After decades spent with the Bagginses of Bag End, the ring Bilbo had stolen from Smeagol has finally been found by the enemy - the returned Sauron. With Bilbo gone, Frodo and his friends must escape from the black riders and secret the ring to safety. 
 I'm finding it very interesting to read what is really the foundational modern fantasy story, and the basis (or at least the inspiration) of so much artistic work. 
 In particular, I kept thinking back to Wizard's First Rule. In both novels, the majority of the plot revolves around the characters travelling from Point A to a very far Point B, stuffed with a series of "events" (usually monster attacks) that are not particularly important to the plot. But while these were a complete drag in First Rule, feeling like an endless array of padding, it was actually fun reading in Fellowship. 
 Except for the damn elves. 
 Speaking of the elves, I got the point rather early on that elves are so totally magical and wonderful. I did not require the absolute bludgeoning that I was subjected to over the course of Fellowship. And while I can appreciate the appeal of ageless, immortal beings that sit around in lovely houses all day composing poetry, this is not the stuff of an interesting story.