out north, west, and south. It was thought that you might turn far aside to avoid pursuit, and becoming lost in the Wilderness."

This means that Glorfindel himself could face the Nine all together. How powerful this elf must be! How interesting he is! I was very impressed with him. I liked the description of Frodo's first view of him and how he seemed to be lit up (like Arwen was in the movie).

The hilt that Aragorn saved to show as the knife that made the wound in Rivendell made Glorfindel shudder and we've now seen two great and powerful characters who can't heal it's wound. It is VERY serious and time is running out!

"Fly!" he called. "Fly! The enemy is upon us!" Those words have stuck in my mind since the very first read. I don't know if it's the words themselves or if it was the way that my Dad read it, but I always get this major rush of adrenaline when I read this bit! They've got to run for their lives! FAST! FLY THE ENEMY IS UPON US! Wow! Seriously effective!

I love the way that Frodo tries to fight here, and shows his own strength. There wasn't nearly enough of that in the movie and he often came across and weak. Here we seem him yelling GO BACK and actually fighting against the Riders influence. I love the final description once he's stopped on the other side of the river and what happens when the Riders start to cross. It is so much better this way and not having Arwen speaking an elven spell to get the waters to rise. This shows the power that lies in Rivendell, and the power of Elrond. The bit with Arwen didn't ruin it, but I prefer this way. I love the white fire and the white riders in the foaming froth of the waters white caps! I was also impressed to see that Glorfindel came uncloaked to terrify and run the Riders on the bank into the water. The little shadowy figures holding brands of fire were Aragorn and the hobbits! Well thought up to get that going in time! And again it drives home how powerful Glorfindel must be. The Riders fear his kind.

The first time my Dad read this to me he was reading a single chapter each night. I couldn't read yet, and I remember begging him to not stop at the end of this chapter. The whole "He heard and saw no more." Killed me! I wanted to know what happened! I HAD TO KNOW AND I COULDN'T WAIT A WHOLE DAY! My dad was a master storyteller that's for sure! And that's where this review of this chapter ends! What a wild ride. Not a lot of pages, but a lot of activity and a lot of action and power plays were shown here. Very excellent reading! Gotta love it!

By the way, this was a stream of consciousness, rambling review post. Sorry it's not better written. I did it as I was flipping through the chapter to make sure I got in all the bits I really enjoyed. So there ends the first book (of 6) of The Lord of the Rings. Roll on Many Meetings!