Leatherette, 322 pages

English language

Published Aug. 8, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

ISBN:
978-0-544-44973-2
Copied ISBN!

View on OpenLibrary

4 stars (347 reviews)

The Two Towers is the second book of J.R.R.Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy and picks up where The Fellowship of the Ring leaves off. The book begins as Frodo and Sam have left for Mordor and Merry and Pippin have been carried off by Orcs. Strider (Aragorn), Gimli, and Legolas go after Merry and Pippin.

This book is has a leatherette cover and is part of a deluxe pocket boxed set that includes the other two Lord of the Rings books as well as The Hobbit.

119 editions

It's the Lord of the Rings

4 stars

Well worth a read

The obvious criticisms of Tolkein are that he has political ideas that are prone to fascism - the right of Kings, the romance of Anglo-Saxon/Nordic nationalism etc. I don't think that this is helped by the fact that the world is very two-dimensional and the whole story is framed in a context of Good vs Evil. Especially working class characters in this book seem to "know their place" which is a bit dull, and the men of Harad and Rhûn are often portrayed as self-evidently inferior to the men of the West.

Having said that those aspects could have been so much more, all of the rest of it is just an excuse anyway to bring a handful of Hobbits and their companions halfway across a world which is rich in language, history and culture - to have these wholesome halflings make relationships with the Great …

reviewed The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings, part 2)

Review of 'The Two Towers' on Goodreads

4 stars

"The Two Towers" by J.R.R. Tolkien continues the rich, epic journey of "The Fellowship of the Ring," raising the stakes and plunging the heroes deeper into the fight for the fate of Middle Earth. This second volume is filled with memorable characters, rich landscapes, and poetic passages that shines through a somewhat odd and disjointed structure.

In this volume, the Fellowship splits into two parts. Book Three follows Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli as they chase after Merry and Pippin, kidnapped by Orcs and Urukai from Isengard, into Rohan, a fiercely independent kingdom under attack from Saurman. Book Four follows on parallel the story of Frodo and Sam as they move closer to Mordor to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom and along the way, they encounter a malevolent character lurking the shadows.

In a previous review of "The Fellowship of the Ring" I commented on the …

reviewed The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings, #2)

Review of 'The Two Towers' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars



My feelings for this book are more complicated than those for The Fellowship of the Ring. By necessity, this book is more dreary and is farther away from the wonderful and dreamy nature scenes of the first book.

I was surprised to find it wholly split in two parts, one following the rest of the fellowship and the very tail end checking back in on Frodo and Sam. You get quite far into the book without hearing about the ring-bearer at all.

My complicated feelings mainly come from the treatment of orcs as something outside of nature. It's gross to me that men who fight on the side of the enemy are assumed to be misguided or somehow manipulated into acting on that side, while orcs are killed without remorse and are assumed to be rotten without hope. In the movie I thought the friendly competition and banter about the …

reviewed The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings, #2)

Review of 'The Two Towers' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Ich habe einen Kritikpunkt für dieses Band; ich finds echt schade, dass Gandalf gegen den Balrog kämpft und dann ,,zurückgeschickt wird, weil sein Auftrag noch nicht zu Ende ist". Irgendwie halte ich generell nciht viel von den ,,Mächten des Lichts" und wie sie ex machina mäßig immer im rechten Augenblick ihre Züge machen. Aber die Story von Gandalf hätte mich mehr überzeugt, wenn er allein wieder zurückgefunden hätte, wenn das Teil seiner Entwicklung gewesen wäre. Gandalf kann auch zuviel, und weiß immer Bescheid, und das wird nur begründet mit seinem Auftrag. Da müsste man mal rangehen und generell die Zaubererfiguren von Tolkien kritisieren, die ja nichtmal als mächtige Menschen entworfen wurden, sondern als göttliche Wesen, die geschaffen wurden damit es auf Mittelerde was gegen die ,,bösen Mächte" da gibt. Alles ein bisschen platt ausgemalt find ich, hätte gerne Gandalf als wen mit eigenen Interessen und Zielen gehabt, auch wenn er …

reviewed The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings, #2)

Review of 'The Two Towers' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

2018 re-read: Really enjoying this re-read and the book is still excellent.

There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, even though the end may be dark.

Original reading in 2012: An epic story front to back. Everyone is in peril, everyone is battling and everything is exciting.

Review of 'The Two Towers' on Goodreads

4 stars

'Hey you!' he said roughly. 'What are you up to?'
'Nothing, nothing,' said Gollum softly. 'Nice Master!'
'I daresay,' said Sam. 'But where have you been to # sneaking off and sneaking back, you old villain?'
Gollum withdrew himself, and a green glint flickered under his heavy lids. Almost spider-like he looked now, crouched back on his bent limbs, with his protruding eyes. The fleeting moment had passed, beyond all recall.
'Sneaking, sneaking!' he hissed. 'Hobbits always so polite, yes. O nice hobbits! Sméagol brings them up secret ways that nobody else could find. Tired he is, thirsty he is, yes thirsty; and he guides them and he searches for paths, and they say sneak, sneak. Very nice friends, O yes my Precious, very nice.'
Sam felt a bit remorseful, though not more trustful. 'Sorry,' he said. 'I'm sorry, but you startled me out of my sleep. And I …

avatar for SlowRain

rated it

3 stars
avatar for pneuma

rated it

4 stars
avatar for averageatchris

rated it

4 stars
avatar for iamtom

rated it

5 stars
avatar for noisenerd

rated it

3 stars
avatar for flarion

rated it

5 stars
avatar for sfk

rated it

4 stars
avatar for sobral

rated it

3 stars
avatar for adastrame

rated it

2 stars
avatar for clayoat

rated it

3 stars
avatar for mhjlam

rated it

4 stars
avatar for habgelesen

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Tazlog

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Hannes

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Tommyyy

rated it

3 stars
avatar for caltf4

rated it

3 stars
avatar for flarion

rated it

5 stars
avatar for gerwitz

rated it

4 stars
avatar for fluxmind

rated it

1 star
avatar for TimMason

rated it

2 stars
avatar for Strakul

rated it

5 stars
avatar for EnglishMobster

rated it

5 stars
avatar for gaqzi

rated it

3 stars
avatar for markgalassi

rated it

5 stars
avatar for bayl.as

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jaczad

rated it

4 stars
avatar for quirk

rated it

5 stars
avatar for ashwinvis

rated it

5 stars
avatar for pulpdrew

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ckochx

rated it

5 stars
avatar for hossbeast

rated it

5 stars
avatar for pjmyburg

rated it

5 stars
avatar for vlindhol

rated it

5 stars
avatar for jtimon

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jtimon

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Aardinkvis

rated it

5 stars
avatar for buu709

rated it

3 stars
avatar for rainer

rated it

5 stars
avatar for moopet

rated it

3 stars
avatar for danwchan

rated it

4 stars
avatar for mattcen

rated it

4 stars
avatar for zhliu0124

rated it

5 stars
avatar for ursu

rated it

4 stars
avatar for woile

rated it

5 stars
avatar for tesserato

rated it

3 stars
avatar for mattmcmanus

rated it

5 stars
avatar for drb

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Dmoraldi

rated it

4 stars
avatar for betolima

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jsanz

rated it

5 stars
avatar for sethmdoty

rated it

5 stars
avatar for sir_diesalot

rated it

3 stars
avatar for saurabhs

rated it

5 stars
avatar for fjordic

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Keeh

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ryuslash

rated it

5 stars
avatar for anndra

rated it

3 stars
avatar for writh

rated it

5 stars
avatar for stupidlamb

rated it

5 stars
avatar for moonmoonmoon

rated it

3 stars
avatar for kimkarma66

rated it

4 stars
avatar for sdivyank

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Kahoaa

rated it

4 stars
avatar for stim

rated it

5 stars
avatar for anaulin

rated it

4 stars
avatar for hedgeling

rated it

3 stars
avatar for ngs

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Jarmer

rated it

5 stars
avatar for LuisVilla

rated it

4 stars
avatar for lijadora

rated it

3 stars
avatar for pearlbear

rated it

5 stars
avatar for tmarsh1024

rated it

5 stars
avatar for bokaltoft

rated it

5 stars
avatar for buffaloseven

rated it

4 stars
avatar for drakakis

rated it

5 stars
avatar for dan_oglesby

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Balint

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Dunedinmouse

rated it

5 stars
avatar for mjmenger

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Rbeagrie

rated it

5 stars
avatar for arclight

rated it

3 stars
avatar for jeffbell

rated it

4 stars
avatar for paulralph

rated it

4 stars
avatar for gontanon

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Jaytee

rated it

2 stars
avatar for rgibert

rated it

4 stars
avatar for squishymage42

rated it

4 stars
avatar for paulomalley

rated it

4 stars
avatar for brlockwood

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Talon2Claw

rated it

4 stars
avatar for TidePoolParty

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Amethystkat

rated it

4 stars
avatar for TheKimmy

rated it

5 stars
avatar for WestCoastChelle@books.theunseen.city

rated it

5 stars
avatar for joeyh

rated it

3 stars
avatar for mrkvm

rated it

5 stars
avatar for JeffLilly

rated it

5 stars
avatar for vertis

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Fireblend

rated it

3 stars
avatar for vincekd

rated it

3 stars
avatar for brunon

rated it

3 stars
avatar for unicornia

rated it

5 stars
avatar for joaotrindade

rated it

3 stars
avatar for dodgerwa

rated it

4 stars
avatar for mattyroses

rated it

5 stars
avatar for jasondlee

rated it

5 stars
avatar for hagen

rated it

3 stars
avatar for cwhitfield

rated it

5 stars
avatar for mikianes

rated it

5 stars
avatar for rene

rated it

5 stars
avatar for yallah110

rated it

5 stars
avatar for bion

rated it

4 stars
avatar for snarlinger

rated it

2 stars
avatar for wordeater

rated it

3 stars
avatar for kbreit

rated it

5 stars
avatar for xianny

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Realgnomidad

rated it

5 stars
avatar for rch

rated it

5 stars
avatar for manumateos

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Crepusculi

rated it

5 stars
avatar for tremain

rated it

3 stars
avatar for khohmann

rated it

4 stars
avatar for LeadAnew

rated it

5 stars
avatar for scbarton

rated it

5 stars
avatar for grant.limberg

rated it

5 stars
avatar for ranok

rated it

4 stars
avatar for bondolo

rated it

4 stars
avatar for CSND

rated it

3 stars
avatar for andrwcnln

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Painkiller

rated it

3 stars
avatar for Traiton

rated it

3 stars
avatar for zumbador

rated it

5 stars
avatar for governmint

rated it

5 stars
avatar for PPV

rated it

5 stars
avatar for dragna

rated it

3 stars
avatar for BobQuasit

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Stitch

rated it

3 stars
avatar for gadabyte

rated it

2 stars
avatar for timchi

rated it

3 stars
avatar for simme

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ookla_the_mok

rated it

5 stars
avatar for franksting

rated it

5 stars
avatar for bonzo22

rated it

5 stars
avatar for turmacar

rated it

4 stars
avatar for acaleyn

rated it

4 stars
avatar for TimmyMac

rated it

5 stars
avatar for nightgolfer

rated it

5 stars
avatar for gingerjoos

rated it

5 stars
avatar for joseprous

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Ghalidrim

rated it

5 stars
avatar for roofuskit

rated it

5 stars
avatar for enzyme

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ManyRoads

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Hyzie

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ckiser

rated it

4 stars
avatar for n-gons

rated it

4 stars
avatar for m4cb3th

rated it

5 stars
avatar for greystar

rated it

5 stars
avatar for aimeekgunther

rated it

4 stars
avatar for casocial

rated it

4 stars
avatar for doug

rated it

4 stars
avatar for rrreese

rated it

2 stars
avatar for JuniperusVox

rated it

4 stars
avatar for tlj

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jimfl

rated it

5 stars
avatar for irf23

rated it

5 stars
avatar for fryguy451

rated it

3 stars
avatar for sphenoid

rated it

5 stars
avatar for LiminalFlares

rated it

5 stars
avatar for rmcminds

rated it

5 stars
avatar for V171

rated it

4 stars
avatar for waconner

rated it

2 stars
avatar for trevor

rated it

4 stars
avatar for dev_tea

rated it

5 stars
avatar for darkejokero

rated it

5 stars
avatar for molgar

rated it

4 stars
avatar for MrKurtz

rated it

4 stars
avatar for engwalker

rated it

5 stars
avatar for EnglishMobster

rated it

5 stars
avatar for piotr

rated it

5 stars
avatar for ChadGayle

rated it

4 stars
avatar for fatalicus

rated it

4 stars
avatar for flobin

rated it

3 stars
avatar for GvS

rated it

5 stars
avatar for jlevesque

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Gretrascis

rated it

3 stars
avatar for feezus

rated it

2 stars
avatar for Rinn

rated it

5 stars
avatar for rbackman

rated it

5 stars
avatar for dankeller

rated it

5 stars
avatar for mphilpot

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Pablonaj

rated it

5 stars
avatar for MrDiamondJ

rated it

5 stars
avatar for ghostchaser

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Express7686

rated it

5 stars
avatar for syni44

rated it

4 stars
avatar for kneelz

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Nachtfalke

rated it

5 stars
avatar for s_l

rated it

3 stars
avatar for chaos_angel

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Psvensson

rated it

5 stars
avatar for dpendolino

rated it

5 stars
avatar for jhaase

rated it

4 stars
avatar for 57Kevin

rated it

5 stars
avatar for kaleb

rated it

5 stars
avatar for torbotijger

rated it

5 stars
avatar for CharlesCrow

rated it

3 stars
avatar for rleyton

rated it

5 stars
avatar for jolson

rated it

5 stars
avatar for HerrXRay

rated it

4 stars
avatar for vykend

rated it

4 stars
avatar for naught101

rated it

2 stars
avatar for bentreegecko

rated it

5 stars
avatar for termie

rated it

4 stars
avatar for SweetGravy

rated it

5 stars
avatar for VerinEmpire

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Andykz

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ward

rated it

1 star
avatar for psegado

rated it

5 stars
avatar for rosssi

rated it

5 stars
avatar for agindin

rated it

5 stars
avatar for PineappleButtonUp

rated it

5 stars
avatar for dr_semla

rated it

5 stars
avatar for flancian

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Maltita@lectura.social

rated it

4 stars
avatar for billiamthesecond

rated it

2 stars
avatar for camdotbio

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Njdevils95

rated it

5 stars
avatar for madklowns

rated it

5 stars
avatar for niibek

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Mickey

rated it

4 stars
avatar for coffeemonk

rated it

5 stars
avatar for kursis

rated it

5 stars
avatar for js

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Wim3141

rated it

5 stars
avatar for stalecooper

rated it

3 stars
avatar for Cozycello

rated it

5 stars
avatar for bzelkovich

rated it

5 stars
avatar for oobisan

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Tuhnsoo

rated it

5 stars
avatar for kosure

rated it

4 stars
avatar for acdha

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Tinche

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Anders_S

rated it

3 stars
avatar for kaleon666

rated it

3 stars
avatar for aguwumon

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Steven@books.theunseen.city

rated it

5 stars
avatar for t3mujin

rated it

4 stars
avatar for starscolapse

rated it

5 stars
avatar for bread

rated it

5 stars
avatar for smyth

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Crane

rated it

4 stars
avatar for arokk

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Mantrack

rated it

5 stars
avatar for jameswynn

rated it

5 stars
avatar for ike

rated it

5 stars
avatar for georgewhatup

rated it

5 stars
avatar for ianatxt

rated it

2 stars
avatar for GoblinReads

rated it

5 stars
avatar for gwcoffey

rated it

4 stars
avatar for flarion

rated it

5 stars
avatar for el_JAJE

rated it

5 stars
avatar for attelokin

rated it

5 stars
avatar for jjackunrau

rated it

4 stars
avatar for reverse

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Solysto

rated it

3 stars
avatar for WorzelFG

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Jack_Indaboks

rated it

5 stars
avatar for tgt

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Landrin201

rated it

4 stars
avatar for richardmorton

rated it

4 stars
avatar for xarvos

rated it

4 stars
avatar for bbbhltz

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jaredmoody

rated it

5 stars
avatar for jaczad

rated it

4 stars
avatar for k1dokuu

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Isoprenoid

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Angrboda

rated it

5 stars
avatar for lioman

rated it

5 stars
avatar for WoH3k

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Ramirenko

rated it

5 stars
avatar for vanirax

rated it

4 stars

Lists