hfjarmer's Reviews (394)

In comparison to Fellowship of the Ring, I wouldn't say I preferred The Two Towers, but I did notice a subtle shift in Tolkien's style. The pacing felt quicker, relatively speaking, and the narrative seemed somewhat less dense, enhancing my reading experience. However, I still struggled to keep up with the many, many mentioned lineages, geography, and lore, which sometimes interrupted the flow of the story. Anytime I found myself to really be in a groove, the scenes playing out in my head flicker and come to a halt when I get to the name of some obscure character or place and I am forced to try and back track to remember who/what that is and why it is important. While I think Tolkien’s thoroughness is certainly part of the reason for his popularity, as someone who is a somewhat light fantasy reader I just find all the information to be a bit clunky and indigestible at times.

Nevertheless, I appreciated how each branch of the fellowship had its moment to shine. From Merry and Pippin's time with the Ents to the battles with Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, as well as the enduring journey of Frodo and Sam, every subplot felt engaging. Sam's newfound assertiveness was a highlight for me, showcasing his unwavering loyalty to Frodo amidst the escalating challenges of their quest. This far in on their journey and Sam knows what he is about and it is Mr. Frodo. Sam’s take no shit attitude just made me love him more. It was interesting to see how carrying the ring has truly begun to take it’s toll on Frodo. The romantic tension between Sam and Frodo only grows in this book, and I will not be taking any arguments to the contrary at this time.

I had a friend warn me of the way the Treebeard chapters can really drag, but I actually LOVED the Ents and learning about them. And certainly in comparison to the Elrond chapter of Book 1 that was nothing. One thing that really stands out to me about Tolkien’s writing is the way he can clearly and beautifully describe any kind of nature scene, whether that is just the landscape that the company is walking through, or something more fantastical like the Ent homes.

On to book 3!

I have to say I’m really happy with how this series wrapped up. I was admittedly frustrated in my initial foray into Middle Earth’s goings-on, primarily due to the unconventional plot structure. The quest aspect of this series was a new reading experience for me. However, having finished "Return of the King," I feel like everything has come full circle.

What I enjoyed most about the end of the series was that we get more of the “what happens after” than is typically provided. Frodo and Sam destroy the Ring and save the realm, but all is not immediately well overnight. Tolkien addresses this—it's not all smooth sailing right away. There is a lot of work to be done to usher in a new age and restore peace to the world. I really enjoyed being able to see what happens after the big climax, something most authors don’t include, or at least not in as much detail. Tolkien took care to tie up any loose ends, avoiding one of my biggest pet peeves in a reading experience. I wanted to hear a little more about Bilbo when all was said and done, but I am happy nonetheless.

My biggest gripe is that Sam should’ve—everyone say it with me—ended up marrying Frodo instead of Rosie and lived happily ever after for the rest of their days. But alas, this was written in the 30s, and so we have to settle for Rosie, I guess.

Overall, I am glad I read this series. I’ve gained some important insight into what many consider the foundation of fantasy writing and it feels like I have participated in a crucial piece of pop culture. The characters were lovable, interesting, and diverse. I have never come across an author who understands the minutiae of the world they’ve created quite like Tolkien. I do plan to continue my journey by reading "The Hobbit" in the future!

As a big fan of the essay genre, I am kind of shocked this is the first time I've read this type of anthology of essays before, but I really enjoyed it. I loved being able to see the way each author approaches their respective essay topic differently, the way they tell their stories, even the tense they write in tells us something. I'd definitely be curious to hear from the editors as to what about each essay stood out to them, as there were a few where I thought "really, this one?"

I didn't give a star rating because I'm not entirely sure how to rate something anthological, but I will definitely be picking up more of these from previous years!

This book was the perfect escape from my pre-wedding panic! I was completely hooked from start to finish, and it far surpassed the first one in the series. The plot moves at a fantastic pace—there wasn’t a single dull moment. I absolutely love Kane and Arwen’s dynamic; it’s a classic romance without ever feeling cheesy or overdone. The ending has left me eagerly anticipating the final book!

That’s all I have the brain space for, but highly recommend for romantasy lovers.

I don’t know what there is to say about Educated that has not been said a thousand times already, this book was phenomenal. I’ve put off reading Educated for a few years, plagued by my refusal to read the synopsis of any book and opting to go in blind instead, I assumed Educated was going to be a non-fiction, data-heavy sort of read, and never found myself mentally prepped for this kind of dense read. Educated is the opposite of a dense read. It is perhaps the most beautifully written work of non-fiction I’ve read to date. Tara tells her story as if it is just that, a story. Her memoir, written in a style I could only describe as literary non-fiction (take notes, Truman Capote), is powerful and compelling.
Tara tells the story of growing up in a strict Mormon household in the mountains of Idaho with her six siblings, meek midwife mother, and undiagnosed bipolar father. Tara’s father holds the firm belief that the government is working to indoctrinate socialism into the minds of US citizens via the public school and medical systems, among other things. Tara’s father’s mental illness wreaks havoc on their family, resulting in the withholding of a proper education, and many many safety risks in the home. Her parents believed only in the healing power of essential oils and God’s will.
Despite all the failings of her upbringing as a result of her tumultuous family dynamic (to put it lightly), Tara is able to put herself through college at BYU where she becomes a massive success and goes on to obtain graduate degrees at Cambridge. Her story is an absolute inspiration, and it is truly unbelievable all that she has accomplished. While Educated does have some graphic content and difficult subject matter, I unequivocally recommend this book to any and every reader, it is inspirational and just a truly amazing read.