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The Fellowship of the Ring
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Fellowship of the Ring
Audiobook19 hours

The Fellowship of the Ring

Written by J.R.R. Tolkien

Narrated by Rob Inglis

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

()

About this audiobook

An unlikely hero. A perilous quest. The greatest adventure ever told.

In a quiet village in the Shire, young Frodo is about to receive a gift that will change his life forever.

Thought lost centuries ago, it is the One Ring, an object of terrifying power once used by the Dark Lord to enslave Middle-earth. Now darkness is rising, and Frodo must travel deep into the Dark Lord’s realm, to the one place the Ring can be destroyed: Mount Doom.

The journey will test Frodo’s courage, his friendships and his heart. Because the Ring corrupts all who bear it—can Frodo destroy it, or will it destroy him?

'The English-speaking world is divided into those who have read The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and those who are going to read them.'—Sunday Times
LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 12, 2012
ISBN9781470337599
The Fellowship of the Ring
Author

J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892–1973) was a distinguished academic, though he is best known for writing The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion, plus other stories and essays. His books have been translated into over sixty languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide.

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Reviews for The Fellowship of the Ring

Rating: 4.398675008746177 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

14,715 ratings195 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Really enjoyed it and the audiobook was interesting. First time reading the trilogy and so far I’ve been loving it?✨

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Very good audiobook version, well read without being overly dramatic.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I remember trying to read this series six of seven years back and not being able to get through the first third of the book. I was thirteen or fourteen so maybe it was understandable, but I only remember there being too much detail to sift through. Reading it now, I have to laugh at my younger impression. There's detail here, but nothing so daunting as I once thought. It's needed detail but nothing is over the top. That being said, my having seen the famous movies and loved them, my perception of this series if going to be skewed. I can already see the influence. I have very clear images of what things look like and how characters sound and look. Usually I prefer the books over the movies, but surprisingly I think I may prefer the movies over the books. This is usually unheard of. I've been trying to figure out why ever since I made the proclamation. I was very aware of where the dialogue was different from book to movie, and in a few cases I preferred the dialogue in the movie to what was said in the book and in some cases I got a kick out of how things were said in the book versus the movie. It was a tie up. I also feel that if I had read the books before the movies, I would perhaps have been just a little bogged down with some of the back stories and history, but because I have seen the movies, I breezed through them. But regardless of if I like the movies more than the books, the book itself was a masterpiece. Beautiful prose, a complex and powerful story, brave characters. And a treat to listen to with Rob Inglis as the reader. The one thing I thought was a little of the top was all the songs, but I guess the people in Middle Earth all like to sing. That’s okay. :) I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    No matter how many books I read, It’s always my favourite.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book series is a amazing story but I like the movie’s best and would definitely recommend the movie’s but they are rated PG 13 but they
    are still AMAZING movies!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a phenomenal book full of valor, adventure, courage, and endless imagination. This is the greatest work of fiction ever! Well done Tolkien! A million thanks for all the time you put into this epic and beyond.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A classic that any fantasy lover must read. Great for all ages
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Brings back so many memories as a kid hearing this again!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Wonderful adventure and deep insights into the mystery of man.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Without a doubt the greatest book ever written. Definitely recommend.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Good book. Love the book.great book .amazing book. Love the way the book is written
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great book. Gives a lot of detail that's missed it the movies.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    MY REVIEW HAS SPOILERS!

    Although, I’ve already read Lord of the Rings multiple times, this will be my first time reviewing each book.

    Fellowship of the Ring is the book that sets up this world of Middle Earth. It’s the World Building that makes everything come together. It’s also, out of the three, the most wholesome. It’s not until we get to the chapter of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm that we realize how higher the stakes really are, when Gandalf sacrifices himself for the company.

    Also, the more I read LOTR, the less Frodo seems to be annoying to me because just imagine what it would be like to suddenly have to forget your formal ordinary life and be rushed away in peril to destroy something your relative did. I just feel bad for him.
    And Sam, oh sweet wholesome Sam. My all time favorite moment will always be when he goes after Frodo to the boats to catch up with him so he won’t do it all alone, even knowing they won’t make it back home….. he’s just SO GOOD!
    And the man of the hour Aragorn. His introduction is probably, if not… the best of any Character EVER. I fall I love with him every time. The instant protectiveness he feels of Frodo is so genuine. His charisma and wisdom he shows as he leads the company when Gandalf is gone tells us a lot of his character and I love him more each time.

    The overall theme of this series is friendship and loyalty and it becomes more clear in each book. And they are an absolute comfort to me.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    STOP SINGING!!!! That was so bad!. I actually wanted to stop listening sometimes. It was really funny when Pretty Elf Sama started singing a song in her "majestic" voice. I actually started laughing. The narration wasnt bad but GOD...... please don't ever sing those verses again lol.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This review is for the narration only - the magic of the Fellowship itself is always worth a read!

    This edition of the narration is overall entertaining. The voice is pleasant and easy to understand. Occasionally, more editing could have been done to eliminate the breathing of the narrator.

    My only real complaint is the different voices that the narrator uses. I realize he is trying to give the characters their own voices, but it comes off as too silly at times - particularly when he is reading Galadriel's lines. An older British man attempting to be a female elf (even when described as having a deeper voice than normal) is somewhere between hilarious and uncomfortable.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of the best fantasies I have read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a great book. The relationship between the fellowship is dynamic and I love the foray into Rivendale and the elves.

    Sam and Aragorn are my favourite.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    3.5 -3.75 it was great to dive back in to the world of the lord of the rings it was a reread for me and still not my favorite out of the trilogy.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I can't believe it took me this long to finally read this book. Seriously, what is wrong with me. Anyway, after reading this first book in the trilogy I can now say that I understand why Tolkien has remained popular to this day and has become the basis of all the fantasy that we read today. That man knew had to write an exciting and adventurous story that all generations can enjoy. While obviously written toward a more adult audience than The Hobbit was, it can still be enjoyed by both young and old. It has a little less of the that oral story-telling feeling to it, but it's still there. I still got that feeling that someone was telling me a tale from long ago which made it both charming and exciting.I also have to say that I like Frodo much more in the book than in the movie. I also thought that Frodo was a little whiny and lacked the inner strength that I like to see in my fantasy heroes, but book Frodo is very different. While hesitant to go on this journey (who wouldn't be) he does it anyway for the good of the world. He is also very kind to his friends and always worries about putting his friends in danger. This worry often leads him to attempt sneaking off in the dead of night to take on this burden alone to keep his friends out of danger. Of course, this loyalty and care that he has for his friends makes it so his friends refuse to let him carry this burden alone. It's an admirable trait in Frodo that I've come to appreciate.The only thing that really bothers about this book, and this series in general, is the complete lack of women. Granted, it's not a big surprise considering when this novel was first written, but still. I've gotten so used to reading books with at least one badass female character that it's weird to read one that has absolutely none. Arwen is basically just mentioned and sits by a fireplace. I don't think she actually says anything. In this case, the movies are misleading as to the importance of Arwen in the story as it seems to not be a major part in the books. However, I had heard that this was case from some friends that had read the series, so it didn't come as a surprise.This book is so packed with adventure that I now understand why the movies were so long. I never understood why, since the books aren't very lengthy, why the movies were all close to 3 hours long, but I understand now. J.R.R Tolkien's writing style lends itself to including a lot of action in very little space, so despite the fact the books are actually shorter than some of the modern fantasy we see today, a lot of stuff happens and most of it is important. Well, except for the parts where he tends to go on a little long about the wildlife, but don't let those moments deter you from further reading!I can see why this series has captured the hearts of people for generations, as it has captured mine. Will I read this book 20 times? Not likely. But I will most likely read it again in the future. It's a story that never really gets old and will continue to inspire writers and captivate readers for years, even decades, to come.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Utterly fantastic read!This is a book about a quest, a quest to dispel evil through the means of a ring. Nine companions are joined together to dispose of the ring where it was once made in the fiery chasm of Mount Doom in the land of Mordor. This is the story of their quest.This book is definitely one of the great ones. Tolkien officially kicks off the Lord of the Rings series in wonderful style. Fantasy and mythology mix in this book as we are met with such characters as wizards, dwarves, elves, and of course, hobbits.The settings are beautifully laid out, the characters are wonderfully described. And though I am one of the ones who have seen the movies before I read the book I found that the book still held a lot of surprises for me. Though they are the same story they hold subtle differences which is a delight to any who experience either.This is indeed one of the great epic fantasies and I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It's been a long time since I reread Lord of the Rings, but it felt like time, with a lot of things reminding me of it lately. The last straw was reading about Ursula Le Guin's thoughts on it in Cheek By Jowl. Since the last time I read it, I've heard a lot of hard words about LOTR -- about the terrible writing and the terrible pacing and the xenophobia and the lack of moral grey area and all of that, and reading it again I notice faults in it that I'd never have admitted when I was younger, but I also remember all the ways I think people are wrong about it. However, an overview of the trilogy can wait! For now, I'll review The Fellowship of the Ring alone.

    It starts off very slow, set in The Shire, giving us a glimpse of the peaceful happy life that Bilbo longed for so often during The Hobbit, and building up the tension slowly. Slowly seems to be the key word in this book, in fact. I forgot that it takes the whole first 'book', which probably has almost as many words as The Hobbit, to get as far as Rivendell. One thing you can't accuse Tolkien of is rushing. A lot happens in that time, really, including the introduction of the Nine and of Strider/Aragorn, which is important... but it's such a small step, The Shire to Rivendell, that some people dismiss it as pointless. I can't see as much point in the part with the Old Forest and Tom Bombadil... it feels like a digression, as if Tolkien is in love with his world and wants to show us more of it. I like that part, but I can see why people don't.

    The second half of the book feels more purposeful. Frodo learns more and knows more clearly what he's going to have to do, and we learn about the Company. And then -- eventually -- they get under way. I suppose that really they don't do that much more in the second book -- in the first book there's the Shire, the Old Forest, The Prancing Pony, and Weathertop, and in the second book there's Rivendell, Caradhras, Moria, Lothlorien and the Anduin. But things feel more imperative and desperate, I suppose. And things keep speeding up from here.

    I can't decide what my favourite part is. The Lorien part is beautiful, but obvious. The Moria part is dark, but I think maybe I like that best because of Balin, and in honour of Gandalf. My favourite characters are... hmm. Gandalf, Sam and Aragorn, probably, although it's nice to see Bilbo again. And I wish we knew more about Glorfindel, actually -- that he'd gone with the company, or something, because I think more could've been done with him. He appeared and disappeared quite quickly.

    In any case, yes: I can see the flaws in the writing, and I'm beginning to see what's meant by the xenophobia -- I missed that, through not being a very subtle reader when I last read it, I think. I didn't look beyond the face value. But I still do love the writing -- it tastes nice, which is good enough for me -- and the rest.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Freaking amazing! Long time lover first time listener. I can't believe I waited so long!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It has been so much fun revisiting these books. I completely recommend them. I can't even name a genre that I would recommend them to, I just recommend them to everyone. Okay, realistically there is no romance to speak of, but everything else that is fun and interesting is here. We have sci-fi, fantasy, mystery/thriller, magic and fantasy, young adult, classic, friendship and legend. It's just fun. I love these stories. I never got around to watching the movies, maybe I'll have to do that soon.

    Happy reading.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Everything, best fantasy story ever and the narration is priceless.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I finally read the entire thing - well, I listened to it via audiobook. This was my third attempt, although the other two were over a decade ago. I never could finish the trilogy. Inevitably, I'd get lost somewhere in the third book (having skimmed most of the second) and quit. Well, due to it being audio, I managed to finished the entire thing. My favorite part was the Ride of the Rohirrim, followed closely the arrival of Aragorn at the Fields of Pelennor, with his banner unfurled! Other than that, the story was good - with the right amount of introspection and adventure. I found the lack of female characters disappointing, but the female characters that are in the story are strong - particularly Eowyn - who is my favorite. There seemed an excessive amount of singing, but in a society and culture were most stories are told via song, that makes sense.While I recognize and honor the historical and literary value of Tolkien's work, and understand that Tolkien work is monumental in the realm of fantasy literature, I don't think Tolkien will ever be a favorite. It's just not for me.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It’s a bit daunting to critique a renowned classic that has inspired so many kids to be creative and to read, as well as had such influence on the genre of fantasy. It’s possibly dangerous too, as its fans are pretty hardcore. :) Tolkien clearly built a complete world rich in geography and history. He set up a classic story of good vs. evil, but with many forms of each, and with an interesting concept in the lure and corrupting influence of the ring. Lastly, he created a lot of memorable moments in ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ – the wraiths pursuing Frodo being washed away by flood, the fellowship trying to make it through the mountain pass of Caradhras, and Gandalf battling the Balrog in the mines of Moria, among several others. It may be unfair to rate a single volume, but this is how the book was published, one volume at a time. This first book clearly showed a lot of potential, but it was too slow for me at times. However, I do have to credit the book for its strengths, and for being ahead of its time in 1954. I wish I had read it to my kids, so that probably says four stars right there.Just this quote on Arwen, daughter of Elrond; I liked the ‘light of stars in her bright eyes’. One of the appendices later reveals that she’s actually 2700 years old:“Young she was and yet not so. The braids of her dark hair were touched by no frost; her white arms and clear face were flawless and smooth, and the light of stars was in her bright eyes, grey as a cloudless night; yet queenly she looked, and thought and knowledge were in her glance, as of one who has known many things that the years bring.”
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Love the story, but I like the movie better than the book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    it was a little hard to follow, the old english is kind of confuseing sometimes. Seriously though, its Tolken, so what can you say!? the story is intreging, just don't stop at a boring part, like with lots of dialog or somthing, or it might be hard to jump back in. I love the depth of the story and charaters, as well as the backstory that you get piece by piece! Its just too bad the author died over 50yrs ago, otherwise i'd tell him personally
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Really very good. I found it almost majestic and really very deep and touching, so thrilling and mournful, sorrowful and entertaining, on the whole completely excellent. Do read, it’s really very good.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The Lord of the Rings is not The Hobbit. If you have tried The Hobbit and didn't love it, you're probably not going to like The Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit is the epitome of the perfect fantasy tale. The kind you want to sit around a campfire and hear told with dramatic exaggeration. It has a dragon and dwarves, a wizard and one lone hobbit who turns out to be the bravest of them all.But The Lord of the Rings is not The Hobbit. The Lord of the Rings is The Hobbit's meticulous, older and more serious brother who is going to sit you down and tell you an epic tale of adventure that spans four ages with maps, appendices and side trips delving into the history of many people and a world of places. If you don't like the base elements of The Hobbit, you're going to hate Lord of the Rings because The Lord of the Rings is just a long drawn out, denser version. J.R.R. Tolkien has not just written a story. He's written an entire world of stories. He pretty much spent a lifetime writing and bringing to life Middle Earth and it's freaking incredible. Is it perfect? No. But any criticisms don't detract from the highly imaginative work this is - or from my enjoyment of it. 5 stars. It's a classic.The first volume, The Fellowship of the Ring is fantastic. There's lots of adventure and danger and friendships. The hobbits travel to Rivendell, picking up Aragorn on the way. At Rivendell a council is held and The Fellowship of the Ring is formed - a company of nine representing the races of the land. The hobbits; Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, the Rider; Aragorn, the Wizard; Gandalf, the Men; Boromir, the Dwarves; Gimli and the Elves; Legolas. Then the Company sets out on their adventure to destroy the ring. I love this book - it's fast paced and intense and had me riveted. I did find the depth confusing at times - there's so many characters and names and backstories and footnotes and references and it can be very intimidating and overwhelming. But I also love the depth because all the background is what makes it such a classic. Merry, Pippin, Fatty Bolger and Sam are freaking hilarious. I love that Frodo thinks he's going on this dangerous mission with only Sam to accompany him. A dangerous mission no one knows or suspects him to be undertaking. And then he turns up at Crickhollow and the gang confront him and are like we know you're going away. Frodo: The time has come. I must tell you. I'm leaving. Gang: Gee really, we never would've have guessed with you going to all your old haunts and muttering things like 'will I never see this again?' But guess what you're not going to escape that easily!Frodo: If you know I must leave then don't hinder me.Gang: Yeah we won't - we're coming too!Frodo: But you don't understand it's dangerous. I have a thing. Gang: Oh you mean the ring? The ring that makes you invisible? Yeah that's not a secret to us. Bilbo outed than one, long before you. Frodo: The ring? You know about the ring?Gang: Duh. Merry: I kept it secret but with all your plotting our conspiracy had to be shared so I told the gang. Gang: And then we spied on you and Gandalf with you none the wiser til our chief conspirator got caught. Frodo: Chief conspirator?Gang: Yeah Sam is awesome. He learnt everything. Frodo: Sam? Sam!? Sam: Well Gandalf said you're not s'pose to go alone so here we are. Frodo: But I can't trust you! Gang: Don't be ridiculous. ‘It all depends on what you want,’ put in Merry. ‘You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin – to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours – closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo.Tolkien, J. R. R.. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King (p. 105). HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition.Frodo: Well crap. Guess you're coming with. I like Tom Bombadil. He's so cheerful. I like that he helps out the hobbits and sends them in the right direction. At Bree, we meet Aragorn/Strider/Ranger. I've always loved the poem to go with his name. All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king.Tolkien, J. R. R.. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King (p. 170). HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition.It was interesting to find that Bilbo actually wrote the poem. I liked the hobbits visiting Rivendell and meeting Bilbo again. I adore Sam. I love all the hobbits - Frodo, Merry and Pippin are amazing (and Fatty Bolger is amusing) - but I adore Sam. He is a true and steadfast friend and a very brave hobbit. I love the end of the first volume after Boromir attacks and Frodo decides to leave by himself. Sam is hilarious when he chases after Frodo. Sam runs to the boats thinking that's how he'll leave and sees a boat gliding along with no one in it and ignoring the fact he can't swim - totally jumps for it, misses and almost drowns until Frodo decides to fish him out. He's terrified but so loyal and I love it. Plus I love his comments to himself - his remarks about forgetting the rope had me chuckling.