Fantasy Books > B Fantasy Books > J. R. R. Tolkien

Advantages: beautiful poem, beautiful artwork
Disadvantages: Bit pricey

“Day is ended, dim my eyes, but journey long before me lies.” These words have been etched into my brain for over 25 years. Ever since I was given a poster in 1977. The poster is still on the wall, obviously a different wall to when I first got it as I have moved house several times since then. It is currently residing in my kitchen of all places! You could almost say it is my prized possession., even though I still haven’t managed to frame it yet! ...
...poster? And what has it to do with a book? The answers are simple. The poster has a poem on it, Bilbo’s last song. It is Bilbo saying Good bye to Middle-earth, which is a very sad thing to do, but with sadness is also the excitement of sailing off to distant lands. And this book is the poem in book form. For those of you that don’t know who Bilbo is, well he is a Hobbit or Halfling created by J.R.R.Tolkien. A children’s fantasy book was written ... Read review

Advantages: 90% of the quotes are brilliant
Disadvantages: 10% of the quotes aren't brilliant

...brilliant list of quotes from the many Discworld books written by quite possibly the best writer of the last 100 years. I've only given the book a 4/5 because not all of the quotes are brilliant, that said, I've been told off during at least three lectures for laughing almost uncontrollably at parts of the book, and some people have thought that I'm mad when I burst out laughing on the train on the way home. Pratchett provides a nice break from ...
...The book of Quotes allows you just to dip into discworld whenever you feel like it. I have in fact read the quotes section for particular books shortly before reading the corresponding book. I recommend this book to any avid discworld fan, and also possibly to non-discworld fans, because it provides you with a taster of the institution that is Discworld. ... Read review

Advantages: Engrossing plot, believable characters, wonderful imagery
Disadvantages: The Silmarillion reveals the ending

...is by far one of the best books I have ever read. The proof? I have bought not only the standard hardback issue but also the 2007 deluxe collector's edition version. It is not a 'happy' book but at the same time it is far from constantly depressing. Each character has their own ordeal to go through, and each attempts to rise to meet it with varying degrees of success. The 'Children of Hurin' adds great detail to such a short story that emerges only ...
...reveal the ending, the book is still thoroughly engrossing and entertaining. Another advantage that this book has over other books, and especially 'The Silmarillion' is the fact that it is written in the same manner as 'the Lord of the Rings' in contrast to 'the Silmarillion', which feels more like reading Thucydides. I have purposely refrained from giving spoilers because this book is a real treat. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan ... Read review

Advantages: Best books i have ever read!
Disadvantages: They had to end at book 3

What can i say.. I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!! it was so in depth with an amazing plot and character detail that you could really imagine being there with the characters in a living breathing world. After that i went and bought this box set and have re-read the the 3 books again and again! Although marketed at children i would say adults would get far more from the book as it covers many difficult issues such as religion and authority and contains ... Read review

Advantages: fantastic quality of writing
Disadvantages: none!!

...- and questions about what Polgara was doing from time to time, which basically forces Ce'Nedra to come and demand the rest of the story. So, from before her birth, through her early years, the marriage of her sister and subsequent death, falling in love and fighting thruogh wars, losing her lover, and puberty, and through it all, safeguarding the line of Riva. Polgara's story is often heartwrenching - I don't mind admitting that the quality of ...
...that Leigh is coming into her own on this story - its occasionally hilarious as well, as the trademark Eddings humour shows through. This isn't just Polgara's story, its the story of kingdoms rising and falling, its the story of the study of medicine, and mostly its the counterpart study of human nature to Belgarath. Once I started this one, i literally couldn't stop reading, its a superbly written book with truly startling characters, and it just ... Read review