The Return of the King: The Lord of the Rings: Part Three

I have immensely enjoyed listening to all the LotR audiobooks alongside my family and getting to share a beloved story with them — we gather around the living room with books in our laps for hours! The Andy Serkis reading is phenomenal; Andy is a master at his craft! Yes, there are silly moments where he's "singing" or trying to voice a female character (his Galadriel is spot-on fierce!), but I think it just adds to the charm and it's definitely not enough to take away from the highlights of his reading in my opinion. He steps into the main characters, like those in the fellowship, and just disappears (and I mean that in the best way).I still use CDs and prefer them over digital copies (I am dusty that way) and I highly recommend the Harper Collins version over Recorded Books. I bought both so you don't have to — The branded Harper Collins publication of the CDs comes in a neat little paper book/box casing with gorgeous Alan Lee art everywhere – on the inside, outside AND on the individually wrapped CDs (the art is just like their physical book counterparts) AND track listings for easy navigating, while the Recorded Books branded publication comes in a finicky plastic booklet case with no track listings whatsoever and even though it has the same cover art only on the outside it also has the unsightly red line across both top and bottom and NO art on the inside whatsoever or on the actual sleeved CDs – they look like bootlegs or school projects in comparison (they aren't, but you know..). It's way too easy to get them mixed up (since they are essentially the same thing), so double check and make sure you get the version that you want. Hopefully this review helps other dusty CD dragons like me!

I have immensely enjoyed listening to all the LotR audiobooks alongside my family and getting to share a beloved story with them — we gather around the living room with books in our laps for hours! The Andy Serkis reading is phenomenal; Andy is a master at his craft! Yes, there are silly moments where he's "singing" or trying to voice a female character (his Galadriel is spot-on fierce!), but I think it just adds to the charm and it's definitely not enough to take away from the highlights of his reading in my opinion. He steps into the main characters, like those in the fellowship, and just disappears (and I mean that in the best way).I still use CDs and prefer them over digital copies (I am dusty that way) and I highly recommend the Harper Collins version over Recorded Books. I bought both so you don't have to — The branded Harper Collins publication of the CDs comes in a neat little paper book/box casing with gorgeous Alan Lee art everywhere – on the inside, outside AND on the individually wrapped CDs (the art is just like their physical book counterparts) AND track listings for easy navigating, while the Recorded Books branded publication comes in a finicky plastic booklet case with no track listings whatsoever and even though it has the same cover art only on the outside it also has the unsightly red line across both top and bottom and NO art on the inside whatsoever or on the actual sleeved CDs – they look like bootlegs or school projects in comparison (they aren't, but you know..). It's way too easy to get them mixed up (since they are essentially the same thing), so double check and make sure you get the version that you want. Hopefully this review helps other dusty CD dragons like me!

This rating is for the trilogy. I first read the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings back in 4th grade elementary school. I am 56 years old now, and the works of Tolkien are still my favorite in the fantasy genre. I have read many good to very good fantasy books over the past 40 years or so, but nothing matches the Hobbit, the Lord of the Rings, and the Silmarillion.Just the best and my favorites. I envy anyone finding and reading these works for the first time.

Such a wonderfuly epic finish.“I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.” - Gandalf

Great product!

Great product!

I have read and re-read The Hobbit many, many,many timesover the past 53 years. It will ever be my favorite novels. So much so that before I reached my teens, I made a promise to myself that when I had a female child of my own, she'd bear the name Arwen. It came to pass in the summer of 1995, and like her namesake, she was, is, and remains a being of exquisite beauty. I hope to re-read this work of art at least a few more times before I pass!

I have read and re-read The Hobbit many, many,many timesover the past 53 years. It will ever be my favorite novels. So much so that before I reached my teens, I made a promise to myself that when I had a female child of my own, she'd bear the name Arwen. It came to pass in the summer of 1995, and like her namesake, she was, is, and remains a being of exquisite beauty. I hope to re-read this work of art at least a few more times before I pass!

if you set out to write a book, and see it done, then you’ll know the monument that is The Lord of The Rings. There is more mastery in these pages on the topic of fantasy than you or I can imagine, and their words have given rise to more wonder than we ever deserved. There is also such depth as can be found in profound works, but humble, and at times seemingly soft spoken. A memoir and a history rather than a vain entertainment, but for it to be enjoyed as such, I like to think, the author would not be put out.

if you set out to write a book, and see it done, then you’ll know the monument that is The Lord of The Rings. There is more mastery in these pages on the topic of fantasy than you or I can imagine, and their words have given rise to more wonder than we ever deserved. There is also such depth as can be found in profound works, but humble, and at times seemingly soft spoken. A memoir and a history rather than a vain entertainment, but for it to be enjoyed as such, I like to think, the author would not be put out.

Powerful, brilliant, beautifully written, wonderful in every way. The book deserves every accolade that it has ever received. Photo lives!

Powerful, brilliant, beautifully written, wonderful in every way. The book deserves every accolade that it has ever received. Photo lives!

Excellent, so well crafted. Enjoyed the book entirely. Once again. Do read the entire series You will Much enjoy it .... This man paints pictures with words ... He uses some antiquated words ... Quite a few really; LOL ... Had to look up some ... Actually enjoyed that. Strange, but really was interesting at times, did NOT necessarily mean what I thought the word might have ment ... Sigh, guess, that fortunately, I'm retired ...

Excellent, so well crafted. Enjoyed the book entirely. Once again. Do read the entire series You will Much enjoy it .... This man paints pictures with words ... He uses some antiquated words ... Quite a few really; LOL ... Had to look up some ... Actually enjoyed that. Strange, but really was interesting at times, did NOT necessarily mean what I thought the word might have ment ... Sigh, guess, that fortunately, I'm retired ...

Love lord of the rings how can you go wrong

Love lord of the rings how can you go wrong

The Lord of the Rings has been and will always be the fantasy standard for years to come. RIP J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings has been and will always be the fantasy standard for years to come. RIP J.R.R. Tolkien

This volume is simply beautiful; the themed picture on the front and the colored page edges add beauty and character. Not as fancy as some other collector volumes, and no pictures inside, but will do very nicely as a collector item on a budget.

This volume is simply beautiful; the themed picture on the front and the colored page edges add beauty and character. Not as fancy as some other collector volumes, and no pictures inside, but will do very nicely as a collector item on a budget.

The lord of the rings trilogy is certainly a long journey and a work of great art. Glad to have read it.

The lord of the rings trilogy is certainly a long journey and a work of great art. Glad to have read it.

The Downfall ofthe Lord of the Ringsand the Return of the King(as seen by the Little People, being the Memoirs of Bilbo and Frodo of the Shire, supplemented by the accounts of their friends and the learning of the Wise)Tolkien’s masterwork needs no introduction, and no new reviews. I grew up with this story, and the Hobbit, and the stories of Tolkien’s friends, C.S.Lewis, and Charles Williams. As a child, their tales of wonder encouraged me to believe in a spiritual connection between all living things. My worldview was shaped by their assumptions that the natural world is full of glory and worth saving; that most people are good, given a fair chance; and that evil does exist, and must be resisted always, and until your last breath, without hope of reward or recognition; and that nevertheless, war is a vast and terrible waste, destroying all joy, all life and all hope, leaving scars that never heal.If your worldview is different, you may not enjoy these books.

The Downfall ofthe Lord of the Ringsand the Return of the King(as seen by the Little People, being the Memoirs of Bilbo and Frodo of the Shire, supplemented by the accounts of their friends and the learning of the Wise)Tolkien’s masterwork needs no introduction, and no new reviews. I grew up with this story, and the Hobbit, and the stories of Tolkien’s friends, C.S.Lewis, and Charles Williams. As a child, their tales of wonder encouraged me to believe in a spiritual connection between all living things. My worldview was shaped by their assumptions that the natural world is full of glory and worth saving; that most people are good, given a fair chance; and that evil does exist, and must be resisted always, and until your last breath, without hope of reward or recognition; and that nevertheless, war is a vast and terrible waste, destroying all joy, all life and all hope, leaving scars that never heal.If your worldview is different, you may not enjoy these books.

Listening to Rob Inglis read the Lord of the Rings is as if J.R.R. was reading the story to you himself. He delineates the characters and makes the scenes come to life, but his version never distracts from the story. Andy Serkis is a wonderful actor but his scenery-chewing version sometimes intrudes, often imo. If you're thinking about the reader's performance of a character you are no longer immersed in the book.

Listening to Rob Inglis read the Lord of the Rings is as if J.R.R. was reading the story to you himself. He delineates the characters and makes the scenes come to life, but his version never distracts from the story. Andy Serkis is a wonderful actor but his scenery-chewing version sometimes intrudes, often imo. If you're thinking about the reader's performance of a character you are no longer immersed in the book.