The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

RATING: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 (4/5 moons)

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Published: September 25, 2001 (first published: Sept. 21, 1937)

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 330

 

 

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“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.”

 

SYNOPSIS:

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.” The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a “little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves.” He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, “looking for someone to share in an adventure,” Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit’s doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure.

THOUGHTS:

The Hobbit is indeed a timeless story; it tells about the adventure of someone who does not leave his comfort zone but have done great things when he believe in himself. I find this more appealing than a kick-ass main character. Bilbo’s adventure is like a representation of what introverts – including me – can do if they could some up the courage to leave their comfort zone. I feel inspired after reading this story.

I am always hesitant when reading classic novels. I have this fear of reading old English text and I feel like The Hobbit would have an old English type of writing. However, I was surprised by how easily I fly through this book. There is a good deal of introduction that immediately captures your interest and you’re instantly hook with the story.

The thing I like the most about this book is how it was told or the writing style of Tolkien. I read the book and I did not listen to the audiobook but I feel like Tolkien is reading the book in front of me. There are parts of the book where you feel like Tolkien is telling a legend or a myth in front of his colleagues. And that alone makes me love him so much because I feel connected not only to his characters but also to him. This is my first time reading a book told in this format and I feel like reading another book similar to this should surpass Tolkien, which I doubt, or I wouldn’t love it as much.

I love the characters, the plot and of course the story as a whole. This book sets the bar for The Lord of The Rings. If this book is sooooo good, then I expect LOTR to be better. I am looking forward to reading more of Tolkien’s work. Highly recommending this book. Forget about every book that I recommend, this book is the one. ❤

Till next time!

Maria ❤