Week 45: Crow Hollow by Michael Wallace

So Crow Hollow is about New England 100 years before the Revolutionary War. The main story is about the struggle between the Puritans and the Native Americans. The main character is a spy that is trying to get the colonies back into the hands of the king. However, he comes across a hiccup that only he can deal with.  I liked the book for its intrigue and suspense.  It was an interesting setting and full of differnet characters.  It was a book that I wouldn't mind reading again! 

I only just realized how similar many of the books I read are! However I am super okay with that! :)

Week 44: The Museum of Literary Souls by John Connelly

This is a really short book that has a fun littlle plot.  I liked the idea of this book, but there is something missing.  So much could have been done to really entertain the readers and draw them into the book.  It is about a man that sees a women throw herself in front of a bus.  She then disappears and he is left to figure out who she is.  The story from there quickly builds,  and then ends. The book lacks depth and the characters were one demensional. I really think the author could have done some much more with the book! It has so much potential!!!!

Week 43: One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus

This is an interesting novel that is like nothing I have read before. The book is written as a journal about a historical event that never took place.  However, it gives you a better understanding of what the Native American tribes went through in the late 1800's and just how poorly they were treated. The story holds nothing back and the reader is given gruesome images.  The author was not afraid of going into grim details, yet this novel would not be nearly as good if he did not.  Fergus excelled at creating a novel that has so much depth and is splendidly written. It is so detailed and the characters are wonderfully diverse. Then main character is well written and the trials she goes through are amazing! I think everyone should read this book, if only to better understand these horrible events in American history. It is a beautiful story!

Week 42: Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

My goal is to read all of Austen's novels. This is one of my favorite books, because I feel that I connect with the main character so well. She is serious and quiet which I usually am. The book is slow occasionally and sometimes hard to read, but I like it all the same. It is a good book that is about a honest character. However, the main character does nothing to help the plot and just watches as things around her happen. She rarely ever shows any energy to prevent events and in that way she is annoying. Yet, I still like this book a lot and will probably read it many more times!

Week 41: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

I don't like the character of Marianne in Sense and Sensibility, she is selfish and overly dramatic. She has no control of her feelings and wants none until the end. She is silly and young, with little respect for others. The only reason I can continue rereading this book is because of Elinor. She is a splendid character, who is both selfless and wise. She cares deeply for others and tries to be as courteous as possible. I suppose I have always admired Elinor's judgement and her common sense. There are few characters in this book that were meant to be liked and I like only a few.

This is not one of my favorite books, but it is one of Austen's so maybe it will grow on me in a few years!

Week 40: The Midwife's Revolt by Jodi Daynard

I was surprised how this book turned out. I thought that this book would have more to do with the work of a midwife, but it really had little to do with it. Instead it is about women trying to survive during the Revolutionary War. I enjoyed reading from a women's perspective of all the trials that occurred and the effects the war had on common people. Though not a true story the author did seem to make many of the events as historically accurate as possible. This book was entertaining and enjoyable.

Week 39: The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle

This book is wonderfully full of adventure and thrills.  The book is not like any of the Jurassic Park movies, but I think I like it better that way anyways.  The book reminded me more of a book that Jules Verne would have wrote and than one written by Doyle.  Yet it was a change to the Sherlock Holmes books, which I still haven't quite finished. 

Doyle gives the reader a tale full of fun characters. The main character is rather dull in comparison with his companions, but is sensible all the same. I am surprised this book is not more commonly known.  It is a fun little adventure novel.

Week 38: Emma by Jane Austen

Jane Austen happens to be my favorite author and I have read all of her books multiple times.  Yet I still find them entertaining and diverting each time I read them.  Emma is not one of my favorites of hers, but I do enjoy the book as a whole.  The story is a book that girls can still learn from, even in this day and age! Emma is a character that is constantly learning and making mistakes. The other characters in this book you also learn to love or hate, depending on who they are!  Many of them have such quirky traits that they keep the reader entertained throughout the novel.  I think that is what makes Austen's books great.  Her characters all have such different traits that when thrown together are bound to cause a commotion.  I realize that not everyone likes Jane Austen, but it is a fantastic book that has earned its place with the other great classics.

Week 37: Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

I love reading different books by the same author! Jules Verne was definitely a man of the world.  In both books I have read of his this year, his knowledge of world geography was astonishing!  In this book Fogg travels through California and I was able to understand the exact locations he went by. To a common reader today we could simply turn to a map or look it up on our phone, yet he was able to explain the places over 100 years ago!  This is amazing to me and shows just how much study he put into the books he wrote.

Around the World in 80 Days has always been a book I was interested in yet when I picked it up on a cruise 10 years ago it didn't hold my attention. I decided to try it again, because I thought that I should attempt to read it again!  This time I finished it and enjoyed it! It has a fun little plot, and Jules Vernes takes the reader all around the world with this adventurous book!

Week 36: The Einstein Prophecy by Robert Masello

I randomly bought this book on Kindle, because it was cheap and had good reviews, otherwise this is not a typical book that I would pick up and read.  To say the least it is darker than most of the novels I have read this past year.  However, it is a rather good read and has an interesting plot.  It is philosophical, historical, religious, and political, which leads to a compelling story!  The whole novel is complicated, and difficult to explain, so I won't attempt too!  The main characters are well written and most of them are based on true people,  Einstein being one of them. Yet this book however real some of the characters were, is nothing but a fictional story.  I think that was the hardest things to comprehend as I was reading; conscientiously trying to separate the truth from the fiction.  I don't know what genre would be found in, but I liked it.  But probably won't read it again!

Week 35: What Could Possibly Go Wrong? by Jodi Taylor

This series is so entertaining and a great read.  I have enjoyed them all so much and this one does not fail either.  The main character is still diverting, but the growth that she has gone through is wonderful! I love when characters develop throughout the series and learn from their mistakes.  I also like that the character still makes mistakes and isn't perfect.  She has her ups and downs, but faces all challenges well.  She is an admirable character along with many others in the series.

Read this series if you enjoy history, fictional, or just plain funny books! They are quick fun reads!!!

Week 34: No Time Like the Past by Jodi Taylor

This is the fifth installment of The Chronicles if St. Marys book series.  This book was both fun and diverting.  It had the same thrilling scenarios as the first few books in the series.  It retains the other books fun plot line while bringing in a more serious undertone.  The one complaint I have of the book is that it has very little references of the events that occurred in the fourth book. Other than that I liked the book and found it a pleasant read. 

On a side note they should make this book series a TV show or mini series. It would be so fun to watch!

Week 33: A Trail through Time by Jodi Taylor

This book made me a little bit confused and at times I got the sense that it also confused the author herself.  The story starts with the main character being thrown into a familiar world that is just slightly skewed.  She takes everything in stride, even when it would be life changing to most people.  This story was not as impressive as the first few books and made everything overly complicated.  That being said however, I do like the series and enjoy all of the little scenarios that occur.

Week 32: A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor

In this thrilling third book the historians at St. Marys go to Troy to research the epic ten year battle between the Greeks and the Trojans.  They of course get into lots of trouble and have to use their wits to get themselves out of many difficult situations.  The main character, Madeline Maxwell, is someone that most people don't want to mess with. She is one tough character that is both entertaning and extremely wise.  She has many faults, which helps the story from dragging on. 

This series has so far been great and I have enjoyed all of the history it has in it. However, the ending of the book made me a little confused and it seemed just a little unbelievable.

Week 31: A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor

This is the 2nd book to the Chronicles of St. Mary's books! This book was just as fun and diverting as the first. The author does great at constantly making the story move forward.  Which is ironic cause most of the characters are going back in time the majority of the time!  

Anyways this time the characters travel to 16th century Scotland, 600BC, and 19th century London.  The creepiest part is the 19th century and that is with Jack the Ripper.  I didn't like that part much at all.  However, besides that part I really enjoyed the book and liked the different historical periods.  This book is just an overall exciting read, for adults.  I wouldn't recommend it for young adults or children, some of the content is a little to mature for them! Yet it is educational and humorous!

Week 30: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

It is somewhat surprising that this was the first time I read this book! It is such a classic that I felt I should read it! Also since it is close to Halloween I thought that a monster book was a fun idea! 

To begin with this book is far from most movies and their depictions of the Frankenstein monster! An example being that the monster speaks exceptionally well.  In fact he is incredibly intuned with his feelings and is a persuasive orator.  The main character is Victor Frankenstein, the creator of the monster.  During the entire book you see him slowly losing control.  In away this novel is a study of the human intellect when faced with difficult challenges and our coping mechanisms in times of despair.  It plays with your emotions and makes you realize the unkindness of humans. 

This book is one that will keep you pondering human nature and all that we do.  Shelley portrayed many different traits into every single character!

Week 29: Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor

This book is fantastically entertaining! The main character has a lot of depth to her and the story line is full of twists and turns! It is about historians that travel back in time to record history.  However, every time they go back in history they cause problems and multiple things happen! The whole plot is full of accidents and problems, which keeps the reader enthralled in the story! Most of the characters are funny and are constantly making jokes! The author created a wonderful story that leaves you guessing throughout the whole book! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, historical, or comical books! Be aware however that this is a series, but it is quite inexpensive on Kindle!

Week 28: Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome

This book is a about three men who take a boat ride up the Thames.  It is really funny and entertaining! The men have many silly adventures in their boat. They often make mistakes and cause problems.  On top of all of the adventures there is a good deal of philosophy in the novel.  The main character has many different views and is quite funny! He is constantly making obscure statements that often ring with truth!  I liked this book, and suggest it to anyone that understands British humorous! The book is a quick read and a funny little story if you can understand it!

Week 27: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

This summer was hard to keep up book wise! Yet I tried to keep up this month! I read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne this past month.  I liked the book well enough, but it was not my favorite book.  I liked all of the adventures and the story line itself.  Yet the constant description of nautical terms, scientific animal names, and obscure geographical locations left me constantly floundered. I am by no means an expert at any of the subjects I listed,  however I did believe I knew enough to understand the majority of the book. I was wrong!  Honestly, I was often left at a lose and found myself checking terms in the dictionary frequently.  This was a good book foelr letting myself see just how much I still need to learn! And I am more than willing to learn it!

Besides my constant lack of comprehension, I did really like the book! I found it diverting and original! I understand now why Captain Nemo is such a known literary figure and the book itself is looked upon as a classic! Though some of the adventures in the novel are more or less impossible, many of the events are actually quite possible! The fact that this book was written 150 years ago yet contains things that are extremely plausible today is amazing! While reading I was often blown away by how advanced Verne's ideas were! I liked the book and may read it again in the distant future!

Week 26: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

The Woman in White is a classic book I found on my Kindle for free.  I had never heard of it and found that the reviews were pretty good, so I thought I would give it a try! The Woman in White is a classic mystery that is fairly suspenseful and has many different plot twists in it.  The story is told from the first person perspective of many different characters.

Some of the characters were developed exceptionally well by Collins.  Marian and Count Fosco for example both are characters that have numerous different layers to them. They are both self assured, confident people, who help to drive the story.  I would say they are two of the main driving characters that have complex personalities that truly show their depth. However, Laura who is another main character was characteristically unimpressive for me.  She just seemed like a sniveling woman that had very little development. To be fair she is extremely loyal and truthful which helps her otherwise useless character.  She does go through many trials and challenges, but her character does not grow from any of them!

I would recommend the novel to anyone who likes classic literature, or mysteries.  The story is a wonderful mixture of suspense, thrill, mystery, and romance.  I am glad I read it and may read more from this author in the future!!!

Week 25: Persuasion by Jane Austen

I have read this book on numerous occasions and decided to read it again.  I really do love Austen as an author, and enjoy all of her books! This book is not as witty or entertaining as her others, however.  It was her last book that she published and it has a more serious plot line.  Yet I do like the book for all its solemnity. 

Out of all Austen's book this one has always been my least favorite.  However, reading it this time around it has grown on me.  I think because all the characters are a little bit older they are now easier for me to connect with.  I love the plot line and all the imagery that Austen has put in throughout the book.  The main character, Anne, has always been a little to bland for my tastes.  She seems to care little how she is treated by her family and is unbearably calm.  She still is very good and kind, but sometimes you wish she would stick up for herself more.  

If you like Jane Austen read this book.  It is one of the lesser known, but is still a wonderful classic!!! 

Week 24: The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

Since I have already written two blogs about this series there is little more for me to say about them as a whole! However, this is the final installment to the series, and one of my favorites!

The book is comprised of the many endeavors of the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel.  They are all fun, short, stories that tell the reader of the many deeds of the English protagonist.  I believe there are 12 stories all ranging in length in this book.  Overall, they were really fun reads and extremely well thought out!

I am glad I have read the whole series and believe that most people should read it as well! They are great historical classics! Though biased and fictional, they do paint an accurate picture of the French Revolution.  They are wonderful adventure books!!!

Week 23: Lord Tony's Wife by Baroness Orczy

Wow! I have so much catch up to do! These past few months have been a whirlwind of activities and events! However, I have kept on reading... just not as frequently!

I chose this book to read because I really love the Scarlet Pimpernel series! It is the 6th book in the series, and is full of adventure and daring!!! The book is about an aristocrat who is kidnapped from her husband in England and transported to France. The Scarlet Pimpernel hears about her kidnapping and follows her to Nantes.  The Pimpernel then tries to rescue her from her terrible fate!

The book is mainly told from the perspective of the bad guys.  Which creates the necessary suspense need to create the plot line.  However, I would like to more often read the story from the hero's perspective. Really none of the series is told from the protagonists point of view which means the reader cannot connect as easily with him! However, when all is said and done I really do enjoy this book immensely!

Week 22: An Unmarked Grave by Charles Todd

I love this series! It is simply marvelous, as I might have said before.  This book is a part of the Bess Crawford Mystery series.  All of the books I have read from this series have been thrilling and interesting.  I tend to read them all extremely fast and love them all immensely. They do not have to be read in a particular order which always makes things so much easier!

I think my favorite part about all of the books is the fact that the main character is so strong and dutiful.  The authors (cause there are two of them) make Bess intuitive and brave, but give her a sensitive that is appropriate to her career as a nurse. She truly cares for everyone she comes across and acts accordingly, yet she is not vulnerable nor helpless.  Rather, she causes lots of mischief and never seems to be out of trouble.

In this book, Bess is caught up in a escapade and is being hunted by a murderer.  The cause of her stalker is completely unknown and she goes around unsure about her safety.  Yet, she never stops asking questions, nor doing her duty as a nurse.  As the story unfolds the plot thickens and more people are endangered.  It truly is a great story that everyone should read, and the ending is pretty good too!!!

Week 21: On Distant Shores and In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin

On Distant Shores and In Perfect Time are the next two books after With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin.  These books are extremely similar to the first book, which left me wishing for more out of them.  I liked the setting of the series, and appreciated that the author did research much of the main plot points. The historical aspect was one of my favorite things about them.  I also liked the settings and imagery the author incorperated.  However, there were a lot of things lacking.  I would have liked the books to be more different from each other plot wise, and for the characters to enteract more.

Beside the disappointing plot line I did enjoy both books.  They were fun and eventful.  The third book in particular was full of plot twist and character development.  Yet, it also was quite preachy. I did not mind that it had a Christian underlying theme, but at times it was overwelming to the reader.  The first and second, had a Christian theme also, but not to the extent of the third.  

Overall, I liked the books, but probably won't read them again.  They were a fun one time read! :) 

Week 20: With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin

Okay so I trapped myself in another series! I think I am in the middle of 100 at this point! But it was an okay book so I am not to worried.

This book is pretty simple and there is not much to the plot.  It is a typical she likes him and he likes her book. However, the setting is original and there are fun twist to the novel. I also appreciated that the story took place in World War II. I am not a huge fan of war time books, but this one held my attention enough that I may start reading more!!

The characters in this novel are great and the author really tries to consistently stay with the attitudes of all of them.  However, since this is a series some of the characters actions are fully explained, and won't be until I read the rest.  I would suggest this book if you enjoy romance books, World War II, or a light quick read!  It is not an emotionally taxing book and quite interesting overall!

Week 19: Last Train to Istanbul by Ayse Kulin

So I may be writing this a week behind, but I didn't forget to write it! I just have had no wifi for a couple weeks! To begin with this book is very well written.  I really enjoyed the way the author introduced new people into the plot in a smooth way.  She did extremely well at capturing details and developing her plot.

The story is told from the perspective of many different people, however it is mainly focused around two Muslim sisters.  They are both at very different places in their lives at the beginning of the novel and are trying to cope with the events of World War II.  One sister is living in Turkey and married to a government official whom is never home.  The other is living in occupied France and is married to a Jewish man who has Turkish citizenship.  Both women are dealing with hard issues  and the story becomes a tangled web of problems, resolved only at the end of the story.

By this point it has probably become clear that I love historical fiction books! I think they are amazing and the research involved in creating historical novels are incredibly time consuming.  Therefore reading this book, one can only imagine how much time and effort went into the research.  I know it is a fictional book, but that still doesn't mean authors can change events of the past.  I really liked how this author incorporated her plot into actual events.  Whether the majority of the plot is true is not an issue for me! The book was just wonderful!!!

Week 18: The Young Country Doctor Book 1: Bilbury Chronicles by Vernon Coleman

So yet again I got sucked into reading a series! I seem to have a habit of buying book series... Anyways at least this one is fairly cheap on Amazon (all 7 books are $2.99 each) and I believe they may be worth the price! I really enjoyed this first book of the series and found it to be a funny little book!

The main character is fairly naive and gets into some pretty interesting situations.  He moves to a small village in the South of England to become a general practitioner in the early 1970's.  However, he has never cared for patience out of a hospital setting and his inexperience is apparent.  The main character does some pretty funny things and messes up like any average person.  I liked how real the main character is and that the situations are all pretty believable.

Coleman did a wonderful job of not creating a marvelous hero, but instead made a character with integrity, kindness, and naivety.  His character has as many faults as any real person, and I think that is why the reader is drawn to the main character.  He is like the average person and admits his faults readily.  I like the realness of the book and the writing is not bad either!

Week 17: A Young People's History of the United States Volume I by Howard Zinn

Usually I do not read nonfiction books, but I thought that I should read something a little different.  This book was written for teens and young adults so a lot of the information I was already familiar with.  However, I do love history and this book provided a great review of U.S. events.  I liked that this book started out by explaining that it was biased, but still was true to the events of the times.

If you are looking for a great easy history of the U.S. before the 20th century this is your book. (Assuming you are ready to delve into the dark side of history.)  This book is from the views of the "losing side" of each event.  Zinn explains the hardships that many cultures faced such as the Trail of Tears, Labor Revolts, and Slavery.  He explains why racism began in America and how that hatred fueled many of the horrible events of the 18th and 19th centuries.  He does not sugar coat the realities people faced, nor does he validate the "heroes" of the times.  He dives deeply into the harsh world that this country was founded upon.

This book was quite harsh and the reader must be prepared for the tone of the book! I do like this book and read it fast.

Week 16: Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

Okay so here we go! Death Comes to Pemberley is a very fun mystery, if you like Jane Austen novels.  I was first introduced to the story line by watching the first installment of the the Masterpiece show.  However, I never actually saw the second episode so I never actually found out what happened and who the murderer was.  I suppose that is why the book intrigued me so much! I knew the beginning, but not the ending!

The story starts off with the Darcy's planning a huge ball at Pemberley.  But the night before the big day a murder occurs on the Pemberley grounds.  The rest of the story is, of course, the discovery of whodunnit! And the story leads you through the entire English judiciary system! 

I would like to mention that I wished Elizabeth was a little bit more involved in the plot line. In this book she seemed to lack the special spark that made her personality in Pride and Prejudice so memorable! It would have been nice for her to be more a part of the main story. However, the author did capture Mr. Darcy's character wonderfully, and spent a lot of time explaining his thoughts.  Overall, most of the characters were developed and remained true to their personalities in Austen's work. (Especially Wickham!) 

I don't care much for mysteries in general, but because of my prior knowledge of the book I did enjoy it. It also helps that I am a huge Pride and Prejudice fan and that Masterpiece hooked me on the story line!  This book is a great read if you are looking for a sequel to the outstanding Austen classic!  

Week 15: Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

This week, because my life is so crazy at the moment, I decided to go with a really easy read! Doctor Dolittle is a fun children's book.  It is a quirky and original book.  Much of the plot really doesn't make that much sense and it is really just a fantastical plot line.  I really liked the book, but found the racial prejudice quite prevalent.  This book is older so it is not surprising that it contains racial biases, just a little uncomfortable at times.  Besides this drawback the book is well written and entertaining.
If you have watched either of the movies, the book is not to quite the same.  In all versions Dr. Dolittle talks to animals yet the similarities end there.  The book is about a poor doctor who travels to Africa to save monkeys.  It may not seem like an enthralling plot line, but there is plenty of adventure in every chapter!

Week 14: The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen

This book is very simple and romantic.  It has some intrigue, but is your typical period romance.  It has Christian undertones throughout the book which are not overbearing, but present especially towards the end of the book.  If you like novels like Pride and Prejudice, you will probably like this one as well.  The book is a quick read and fairly short! The author did well at creating a fun and entertaining plot line.

I found the book to be well written, but not superb.  I also wished for the characters to develop more and really become their own, however this did not seem to happen.  Many of the characters were fairly distant during the entire plot line, which created an absence of emotions.  (Obviously, I really like strong characters in books.)  However, there were a few strong characters that kept the reader engaged. The main character, Emma, is one of those characters.  She has an A-type personality, that is both smart and genuine.

I would suggest this book to anyone looking for a fun and romantic novel. Also if you like Gothic romances you may enjoy it!

Week 13: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Please excuse the lateness of this entry.  I was sick this past week! However, I was still able to read this book, and I loved it!!! I had seen the movie a few years ago, but did not remember much of the plot.  So it was like a whole new story for me!
This book contains many controversial issues that were occurring in the early 1960's.  Mainly, the book focuses on the relationship between Caucasian and African-American women in Mississippi during the Civil Right Era.  I find it a fascinating subject and I think that the author did a brilliant job of blending fictitious characters into an actual time period.  She uses actual historical events, such as Martin Luther King Jr. march, the death of President Kennedy, and the sit in at the diner to create a realistic setting for these characters.  The author seems to have spent a lot of time researching this particular era, and she seems to understand the unease of the time.  
I think this books characters are wonderful.  You really get to know them and understand the lives they lead.  Skeeter seems to really grow during the book and become her own person. She takes a lot of risks during the course of the story, but she does them all for the right reasons which proves her determination and good character.  Aibleen is one of my favorite characters because she just seems to have such a level head.  She thinks things through but is not scared of the future.  I think she is just an amazingly real character.  The last main character in Minny.  She is strong and willing to fight no matter what.  She is a great figure of courage and boldness.  Kathryn Stockett made a great book that is both suspenseful and unique, with characters that seem so real!

Week 12: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

So I finished the series, and am so thrilled!  The books were great and so well detailed.  Tolkien obviously worked very hard on his books.  I enjoyed the ending of this final installment and appreciated the overall completion of the characters development.
In these two final parts the fellowship attempts its last hurrah on the battlefield, almost separates completely, and treks through the land of Mordor. (Which I believe most people already know!)  I really liked the last book, because it sums up what happens during the long journey, and really invokes your imagination.  You really learn to love some of the characters, pity others, and loath a few.  I was extremely wrapped up in the last book and read till late into the night, which I do not suggest!  The ending will keep you enthralled till the last, and you will continue thinking about the whole story long after you finish. Which in my biased opinion is the mark of a truly great piece of literature.
If you have the time and the patience to read this books then I would encourage you to read them. They truly are classic fantasy adventure novels.  You might be thinking I could just watch the movies, but where is the fun in that.  Plus the endings are not exactly the same...

Week 11: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

This book matches up really well with the movie (which I am going to watch after I write this blog)!  I like how the two different stories are not mixed together, but rather Tolkien had one of the books be only about Frodo and Sam while the other book is the story of all the other members of the Fellowship.  It makes it easy to read and follow along with.  In the movies I have always preferred the story of the battles over the trials of Frodo.   However, reading the book I really enjoyed reading about the journey of the two hobbits.  Maybe it is because you get to learn more about the characters of Frodo and Sam while reading.  The book explains the thought process between the decisions the characters make and how it effects the adventure they are in. All of the hobbits in the series are really amazing fictional characters.  Tolkien has taken all that is simple and wonderful in the world and bestowed it on the hobbits.  Then placed them in a frightening world that they must overcome in some extraordinary unknown ways.

The books are extremely long and often tedious with regards to imagery.  Tolkien goes to great depths of making the reader know exactly what the landscape looks like.  Sometimes so much so that you wonder how many pages of imagery there is going to be before something happens to the plot line. My other complaint is that there are many pages of songs and rhymes.  I do not mind reading these prose, but often I find them to be long and unneeded to the plot of the story.  Yet, the books are so splendidly written that you cannot help but feel transported to Middle Earth.

 I really like reading these books after watching the movie.  Obviously there are occurrences in the books that were left out, but Peter Jackson did fabulous at really capturing the story. But be wary the books are wonderful in their own right and completely different from the movies!!!