The two towers - possible spoilers

When we left the end of the first book Frodo and Sam had become seperated from the rest of the fellowship and this book continues that. Most of the book focuses on the adventures of the rest of the group. After burying Boromir, Legolas, Gimli and Aragon set off to find Merry and Pippin who have been captured by Orcs. They eventually meet up with Gandalf and go off to Gondor to fight a couple of battles. Merry and Pippin meanwhile escape from the orcs into Fangorn Forest where they meet Treebeard the ent and go off on some adventures of their own. In the meantime Frodo and Sam are nearing Mordor and finally meet up with Gollum and recruit him as a guide. The book ends with them in dire straits in Mordor.
This book is one that I always have mixed feelings about. There are some of my favourite parts and characters in it. I love the Ents and the parts in Fangorn Forest, I love the part where Frodo meets up with the Riders of Rohan and of course Gollum is always fascinating. As always, Tolkien builds such a fascinating world, which really draws you in to it, there are some wonderful battle scenes, and I love the banter between Gimli and Legolas. We also get to see Merry and Pippin as real characters on their own, rather then hangers on, which up until now they seem to have been. However, I do sometimes feel as if this book is just a "filler" There is no real beginning and end, it is just there in the middle, almost like something you have to get through to get to the good stuff in the last book.
I also have to talk about Sam here, he is such a wonderful supporting character. Always, loyal, helpful and trying desperately to do things for the good of his "master". I always think I would love to have a Sam by my side all the time!
I am really looking forward to starting the third one.
I just have to talk about Sam here  

The silver chair

Sorry I am a  bit behind with this series now, I have been writing exams and then sick and not got a chance to do any reviews. I still have to read the last one, but hope to get it from the library as soon as I get a chance to go back.
This books starts off with Eustace and his friend Jill being snatched from their school in England and back to Narnia. Jill meets Aslan and gets given some signs to watch out for in her quest to find King Caspian's long lost son. She is then sent off to find Eustace and get on with the quest which involves searching through the wastelands, into the giants land and then into the underlands, where we meet the witch, and then of course they find the prince and save the day!
I have to say that I loved this book, I found it to be so much more detailed than the others. It is definitely my favourite so far. There is much more of a plot, the children are so much more central to the story and there are many exciting adventures. The only things I didn't like was that there were times where the characters were really blind!
Favourite bits:

• I loved the description of why the school was not suitable
• The ride through the air
• The marshlands (more on this later)
• the Hall of Harfour scenes
• the underland scenes

I just have to talk about Puddleglum the Marshwiggle, I think he is my favourite character in the book so far. He reminds me of Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, always looking on the dark side of life, whilst seeming almost cheerful about it. I love how he says that they wont like other marshwiggles because they are glum, lol. He really makes the books.
A couple of scenes which I found funny reading them in todays world, when words mean slightly different things:
1. "Gay," said Puddleglum with a deep sigh. "That's what we've got to be. Gay." ... "All right. Gay's the word," said Scrubb. "Now, if we could only get someone to open this door. While we're fooling about and being gay, we've got to find out all we can about this castle."


and.......
2. She made love to everyone - the grooms, the porters, the housemaids, the ladies-in-waiting, and the elderly giant lords whose hunting days were long past them. She submitted to being kissed and pawed about...

Quite funny in todays English, lol.

The two towers by J.R.R Tolkien Chapter 1 - 7

Although I planned to spread the reading of this section out over the month, I started reading and actually couldn't stop, so it is a couple of weeks since I read this now. I haven't had a chance to do the review since then. As I said in my last reviews, I just love the way Tolkien builds his world up, his descriptive powers are so amazing that you actually feel like you are there. The scenery is also just so majestic and awe-inspiring.
At the start of the section we find Boromir mortally wounded by Orcs, Pippin and Merry abducted by Orcs and Frodo and Sam missing. After sending Boromir down the river in his boat, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli go off searching for Pippin and Merry. These two brave little hobbits actually manage to escape from the orcs when they are attacked by the Riders of Rohan. They run off into Fangorn forest where they come across Treabeard the Ent, who eventually persuades the rest of the Ents to oppose Saruman.
Meanwhile Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli come across the battle scene and find footprints leading into Fangorn. In Fangorn they meet up with Gandalf, and eventually go to Rohan. Here they rouse King Theoden from his lethargy and they all go off to fight the forces of Saruman.
Favourite parts in this section:

• funeral of Boromir
• the ents and the whole Fangorn scene
• Aragorn meeting the riders of Rohan
• the name Grima Wormtongue (King Theodrens advisor who is actually a servant of Saruman)
• the battle between Sarumans forces and Rohan

I really cant wait to start the next section!

Read-a-thon - reading pile.

The read-a-thon starts tomorrow and I am really excited if a little apprehensive. I am still not entirely sure what happens, but I guess I will get into it as I go along. This afternoon I popped into the library and sorted out my reading pile. It includes the following books:

• Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson - I would like to finish this book, but since I am only a quarter of the way through it is not likely
• The way we were by Marcia Willett
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte -on chapter 12 will go up to 23 for the read a long.
• The two towers by J.R.R Tolkien - chapters 1-7 for Read a long
• Sex and the city by Candace Bushnell (having a second try at this)
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - will read volume 1
• The Messiah Code by Michael Cordy
• The voyage of the dawn treader by C.S Lewis

I do have a few more books lying around which I can turn to if I get bored of those, but I at least want to make sure I finish the read a long books.
Tomorrow morning I will stop off at the shop for some snacks and meals to keep me going and then I think that I am set.
See you tomorrow at 14:00 my time (12:00 GMT)

The Felloship of the Ring

My first review is here
Last time I reviewed this book the Hobbits had just left Tom Bombardil behind. After leaving him they set off for Bree where we met my favourite character - Strider/Aragon. I absolutely love him, the strong silent type, lol. (For those of you who may read Robert Jordan - Lan is my favourite character there and reminds me so much of Aragorn.)
Despite not trusting him they set off in the direction of Rivendell. They are looking for Gandalf, but not sure whether he is alive. Rivendell is beautiful and some of my favourite parts are there. I also love the time in Lothlorien later on in the book.
Once again, I love all the descriptions and "world - building" that Tolkien does. He really has the power to transport you into the book, you can actually "see" Middle Earrth as the adventure unfolds.
Favourite parts in this section

• Frodos performance at the inn in Bree - despite the fact that it is one of those times when you want to stop him since you know it is going to be trouble, I just love his disappearing act
• The meeting of Strider
• Finding the tombs in the Mountains of Moria
• All the scenes at Rivendell and Lothlorien
• The ending of this part although it is quite a cliffhanger.
• Actually that is pretty much the whole book :-)

What I picked up immediately this time which I dont remember picking up in previous reads is Gollum following them, and it is fairly obvious so I am not sure how I missed it before!

The fellowship of the Rings

I am taking part in the Lord of the Rings Read a long over at The story girl. I have read this series at least once and of course have seen all 3 movies. However, I have not read the series since the movies came out and have not watched the movies again since they came out so there was quite a lot that I had forgotten although the storyline is familiar.
Although each book is being run over 3 months I never got around to starting last month and so I only started this month. The plan was to read 4 chapters a week, but I am a little behind, although I will definitely be able to finish in time. What struck me most as I started reading was all the descriptions. Tolkien really builds his world up beautifully. I love that even the scary parts are so beautifully described that it is like reading a fairy tale. Even though I guess it could make the book a bit slower, the descriptions are just so beautiful that you dont mind.
 I have got to the part where they have just left Tom Bombadill and are entering Bree. Tom Bombadill was left out of the movie, which made me very sad because I absolutely love him and Goldfinger. I really love the scenes inside the forest, it seems so eerie and mysterious. It always reminds me of the ending of one of the Famous Five books by Enid Blyton. (cant remember which one right now)
What I also remembered while reading the book was how in the movie it almost seems like a chance meet ups between all 4 hobbits, whereas in fact it was more planned than that and they all set out together.
After having read The Hobbit last month I was actually a bit miffed that Frodo had sold the house to the Sackville Bagginses since they tried to steal from Bilbo in The Hobbit.
I also like how their are always kind, wise people around to help the hobbits and how they all seem to know about them and be looking out for them!. This book has some of my favourite scenes in it and I am looking forward to Rivendell. I also know that my favourite character should be around soon and am waiting for that.
Sorry this is a bit all over the place, just had a hectic day at work.