The Fellowship of the Ring

It's tough to write a review of a classic like The Fellowship of the Ring. Who am I to opine about such a revered novel? This was the first time I've read it (having not been as much a Fantasy fan in my youth as a Sci-Fi fan), and I wasn't sure what to expect. My appreciation for The Lord Of The Rings was originally shaped by the 1978 Bakshi animated film, and then by the Peter Jackson movies, but I was amazed at how much deeper an experience it was to read this first novel, despite the faithful depiction of many aspects of the book in those films. Tolkien's opening to his opus is a treasure, rich with detail. The first 1/4 of the book, in the Shire, is a delightful, whimsical tale. The mines of Moria are even more darkly vivid than I expected. The forest of Lorien is invoked like a gentle breeze, rustling through the golden leaves of an autumn tree. The language is sometimes dated, and the pacing stumbles from time to time, but there is an authentic passion to every passage that makes up for any technical shortcomings. I'm very glad I decided to finally jump in and read this book... and am looking forward to continuing the journey through The Two Towers.