The week of Sept. 25 through Oct. 1 celebrates the multitude of books that have been either challenged, banned, or discriminated against due to the stories they contain. Among the list of books banned from libraries and school districts, most had complaints about vulgar language or sexually explicit scenes. However, one book in particular didn’t seem to fit the mold. The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien, had been burned in 2001 because it was deemed as ‘satanic’.

    To me, The Lord of the Rings was practically the Harry Potter of my dad’s generation — a fantasy novel that followed an unlikely hero as he embarked on a perilous journey to triumph over evil and defeat the ultimate villain. It was the story of an underdog who, with help from friends, surpassed all expectations and saved the day.

     First published in 1954, The Lord of the Rings is a novel divided into six books and three parts. Set in Middle Earth, the story revolves around a young hobbit named Frodo and the treacherous journey he must undertake to save Middle Earth. Throughout the novel, the characters worked to defeat evil and overcome all of the obstacles in their way, even with the odds stacked against them.

     When I read that a group of people had burned The Lord of the Rings in 2001 because it was ‘satanic’, I could hardly believe it. Sure, the novel contained its fair share of fight scenes and battles, but nothing that would have labeled it in such a harsh way. In fact, the author, J.R.R. Tolkien, was a devout Roman Catholic. Many of his books convey Christian themes, and he even played a significant part in converting author C.S. Lewis from Atheism to Christianity. The novel is full of loyalty, strength, and  courage, and while it contains what could be described as a devilish antagonist, the characters overcome the evil before them to restore peace and harmony within the community.

     In my experience, The Lord of the Rings feels like stepping into an old fairytale, complete with classical writing, poems, and characters fresh out of legend. From Frodo the hobbit, a small, almost human creature with large hairy feet, to eerily perfect elves and mangled goblins, the characters that partake in the adventure are truly fantasy yet still very relatable, struggling through tasks that most have experienced in their lifetimes..

    I would recommend The Lord of the Rings to any and all readers. The novel contains the perfect balance between battles, friendship, and love, providing something for everyone to enjoy.