Dave, you must listen to the BBC production of The Lord of the Rings, and/or watch the extended version of the movies on DVD.
There really are some
l o n g sections in the second LOTR book that describe seemingly endless travels through dark & despondent lands. The movie version keeps up the action pace & assumes, rather than portrays, the long dry spells. The readers of the audio books put so much feeling into their voices that the worst of times seem to pass more swiftly.
I enjoyed the voices in the audio version. However, I found in those long stretches between the few critical action points that my mind would wonder off when they were in these endless conversations about where to go next. I think if Tolkein had to face the rigorous modern editor, he would have ended up with a pamphlet. I got to the point that I dreaded putting the cassette into the car stereo, opting rather for Rush Limbaugh. After several weeks of this, I finally faced reality and said, "if I am really not enjoying this, why am I doing this?"
Dave and Al,
but... I assume that you have not heard the BBC production version of LOTR on CD or cassette. BBC has also done an audio version of the Hobbit.
About 10-12 years ago we were travelling by car from Ottawa to Spokane WA. We were in Montana on the interstate heading west and guess what, we ran out of gas because we had gotten so distracted with BBC's audio version of LOTR. Montana is so isolated that the State Police cars are equipped to syphon gas. Well we benefitted from their genorosity, and were able to run of of gas again just as we coasted into the nearest gas station. Those state troopers were quite expert with their math calculations of how many minutes to turn on the nozzle and give only what's need to any helpless motorist. So, the moral of the story, you must listen to the BBC audio production. They have editted out parts of the story and did an excellent job.
Marcia
