Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves, Wizards, Orcs, and ubiquitous eyeballs – all of these things can be found in perhaps the greatest fantasy series of all time: J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.

When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton.

This is the 1986 box set of The Lord of The Rings that I own: they were my father’s in his childhood

The Book

The Lord of the Rings is a cultural phenomenon – you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who has not heard of them in some manner. Tolkein’s Middle Earth is a sprawling franchise, extending into the prologue of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit. Many other texts have been published by himself and his family (after his death). They were made even more popular by Peter Jackson’s movie adaptations, which are largely considered to be among the greatest movies of all times.

The Fellowship of the Ring, as depicted in Peter Jackson’s movie adaptation (Top, Left to Right: Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, and Boromir; Bottom LtR: Sam, Frodo, Merry, Pippin)

My first exposure to The Lord of the Rings was through The Hobbit, which I read in sixth grade and hated. I did so to appease my dad, who carefully conserved his copies of the series since he was 9 years old. I didn’t pick up The Lord of the Rings until 9th grade, when I became utterly enthralled.

The Lord of the Rings follows the young Hobbit, Frodo Baggins, who is the nephew of the famed Bilbo. Bilbo disappears after his eleventy first birthday party, leaving Frodo his home and all his belongings, including the mysterious One Ring. The ring takes Frodo on an epic and harrowing journey to prevent the destruction of Middle Earth. Frodo, who has never left his home in The Shire, is forced to grow up and push himself past all his previous boundaries. He doesn’t do it by himself, however – he is joined by fellow Hobbits (Sam, Merry, and Pippin), Legolas (an elf), Gimli (a dwarf) Gandalf (a magic wizard angel man), Boromir (a man), and Aragorn (a man? (read to find out!)). Other characters help further Frodo’s cause – Elrond (leader of the Rivendell elves), his daughter Arwen, Glorfindel (another elf), Galadriel (queen elf)  the riders of Rohan, Ents (giant walking-talking trees), and soldiers from the royal city of Gondor.  The characters must face their fears head on and learn to work together despite their difference as they head towards the certain death that is the fires of Mordor. The quest is sprawling and dangerous – and the fate of all of Middle Earth hangs in the balance.

I could read The Lord of the Rings for the rest of my life and never be bored. You can find new nuances in every reread.  The characters are easy to love and are complex – each of them has their own goals and morals. Additionally, although women are not prominent, the men are comfortable in themselves. They easily express emotion and truly care about each other. The Lord of the Rings teaches many lessons, but one sticks out – no one is too small to make a difference.

The Bop

The Lord of the Rings‘ bop is “Soldier, Poet, King” by the Oh Hellos. The song is meant to be biblical, but it accurately describes the plight of a specific character in The Lord of the Rings – Arargorn. Aragron is my personal favorite character – he’s a fearless leader hiding a mysterious past. He is willing to sacrifice all personal gains for the benefit of the greater good and greatly cares about his friends and family. Additionally, the whimsical, medival tune firmly plants the reader into Middle Earth.

In conclusion, read The Lord of the Rings. You will fall in love with the stubborn Hobbits and all other inhabitants of Middle Earth as they enter into the fight of their lives.

Sam drew a deep breath. “Well, I’m back,” he said.

Politics, violence, sex,  feudalism, wars, killer ice zombies, crazy fire gods, three-eyed ravens…and oh, yeah – dragons. All of this and more can be found in George R.R. Martin’s ongoing fantasy epic, A Song of Ice and Fire.

The morning had dawned clear and cold, with a crispness that hinted at the end of summer. They set forth at daybreak to see a man beheaded, twenty in all, and Bran rode among them, nervous with excitement. This was the first time he had been deemed old enough to go with his lord father and his brothers to see the king’s justice done. It was the ninth year of summer and the seventh of Bran’s life.

The box set of A Song of Ice and Fire

The Book

If you’re not a reader but find the introductory paragraph above to be startlingly familiar, you are probably familiar with the HBO adaptation of the book – “Game of Thrones”. As a staunch book elitist and someone who read the books before I watched the show, I urge all show fans to try the books. They have different nuances than the show – some storylines were completely omitted or significantly modified for time in the show, while the 1000+ pages of the books allow for more detail. There are five books currently published – A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast of Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. Two additional books are in the works (supposedly) to complete the series – The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring.

The books have no “true” main characters – there are over 30 point of view characters to ensure all sides of the story are represented – but a large portion of the novels focus on the Stark family, one of seven noble house on the continent of Westeros. The Starks are as cold and unyielding as the tundra they inhabit and the direwolves that create their sigil. Lord Eddard “Ned” Stark is the blunt patriarch, focused on protecting his children after the brutal murder of the majority of his family in his youth. His wife, Catelyn, is Southern-born but has adapted well to Northern life. Their eldest son, Robb, is eager to learn the ways of being a high lord. Sansa, their eldest daughter, feels she was made for a life at court and is a hopeless romantic. Arya, the younger Stark daughter, is wild and carefree, preferring to hold swords over a needlepoint. Bran and Rickon, the younger two sons, are still enraptured in the beauty of childhood. Then there is Jon Snow, the bastard son of Ned. Entwined with their lives are the Baratheons (the sitting King and Ned’s childhood best friend), the Lannisters (who is the Queen), and the other houses. On the other side of the world, on the continent of Essos, is the exiled daughter of the previous King, Daenerys Targaryen, who seeks to regain what she believes is her birthright.

When King Robert arrives in Winterfell, the Stark’s home, and asks Ned to take over the role of his Hand after the untimely death of their foster father who previously held the position, Ned accepts out of duty. However, as he, Sansa, and Arya travel South, it becomes clear that his death wasn’t natural. Ned unknowingly begins a war that sprawls the continent and affects the lives of everyone living there. Suddenly, all of the Starks are separated and fighting for survival as danger lurks in every corner. If that wasn’t enough, there is an unworldly threat coming from beyond the Wall – and the only way to stop it is to unite Westeros.

These books are truly my bread and butter – I’m a sucker for sprawling high fantasy tales. However, unlike other similar series, Martin prioritizes the characters and relationships over the fantasy epics. They run the show, even as the zombies and dragons and direwolves run through the background. There are dedicated families (some a little too dedicated), families who hate each other, and families that aren’t blood related. All of humanity is explored – honorable and kind characters as well as the worst of the worst. Martin also makes sure to show how goodness doesn’t always out – rather, it often gets you killed.

These books are long and boring at times, but every minute detail is carefully placed to be relevant. I would advise to those who are squeamish to research before reading – there is no shortage of gore, violence, and rape in the novels. Additionally, many of the main characters are children and are unfortunately not spared from the horrors of the world. The most recently published book also ends on the most ridiculous cliffhanger EVER. Be warned.

ASOIF gets five stars from me – now publish the last two books, George!

The Bop

A Song of Ice and Fire‘s bop is “The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel. The song speaks of a young boy who travels away from his family and undergoes many struggles. Even though he is beaten and manipulated and thinks of giving up, “the fighter still remains”. This could apply to a multitude of characters – all the Stark children, Jon, Tyrion Lannister, or Daenerys. They are all faced with unmanageable difficulties, but they persevere.

So break out some ale and cozy up with A Song of Ice and Fire – you will be pulled in by the feuding houses of Westeros, the War of Five Kings, and the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea.

The other two pulled away from her breasts and added their voices to the call, translucent wings unfolding and stirring the air, and for the first time in hundreds of years, the night came alive with the music of dragons.

*Note: The first and last lines are from the first book of the series, A Game of Thrones – ending with the last line from the most recent book would be a huge spoiler!

When a well-read individual thinks of feminist literature, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë comes to mind. A plain-looking woman with a horrific childhood, Christian ideals, and a crazy man who keeps his wife in the attic – what more could you want?

There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.

My favorite cover of Jane Eyre from the Splinter’s Classic Lines collection

The Book

Jane Eyre was the classic that made me fall in love with classics – before reading it, I found them woefully boring and outdated. Jane’s story (from her perspective) pulled me in and kept me enraptured throughout the novel. The novel follows the eponymous heroine from her tragic childhood into her adult life. Jane, an orphan, grows up with her abusive aunt and cousins – this abuse comes to a head when Jane retaliates and is sent to the “red room” as punishment. She believes she sees a ghost and faints. The doctor who comes to tend to her sees how unhappy she is and suggests that she is sent away to boarding school. Jane is #pumped, but school turns out to be a bust as the pupils are subjected to terrible conditions and cruel teachers. The majority of the student body is wiped out by typhus, but a miraculous revamp is done in the school. Jane remains there for her tenure as a student and then begins to work as a teacher. After 8 years, she becomes bored and becomes a governess for a little French girl named Adele, who is being raised by one Mr.Rochester. Jane and Rochester become close, even as shady things start happening in the house (a fire, an attack, etc.). Rochester proposes to Jane, who joyfully accepts…that is, until the truth comes out.

Jane Eyre, in my opinion, is dreadfully unappreciated. Often cast aside for the likes of Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf (both of which I also love), Charlotte Brontë’s magnum opus is much more subdued. This does not take away from the work, however – rather, it enhances it by showing the reader that there is beauty in simplicity. Jane herself is also adamant that she is her own person first – any prospects for love are second to the pursuits and dreams she has of her own. As a young girl reading the book, it was amazing to see a heroine so confident in herself and her goals.

Jane Eyre gets five out of five stars – I have loved it for years and will continue to for many more. Plus, I wrote about it for my AP English Literature exam and got a 5, so that was a win.

The Bop

Jane Eyre’s bop is “Mirrorball” by Taylor Swift. The song describes a women trying to fit into society’s standards, though it is very difficult for her. She feels as though she must please everyone, being the “mirrorball” that everyone is always looking at. This is Jane at the beginning of the novel – she is so often treated poorly that she is willing to do anything to gain positive attention and have people like her. However, as she grows up, she realizes that her, as she is, is just as worthy of love and respect as any other version of herself.

In conclusion, take the time to read Jane Eyre. It’s a great introduction into the classics, makes you look educated, and is a wonderful read overall.

We entered the wood, and wended homeward.