The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
List Price:
Our Price: $15.23
You Save: $9.77 (39%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $11.61 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: J.R.R. TolkienIllustrator: J.R.R. Tolkien
Introduction: Christopher Tolkien
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-09-21
ISBN: 0618968636
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Book Reviews of The Hobbit
Book Review: "In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit"
Summary: 4 Stars
"In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit"
Bilbo Baggins was a respectable hobbit living in his hobbit-hole at Bag End. But things change when Gandalf the Wizard drops by--along with thirteen dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield. Suddenly, Bilbo finds himself on a pony heading away from the Shire and into the great unknown, to defeat a dragon and score treasure.
I Liked:
WOW! This was such a beautiful, enjoyable book!
The Hobbit has never been my favorite Tolkien novel, mostly because it seems so childish (of course, it was written for kids). But the audiobook (and listening to Eldest prior to this) gave me a new appreciation for this joy.
Firstly, there are the characters, primarily Bilbo. Bilbo really strikes me as a relatable guy. He's comfortable, content to live at home, and uninterested in adventures. He has to be pushed out of his home by Gandalf in order to get in on the fun. It reminds me so much of how I can be: content to go along, not trying new things until my sister forces me on a new path.
My favorite character, though, is Gandalf. I like how quirky he is, how smart and even caring he is to Bilbo. Gandalf knew that Bilbo was perfect for the job and wouldn't let Bilbo back out no matter what. Plus, it's awesome to see recurring characters from the Lord of the Rings.
The story itself is so wonderful! Tolkien writes in a third person omniscient, which allows him to employ a great sense of humor. I love how he often directs comments to the audience (explaining hobbits, trolls, and the like) and how light-hearted the tone is. As for the story proper: a pleasure! There is so much adventure, excitement, intrigue...I've read this before, but I still learned new things or was wowed all over again. I loved the tale of how Bilbo and the dwarves evaded the trolls (so simple, yet showcases how brilliant Gandalf was), how Bilbo got the ring from Gollum, and the trek through the Forest (so scary!).
And I love how this story fits into Tolkien's vision for Middle Earth. Elrond, Wood Elves, Mirkwood (Thranduil!), Gollum, the White Council...all these and more make appearances.
And lastly, the narrator...ah, he was such a pleasure to listen to! I loved his voice, and I adored how he sung the songs and poems in the book! Not many could pull it off so convincingly!
I Didn't Like:
I don't have a lot of complaints, but there are a few. Firstly, there are thirteen dwarves, and most of them have little to no character. Fili and Kili were young, Bombur fat, Balin I believe had the best eyesight. Only Thorin had any development.
One thing I've never liked about the Lord of the Rings or much of Tolkien's works was all the poetry. The Hobbit was no different; a few poems were great, but after a while, I grew tired of the lapsing into a poem.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
None.
None.
While not graphic, there are some intense battles between goblins and the troop in the Misty Mountains and in the final battle.
Overall:
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I've never been a Hobbit fan, but this time around, I might be converted. It's fun, it's enjoyable, it's a piece of your childhood in novel form. Highly recommended for those who want to be kids again.
Brought to you by:
*C.S. Light*
Classics Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Classics Books
Native sonby Richard Wright
Perennial Library; Published: 1987; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.75
Native Son: And How Bigger Was Bornby Richard Wright
Perennial; Published: 1993-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $60.00
Raphael and the Noble Taskby Catherine Salton
Harper; Published: 2000-10-24; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.49
Price in other shops:
Island (Perennial Classics)by Aldous Huxley
Harper Perennial Modern Classics; Published: 2002-07-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
A Tree Grows in Brooklynby Betty Smith
Harper; Published: 2001-11-13; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $15.17
Price in other shops:
The Great Divorce CDby C. S. Lewis
HarperAudio; Published: 2003-11-25; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $13.01
Price in other shops:
Great Expectationsby Charles Dickens
Macmillan Pub Co; Published: 1979-06; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
This Side of Paradiseby Fitzgerald
Scribner Paper Fiction; Published: 1988-09-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.95
Price in other shops:
Black Coffee (Poirot)by Agatha Christie
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2002-12-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $68.32
Slouching Towards Bethlehem (1960s)by Joan Didion
Flamingo; Published: 2001-04-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $22.25
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrunby J.R.R. Tolkien
Houghton Mifflin; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Published: 2009-05-05; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.00
Price in other shops:
The Atlas of Middle-Earth (Revised Edition)by Karen Wynn Fonstad
Mariner Books; Published: 2001-04-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.87
Price in other shops:
The Children of Hurinby J.R.R. Tolkien
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Published: 2007-04-17; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.90
Price in other shops:
Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-earthby Christopher Tolkien, J.R.R. Tolkien
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Published: 2001-09-19; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.00
Price in other shops:
The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, Part 3)by J.R.R. Tolkien
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Published: 1988-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, Part 2)by J.R.R. Tolkien
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Published: 1988-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.50
Price in other shops:
The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, Part 1)by J.R.R. Tolkien
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Published: 1988-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.86
Price in other shops:
The Silmarillionby J.R.R. Tolkien
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Published: 2004-11-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $22.99
Price in other shops:
The Lord of the Rings (50th Anniversary Edition)by J.R.R. Tolkien
Houghton Mifflin Co; Published: 2004-10-21; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $59.98
Price in other shops:
The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary, One Vol. Editionby J.R.R. Tolkien
Mariner Books; Published: 2005-10-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops: