March 2, 2003

Ending of the Third Book?
Thorden

Hi all - just discovered this board. Please forgive me if this is covered anywhere else on this page - too much to trawl through.
I have just finished reading 'Return of the King' and although I thought the idea was great to have a 'different' Shire ran by ruffians under Sharkey and the ensuing scourge - something mystifies me. I know that Frodo had been ill from time to time and that he still bore the pain from the attack at Weathertop but why leave the Shire? If he loved his home and his friends so much, why did he decide to leave to go to the Grey Havens? What was the Grey Havens? Was this a place to go and die?

It's just that Sam and his companions didn't appear to be over upset at Frodo going away for good. After such a long journey in such a detailed book, the end seemed to be so inconclusive. I know that it had to end somewhere but I felt a little disappointed at the way it ended.

I really would appreciate any comments on this to help get the ending right in my head. Nonetheless, this does not take anything away from what was truly, the greatest story ever told.
Did anyone read the appendixes?