The Return of the King

Finished my very first reading of The Lord Of The Rings this week. I phrase it this way, because when it ended, I knew I wanted to turn right back around and read it again - so I feel like I'll come back to it in a few years. I loved this third book, and felt like it was maybe the noteworthy in terms of “new experience” for me, since the films deviate in many places from this one. Sam's more central role within the story here was delightful, and the entire post-Mordor return trip home (and dealing with what had happened there) was a nice way to close the narrative.

For anyone that's interested in the audiobook experience, narrator Robert Inglis did a fantastic job, and there's a good reason they are so revered. In the 1970s and 80s, Inglis wrote, produced and acted in one-man stage dramatisations of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. These performances have been described as “award winning”, and his book readings reflect this passion. I'm convinced Jackson's films took some notes from his reading. Though a more standard reading than a dramatic production, Inglis filled every character's voice with unique personality and consistency, and his singing of the songs (which both he and the producer take credit for writing the melodies to) was absolutely charming.