Casey

While I've heard the phrase “defines the genre” used of many books, few books more accurately fit that description than this one in my opinion. Tolkien does more than weave together vivid narrative, creative poetry, and thoughtful prose; he creates a world and paints that world with extensive lore and detail as to lure one away from one's surroundings. From merry hills in Hobbiton to black caves in Moria to enchanting forests in Lorien, the settings described are unique and vivid. Beyond the scenery, Tolkien also sets the stage for the many science fiction writers to follow his footsteps in how well he establishes a world filled with living, breathing characters. One can sense the wisdom of Gandalf, the boldness of Aragorn, and the keenness of Legolas. The book pulls you into an adventure far bigger than yourself and perhaps the one negative, if it can properly be called a negative, is the great volumes of lore which seem to fill the pages as Tolkien describes Middle Earth. In one sense, I wanted to tear through the pages to see where the orcs would show up for battle next while in another sense I felt the need to hunt down a translator for those of us who don't speak Elvish fluently. All in all, the Fellowship of the Rings sets the bar for modern fantasy writing and sets one on the quest to save Middle Earth from the clutches of Sauron. Highly recommended for those who enjoy series involving large scale story line, intriguing characters, and a diversity of settings in which one feels just a part of a bigger picture.

Witty, charming, and somehow profound in its own simple nature. I relished the depth of character detail and how characters of the book remained true to their depictions throughout. Certainly changes occurred which is part of the wonder of the book - to feel yourself attached to the Metropol, clinging to all that was held dear about an age long passed while seeking to grapple with the challenges and changes of a new day. Perhaps what is most stirring about the book are the many moments in which you are caused to stop and ponder questions bigger than yourself, often in tandem with the Count himself as he reflects on a deceased sister, a reinvented nation, and a life filled with providential “unexpectancies”.
I am not a Russian history major, but to journey through these pages is to walk in the shoes of a man firmly vested in the honor of mother Russia while admiring and appreciating all that is good in other cultures.
Overall, a highly enjoyable read which had me vested in the Count's story from the very opening court scene.

A phrase we now use among contemporary churches, and perhaps a phrase that has been used for years but now resurfaces, is the phrase “God-centered.' Reading through this book revealed in my own life how far from that phrase I had grown accustomed to thinking and living. Piper fleshes out what it looks like when we truly see the gospel and Scripture itself from the lens of a God-centered theology.