The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Challenges – Rory Gilmore Challenge
BBC Top 200 Books
1001 books you must read
Ultimate Teen Book Guide Challenge

Synopsis – The armies of the Dark Lord are massing as his evil shadow spreads ever wider. Men, dwarves, elves and ents unite forces to do battle against the Dark. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam struggle further into Mordor in their heroic quest to destroy the One Ring.

My Thoughts – To me this book was the icing on the cake of a fantastic trilogy. It rounded off the story perfectly and i was actually quite sad that it had come to an end. It has amazed me that one man could have come up with the entire story and complex plot and settings by himself, really its like another world, and it is described so well it could actually have been real. I know i keep comparing it to the film, but i thought the book was better again because of all the extra detail that is explained, for example, what happens at Hobbiton. This series is fantastic, and if you havent yet read it give it a read!

Rating – 5/5

WWW Wednesdays 29th June

Ive had an average reading week this week, i just wish sometimes i could have more time to read!

What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading The Day of the Triffids, by John Wydham. This is not a genre that i usually read much of, but its for the July Reading Circle over on the BCF and I wanted to join in so im hoping i enjoy it!

What did you recently finish reading?

I have actually finished two books this week. The first was The Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers, which i actually enjoyed more than the first book in the series. The second was The Lord of the Rings – The Return of the King. I will be putting my review on here later, but its safe to say that i enjoyed this one loads too!

What do you think you’ll read next?

As some people know, last year i went through i bit of a ‘chick lit’ phrase. Not only was i reading a fair bit, i also brought LOADS!!! of chick lit books. I’m still dealing with this too. The main problem is i seem to have gone off reading chick lit so im trying to throw in as many as possible! So next up im going to have a go at a chick lit book –Being Committed by Anna Maxted.

 

 

The Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers

Synopsis – Frodo and the Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in the battle with an evil spirit in the Mines of Moria; and at the Falls of Rauros, Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape the rest of the company were attacked by Orcs.Now they continue their journey alone down the great River Anduin – alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go.JRR Tolkien’s great work of imaginative fiction has been labelled both a heroic romance and a classic fantasy fiction. By turns comic and homely, epic and diabolic, the narrative moves through countless changes of scene and character in an imaginary world which is totally convincing in its detail.

my thoughts – As I am moving thrso amazing through this trilogy im liking it even more and more, if that is possible. in some places, i do find myself comparing it to the movie, having seen the film before reading the books. I find that this book is more different to the movie than the first, but in my opinion, i find this better, as i like all the extra little bits! I am still finding it totally amazing that one man could come up with this world all on his own, he must have had some imagination! In my opinion, this book is better than the first one, i think because there is much more going on. I have moved onto the final book in the trilogy now, and cannot wait to keep on reading!

Rating – 5/5

The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring

Challenges – Rory Gilmore Challenge
1001 childrens books you must read
501 must read books

Synopsis – ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ is the first part of JRR Tolkien’s epic masterpiece ‘The Lord of the Rings’. This paperback edition has the classic black cover featuring Tolkien’s own design and includes the definitive edition of the text. In a sleepy village in the Shire, a young hobbit is entrusted with an immense task,. He must make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ruling Ring of Power — the only thing that prevents the Dark Lord’s evil purpose. JRR Tolkien’s great work of imaginative fiction has been labelled both a heroic romance and a classic fantasy fiction. By turns comic and homely, epic and diabolic, the narrative moves through countless changes of scene and character in an imaginary world which is totally convincing in its detail. Part of a set of three paperbacks, this popular edition is once again available in its classic black livery designed by Tolkien himself.

My Thoughts – This is the first time that i have read Lord of the Rings, but i am quite a fan of the film version, not something that i say very often! The book is fantastic, i had heard that they were difficult to get into, and were lots of discription, but i didnt find this. i did find the poetry bits a little hard to understand, but thats just me i think, i find that sort of thing very hard to understand! The plot was so much more interesting in the book too, and this book is definitaly one to re-read again and again! I am so amazed by the mind of Tolkein to how he created such a world in his head. it is like escaping into another world!

Rating – 5/5

 

www wednesdays 22nd june

im back again for a second week running 🙂 I’m also on a bit a theme this week!

To play along, just answer the three following questions!

What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading The Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers, I’m not all that far into it but im loving it, even more than i did the first book!

What did you recently finish reading?

I recently finished The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring. I dont know why i havent read this before, but it is fantastic, easy to read and easy to get into! more thoughts on this one to follow later!

What do you think you’ll read next?

No surprises really to what i will read after, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of The King. I want to read the whole series back to back 🙂

 

Ultimate Teen Book Guide – The Series’

So, the UTBG Challenge has several series listed in it. I am going to attempt to read them all, however some of the series are quite long.

They are as follows

87th Precindent Series – Ed McBain (54 books) I have never heard of this series, but i am quite interested as there are so many books!
Alex Rider Series – Anthony Horowitz (9 Books) This series is something that I’ve wanted to read for a while, so im hoping the challenge will help me to do so!
Alice Series – Susan Joby (23 books + 3 prequels) This is apperently very simular to the Adrian Mole series, which is something i would like to read too!
The Black Magican Trilogy – Trudi Canavan (3 Books) I’ve not heard of this one, but it does sound quite good!
The Bromland Trilogy – Terry Pratchett (3 Books) I’ve not read anything by Terry Pratchett, but now is a good time to start!
The Dark is Rising Series – Susan Cooper (5 Books) This is a genre that i dont usually read, but I’m excited to start reading!
The Dragonriders of Pern Series – Annie McCaffrey (19 books) I like books with dragons so 19 books will be interesting!
The Farseer Trilogy – Robin Hobb (3 books) Not too sure about this one, but i will probably end up loving it!
The Foundation Trilogy – Issac -Asimov (3 books) I have just read this is not just a trilogy, there are also more books too it!
The Gormenghast Trilogy – Mervyn Peake (3 books) This sounds brilliant! I love books that seem so out of the world!
The Harry Potter Series – J.K. Rowling (7 Books) This is my favourite series of all time, i love this series!
His Dark Materials Trilogy – Phillip Pullman (3 Books) I read the first book when i was younger but i didnt think much too it, but i shall give it another go!
Inspector Morse Books – Colin Dexter (13 books) I didnt realise the tv show was based on books, so i shall definitaly give this a go!
The James Bond Books – Ian Fleming (14 books) These are books that i have always wanted to read!
The Jeeves Stories – P.G. Wodehouse (18 books) These sound good, like a blast from the past!
The Just William Series – Richmal Crompton (40 books) I love books about this sort of thing, so another one that is right up my street!
Lord of the Rings Trilogy – JRR Tolkien (3 books) These i have wanted to read for an awful long time!
The Lord Peter Wimsey Books – Dorothy Sayers(16 books) it would be nice to read a lovely dectective series!
The Maigret Books – Georges Simenon (75 books!) these soung interseting, mainly because there are so many books!
Mates, Dates . . . Series – Cathy Hopkin (14 books) i have read the first one of these, but i cant wait to read more!
Megan Trilogy – Mary Hooper (3 books) This sounds good with the issues that it tackles!
The Sally Lockhart Books – Phillip Pullman (4 books) I have heard of these books but ive never got round to reading them!
The Sandman Series – Neil Gaiman (10 books) I think gaiman is a fantastic author, so id be happy to read more!
A Series of Unfortnate Events – Lemony Snicket (13 books) Progress Here I have a few of these books at the moment, but im trying to get the first one so i can start reading the series!
The Sherlock Holmes Stories – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (60 books) I would love to read these, they sound so good!
Spy High Series – A.J. Butcher (12 books) I love books about schools, so to me this would be perfect!
The Wind on Fire Trilogy – William Nicholson (3 books)These sound good too!

 

There are so many series books alone! i may have to start a mini challenge soon!

Hes Just Not That Into You – Greg Behrendt, Liz Tuccillo

Synopsis – A brilliantly witty and entertaining guide to interpreting men from the writers of Sex and the City. Fresh from helping Carrie and the gang with their dating dilemmas, they’ve given the rest of us a decoder ring to the men in our lives. But this book isn’t just about eliminating the bad apples — it’s also about holding onto the good ones.

My Thoughts – This book was a magazine freebie and im actually quite glad that i didnt spend any money on it! I thought that it was fiction, but instead its a self help book. I really dont like reading self help books personally, i know some people like them, but they are not for me! Not really much that i can say on this book, apart from the fact that i didnt enjoy it at all!

Rating – 1/5

The Secret Garden – Francis Hodgson Burnett

Challenges – bbc top 200 books
1001 childrens books
Ultimate Teen Book Guide
501 must read books

Synopsis – Mary Lennox was horrid. Selfish and spoilt, she was sent to stay with her hunchback uncle in Yorkshire. She hated it. But when she finds the way into a secret garden and begins to tend it, a change comes over her and her life. She meets and befriends a local boy, the talented Dickon, and comes across her sickly cousin Colin who had been kept hidden from her. Between them, the three children work astonishing magic in themselves and those around them.

My Thoughts – This was a re-read of a much loved classic for me. I loved this book when i was younger, it to me was just like magic. And reading it again now that im older has not got rid of any of the magic for me. I love the little story, it is hard to believe that it is 100 years old. it is fully readable and should be a must read for anybody!

Rating 5/5

www wednesdays – 15th june

I havent taken part in this meme for months so i thought it was time to get back into it!

What are you currently reading?

He’s Just not that into you – the book that the movie of the same name was based on. its actually almost a self help book, a type of book that im not too keen on!

What did you recently finish reading?

The Hobbit – JRR Tolkein,i had never read this before and i loved it! definatly a keeper!

What do you think you’ll read next?

Lord of the Rings -The Fellowship of the Ring – another book that i have not yet read!

 

The Nazis: A Warning From History – Laurence Rees

Synopsis – During the past 16 years, acclaimed author and documentary-maker Laurence Rees has met and interviewed a large number of former Nazis, and his unique insights into the Nazi psyche and the Second World War have received enormous praise. Following the success of Reess bestselling Auschwitz, this substantially revised and updated edition of The Nazis A Warning from History tells the powerfully gripping story of the rise and fall of the Third Reich, At the heart of the book lie compelling eyewitness accounts of life under Adolf Hitler, spoken through the words of those who experienced the Nazi regime at every level of society. An extensive new section on the Nazi/Soviet war (previously published in Reess War of the Century) provides a chilling insight into Nazi mentality during the most bloody conflict in history. Described as one of the greatest documentary series of all times The Nazis A Warning from History won a host of awards, including a Bafta and an International Documentary Award. The accompanying book broke new ground in our understanding of the Nazi regime and was praised for getting to the heart of the most troubling and elusive questions of Germany before and during World War Two. The dramatic and incredible story that unfolds in these pages, once read, is not easily forgetten.

My Thoughts – I’ve had this book on the shelf for a while because i dont really read that much non fiction. I started reading this before, but i ended up putting it down. I’m glad i picked it up again, but it was quite upsetting reading. Even now, i cannot believe the treatment that people suffered at the hands of the Nazis. I dont think there is much to say about this book, but it iscertianly an eye opener to the treatment of people under Nazi rule.