“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
I found this book long and a bit difficult to read. Apparently, I read the abridged version, but I can't imagine what they took out.
Anyway, the end made up for the early dragging. The revenge in the end was worth the wait and very clever.