Do you think the beginning of the book is dull/boring/lame? I've heard many of my frineds starting FotR and discontinue because they thought the beginning was boring.. I don't think so!! I think it's interesting!

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I revisited AU on Jan 14th after an almost 10-year break! The nostalgia..!

The first time I read FotR I thought it took a long time before it really got started, but after finishing the trilogy and having watched the movies... hmm AND having read the Silmarillion, I liked the beginning. How it takes its time to explain everything, to make the reader have a feeling for the story and the Shire. Also later on it becomes important when Frodo and Sam and Merry and Pippin are so far away from home, then the memory and the thought of the carefree and peaceful Shire becomes the dream of peace they long for and what reminds them what they are fighting for.

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I love the beginning of the FotR! I'm assuming you meant the first several chapters by the beginning. I love the part about Tom Bombadil. I read a bit of FotR this summer, and what really stood out to me was Tolkien's extremely in depth description of the geography and countryside, and that comes out a lot in the beginning of the book.

Highly interesting, at least to me.

I think a lot of people believe that LotR is boring because it is a bit wordy. I'm not saying this negatively about Tolkien's writing style. He does take a lot of words to describe something, and this may not be interesting to someone who needs a faster paced book. Just encourage your friends to keep reading, the book gets better with time!

And yet, while Tolkien's style is 'wordy' he doesn't waste words. Each word is specifically chosen it seems because the wording is so poetic. If you take time to read the book aloud, you'll find there is an almost 'epic rhythm' to it.

^I agree with everything vikingmaiden said.
If by the beginning you meant the prologue though, I could see where it would be a little boring, because it just re-explains everything that happened in the Hobbit, with the exception of where they are talking about pipe weed. So, if you'd already read The Hobbit, that part might be a bit dull.
I found the first few chapters to be completely captivating though. I was sucked right into the book. I loved it. Still do as a matter of fact.

The beginning of FotR sucked me in right from the very start. I found the fact that there wasn't loads of description or loads of dialog to be very enlightening. The story was well balanced, and postively radiated happiness, which would show a stark contrast later in the book.
For some reason the fact that the book begins with the announcing of a party just seems to excite me more than anything else. I immediately began asking questions such as, "Who's party is it?", "How old is said person turning?" etc. Each question was answered in turn, and it seemed that as they were I became more drawn in, wanting to know even more.
I guess Tolkien really thought about the way that first bit was set up to draw in the reader.

^All of that is right.

I don't find it boring at all. The start of the story is great. Tolkien starts off slowly, with apparently nothing wrong, and then steadily builds up the sense of danger and foreboding. It is a great start to what occurs in book 2 (the second part of FotR) when the 'real action' begins.

I can understand that some people find it boring, but they watch too many films, and expect action right from the off. It is harder to get that pace whilst keeping the description of the landscape. To Tolkien, describing his world is vitally important. And let's face it, his world is better than so many others because we can vividly envisage it.

And there are so many interesting little things that happen in the beginning; Tom Bombadil, Frodo's talks with Gildor and Gandalf, and the events in Bree. You can't really say it is boring just because it has lots of description

I loved the beginning. I think Tolkien wrote it just right. The beginnings of Tolkien books are always a little slow, but if you're a real fan, or if you really want to read it, you'll push through, and perhaps have a different opinion on it. I'd tell them to try again, and I'd advise that you keep reading, and don't listen to them! It's a great book!

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Well, when I read FotR for the first time, I thought it was a bit slow and a teensy bit dull. But, when I read it again, I didn't think so at all. I still can never get though the Council of Elrond chapter without skipping a little though

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Yes, it's just a beauteous place, I could read about it over and over and over..

Oh, I love Tolkien so much more now that I have to read Hawthorne. You are exactly right, he doesn't waste time with billions of run on sentences saying anything that pops into his head. It's very rhythmic.

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Hawthorne is one of my favourites! Yes, Tolkien does have quite a similar style to Hawthorne. Tolkien I think, still belongs to that kind of writing when there were no televisions, not a whole lot of technology--Tolkien was not a fan of technology anyway...so his writing reflects that. Literature from that era is a lot more descriptive, but this doesn't mean necessarily 'flowery'. Hawthorne and Tolkien use a lot of words, and are very descriptive...but at the same time use words wisely. You don't get a photographic description of characters in either Hawthorne or Tolkien, but you can picture them because the language is so well-chosen.

I wouldn't say it was boring. It starts out in an idyllic setting, where most people would probably love to visit or live. It also sets the stage for the entire story, so you have to expect it to be detailed.
Also keep in mind, in the book, Frodo didn't set out on his journey until he was (I believe) fifty.
That's 17 years after Bilbo left Bagend, not like the movie where Frodo seems to set out the same year as he received the Ring.

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"I am Anduril, who was Narsil, let the thralls of Mordor fear me".
Translation of the blade.

Nah, I liked the beginning. A nice set up, learning about the Shire and the importance of it to Frodo. Of course the rest of the book is much more action-packed, but I still like the beginning of FotR.

The prologue about hobbits however I couldn't read the first time. Couldn't get through it. I think I finally read it the 3rd time.

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Proud Member of the The Evilishy Nazgûl Alliance for World Domination
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well I love the beginning of fotr! They couldnt rush through whethertop and traveling into elronds house. I think is was awesome how long i was. I loved when the trees were choking the hobbits in the beginning so adventurous!

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I agree. Old man willow was a nice homage to Tom bombadil.

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"I am Anduril, who was Narsil, let the thralls of Mordor fear me".
Translation of the blade.

My friend said to me when I had the fotr book in school: "I could read that if I wanted, but I'm not interested at all!" it doesn't sound mean, but the way she said it was just so, insulting. And my mom told my big sister to read lotr to improve her english, and she said "yuck, no way!" and she has got the book as a present from our uncle, but the only one who's ever used it is me.. Well, it's their own fault they miss something so incredible without even peeking inside the book..

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I revisited AU on Jan 14th after an almost 10-year break! The nostalgia..!

That's too bad! They should at least give it a chance before they say it's rubbish! That's what bothers me, when people assume they hate ZLOTR without even trying it first. At least you've got some sense Earlinde. *pats Earlinde's head*