Now Available!
Just Read the Book
A Critique of Character Debasement and Evisceration of Meaning
in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings Film Trilogy.
For anyone thinking of reading or rereading The Lord of the Rings, or watching or rewatching the Peter Jackson films…..For the legions of Tolkien fans who continue to debate the merits of Jackson’s popular adaptation of Tolkien’s masterpiece…..
Here is a new, thorough-going critique of the film trilogy, a book-length treatment combining scholarly rigor with lively personal interpretation. It integrates trenchant commentary by Tolkien specialists with fresh insights based on the evidence in the text of Tolkien’s intentions, while giving due consideration to the filmmaker’s justifications for changes in plot and character.
Just Read the Book presents a well-argued challenge to the claim, made by many reviewers and fans, that the films are a worthy adaptation “in the spirit” of Tolkien.
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Price: $12.95 plus postage depending on destination.
Print length: 230 pages
ISBN: 979-8-234-08175-9
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8 inches
Sara Ciborski has a BA in English from Smith College and an MA and PhD in Cultural Anthropology from the State University of New York, University at Albany. After two years of teaching as an adjunct professor, she worked for many years as a researcher and writer in fundraising and development in the nonprofit sector. She is the author of the research monograph Assessment for Learning in Waldorf Classrooms (Academica Press, 2015). Recently retired, she lives in southern New Hampshire and writes on topics inspired by a lifelong love of reading.
“I believe a film critique is as timely and relevant today as it was when the films were released. Tolkien fans continue to discuss the films online on websites, blogs, forums, and YouTube clips. The continuing production of Tolkien spin-offs fuels strong interest in issues related to the adaptation of his work. People simply curious about Tolkien are faced with the choice of whether to read the book, a perennial bestseller in boostores, or watch the films, which are readily available with streaming. Given the confusion of Tolkien-related book vs. films commentary on the internet, for anyone seeking clarity this readable, fact-based comparison of the book with the films should be a welcome resource.”
— Sara Ciborski
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