This is one book to enjoy. Tom Bambadil is the best! Tolkien creates interesting stories with classic creatures that most people have a slight background of information to, thus not wasting time on creating a new world of different names.

It's around US$31.49 in Amazon.com

Gregory Maguire creates an Odyssey for Liir, the presumed son of the now deceased Wicked Witch of the West. Liir, with the burned, witch's broom and cape in hand, ventures off from the castle, Kiammo Ko, in search of his true heritage and the only friend he ever knew, Nor. Is Liir the son of the Witch, Elphaba? Is Nor his half sister? Will the broom work for him? With his knack for personification, Maguire puts his readers in the adventure, and the reader comes to believe there really is an Emerald City and Munchkinland where animals and dwarfs can talk, feel and battle for good and evil. Liir has several unforgetable affairs with humans; one affair with the female, "Quadling" named Candle, and another with a male, enemy-turned-allie, and soldier for the Emerald City, a "minor Menacier," Trism bon Cavalish. With the use of flashbacks, the years and adventures pass and in the end, Candle leaves a very special gift for Liir. This gift makes for an exceptional ending, a smash, and one this writer won'...

It's around US$28.46 in Amazon.com

In Canada, it costs about CDN$31.35 in Amazon.ca

While Tolkien's epic has its obvious flaws : the blatant racism,
simplistic politics and superiority of Westerners he beats you over the
head with, the wonderful setting is not to be denied.

Pitched battle as decoy is not too bad a stunt either, as they try and given Sam and Frodo more time to destroy the One Ring.

After this, the repercussions of this war for Middle-Earth are felt closer to home for the four fuzzy short guys.

It's around US$31.49 in Amazon.com

You can also buy this in Canada, but I don't know the price.

I actually disliked Lord of the Rings. It was just too long and too boring for my taste. BUT, The Hobbit was a joy to read. I originally saw the little cartoon of it as a kid and decided a few years ago to give this book a try. I was amazed that the song lyrics weren't made up, they are actually IN the novel.

Personally, this prequel to the famous Lord of the Rings series is my favorite book IN the series. The rest just wasn't interesting for me.

It's around US$26.39 in Amazon.com