The Two Towers, by J.R.R. Tolkien (1954)

I think I enjoyed The Two Towers more than Fellowship of the Ring. Coming into the book the story was more developed, and the plot began to become more interesting. The parting of characters also created an enjoyable curiosity throughout the book. I found myself thinking of Frodo and Sam in the first part and then of the rest of the fellowship in the second. I enjoyed the development of Gollum/Smeagol and thought it was a really cool dynamic to see him interact with the Hobbits but also face his own inner turmoil. I enjoyed this book and am eagerly anticipating the third installment. Also, the more I think about this book the more I realise it’s sparked my interest. Although I get lost in the details of the lore and occasionally confused by what’s going on in each scene the overall narrative still plays before you quite simply and is a delight to track. The resurrection of Gandalf is crazy, as is the fact they tested Saruman! The you have the early signs of war and the uncertainty and fear of humans joining in. The ents and the trees were a cool addition, and it was kind of fun to see the good guys get some points on the board. Good balance, makes for an interesting final battle.