Book Review: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

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When I first opened The Lord of the Rings, I thought, “This is going to be long.” I had seen the movies — loved them but the book? It looked heavy. And honestly, I was scared it would be too hard to read.

But something inside me said, just try it. So, I did.

I didn’t plan to read The Lord of the Rings. Honestly, I thought it was too long, too serious, and too much about swords and elves, things I didn’t think I’d connect with. But one rainy afternoon, with nothing to do and my mood as grey as the clouds outside, I picked it up. I had a warm cup of tea and the first book, The Fellowship of the Ring and I decided to try.

I didn’t expect what came next.

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From the first few pages, I was pulled into a different world — a quiet green place called the Shire, full of laughter, songs, and simple joy. It felt safe, calm, like a deep breath after a long day. I could almost smell the fresh-cut grass, feel the soft soil under my feet, and hear the sound of Bilbo’s party fireworks lighting up the sky.

But soon, things changed.

There was something strange about this little gold ring. Something dangerous. And suddenly, our gentle hobbit Frodo was given a heavy task, to carry the ring far from home and destroy it before evil could rise again. I felt his fear. I felt his confusion. And most of all, I felt that heavy pull, that moment when life forces you to grow up and face things you don’t feel ready for.

And let me tell you… I was not prepared for how deeply this story would pull me in.

From the moment Frodo left the Shire, I felt like I was walking beside him. I could hear the wind in the trees of Rivendell, feel the chill of snow in the Misty Mountains, and smell the smoke of battle as the darkness spread. Tolkien’s writing is full of small details that make the world come alive — like the sound of Sam boiling potatoes or the glow of Elven light in a dark cave.

But what really stayed with me, even after I closed the book — were the emotions.

There’s something powerful about seeing someone small and ordinary face something huge and terrifying. Frodo wasn’t a warrior. He didn’t want fame or glory. He was scared. Tired. Often hopeless. But he kept going. And his friend Sam? He’s the kind of friend everyone needs — loyal, brave, always reminding Frodo that there’s still good in the world, even when everything feels lost.

One moment that still makes my chest tighten is when Sam says:
.“There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.”

That line stuck with me. Because I’ve had days when life felt too heavy — like Frodo climbing up Mount Doom, with nothing left but pain. But then I remember that line, and it brings light into the darkness.

Another thing I loved? The story shows that even the most broken people can make a difference. Gollum, who once had the ring and lost everything because of it, is not just a villain. He’s sad, torn, and twisted, but real. You feel sorry for him. And even though he’s dangerous, in the end, he plays a part in saving the world. That’s powerful storytelling.

There were dark parts too. Gollum’s twisted heart. Boromir’s struggle with temptation. The endless war, the loss, the despair. These parts felt heavy. At times I had to pause and sit quietly. I realized the story wasn’t just about good vs. evil, it was about the fight inside every person. The fight to choose hope over fear. Light over darkness.

I started to see myself in the characters. Sometimes I was Frodo, afraid but still moving. Other times, I was Sam — hopeful for someone else. And at my worst, I saw pieces of Gollum, broken by obsession, caught between who I am and who I want to be.

There’s one moment that I’ll never forget. Frodo is close to the end. He’s tired, completely broken, and he turns to Sam and says, “I can’t do this, Sam.” And Sam replies, “I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are.”

That moment tore me open. How many times have we all felt like giving up? Like life has gone off track and nothing makes sense? But Sam reminds us that being here — still breathing, still trying — means something.

When I finished the book, I sat in silence. I didn’t want to leave Middle-earth. I didn’t want to say goodbye to Frodo and Sam, or Aragorn, or even Gollum. But more than anything, I didn’t want to lose the feeling this story gave me.

Hope.

And I think that’s why this story means so much to so many people. It reminds us that we don’t have to be powerful, rich, or fearless. We just have to try. We just have to take the next step, no matter how small.

Reading The Lord of the Rings changed something in me. It made me slow down and look around at the small moments, a friend’s kind word, the sound of rain, the feeling of pushing through fear. It made me want to be braver. It made me believe that even in the darkest moments, there’s still good. And it’s worth fighting for.

The last three image was gotten from web:

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