The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Hobbit
Book Review: A great begining to the most popular fantasy of all time
Summary: 5 Stars
Bilbo Baggins is one of the great anti-heroes of modern literature. A somewhat self-centered but likable fellow with aspirations that rarely extends beyond a good pipe or his next meal, thrust without warning nor apology into a quest on par with those he would spin tales of over the course of an evening after dinner. There is no prolonged set-up in The Hobbit. The author starts us off with a brief introduction and immediately proceeds to completely foul up his protagonist's current life and foreseeable future by commandeering him on the afore-mentioned quest. Thus the fun begins.
Along the way Bilbo (a very small man, in both stature and mindset, and one with no desire to change either - thank you very much!) meets trolls and orcs and goblins and a even a huge, very old, and verrrry greedy red dragon who has no taste for thieves, but a taste for hobbits. Bilbo is so far out of his league, and caught up in world events of a world he had rather wished NOT to know of that it is a wonder he stays sane at all through his perilous journey "there and back again."
Everyone should read this book. Tolkien scoots us along (much faster than his drawling The Lord of the Rings pace) in a delightful fantasy filled with magic and wizards and creatures great and small, dangling us precariously sometimes over the edge of a few intersecting plot points (like snapping alligators in a pit) only to not-so-politely dump us off safe and snug at home once again with a few extra coins in our pockets and a lifetime of fresh stories to tell to everyone who was too timid to take the journey with us (and our strange new friends).
This book is a classic because it is easy to read, enchanting, and fun. It started the whole of 'Middle Earth' which in-turn begat the whole of fantasy role playing (an annually multi-billion dollar industry now). This is the Bible of modern fantasy, and one that will make your children laugh and cry and remember the tales contained herein long into their adulthood. I simply cannot recommend a better book to read to your children when they are old enough to understand the concepts this book describes so vividly.
Book Review: A wonderful introduction to the world of Tolkien
Summary: 5 Stars
I am the type of reader who will pick up a book and spend months reading it. I go through books in different cycles. Sometimes I can't put them down. Sometimes it takes me forever to finish them. In regards to The Hobbit, I can say that I have read and reread this wonderful book many times. While I have read The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and most would curse me in some form of literary blasphemy, I have to admit that I enjoyed this book more than the trilogy. If I remember correctly I've read it about five or six times. (Coming from a very inconsistent reader, it has to be a pretty good recommendation.) While I loved the trilogy, I did find that the pacing of The Hobbit to be much better, and aside from the fact that this book was geared more towards children, I found the story to be exciting and very entertaining to read. (I suppose I am a bit biased since I watched the cartoon movie from when I was a child and this film greatly fascinated me, enough to end up reading the novel.) Regardless of the fact that this novel was geared towards a younger audience, one can't deny that it holds its own as a great tale of adventure and personal growth. Bilbo Baggins' transformation is one that all readers can relate to. One can't deny the impact Tolkien's work has had on the world of literature, and this piece is no exception. In all this book is a wonderful introduction to the world of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle Earth and whether or not readers venture into his other books, they will find this one to be entertaining and exciting to read.Book Review: Adventure and the Individual
Summary: 5 Stars
For over fifty years, THE HOBBIT has been a wonderful introduction to the world of literature. The humorous tone and fantastic imagery of dragons, lost treasure, magic rings and swords adds up to much more than mere entertainment for children: they work to present the timeless themes of heroism and identity.
By now, the comfortable life of Mr. Bilbo Baggins in his hobbit hole at the Shire is quite famously well known. Born into a respectable family and inheriting both his home and country gentleman status, Bilbo sees little need for new experiences. So when the wizard Gandalf brings the thirteen dwarves to Bilbo's home inviting him on a quest to recover a treasure from a fierce dragon, they find Bilbo unwilling to take risk. Moreover he lacks the self confidence to test his way of thinking against the wider world.
The small hobbit is surprised to find himself running out the door, without any worldly processions, and leaving his home to set out into the unknown. Thus begins one of the motifs running through out the story; in facing the unexpected an individual discovers new strength. Soon he is confronting dangerous trolls and cruel goblins. When the dwarves prove unable to make good decisions or act effectively, Bilbo must go deep into his inner reserve of courage and common-sense to lead his friends to safety. To the surprise of Bilbo and constant delight of readers; with greater danger comes greater resolve and wisdom to do what must be done.
Finally Bilbo enters the heart of the Lonely Mountain and pauses to consider this crucial moment; will he go forward with his plan to confront the dragon Smaug, or turn back out of fear. The decision alone in the tunnel is the defining moment in his ability to shape his identity and assert power over his own fate. What is more Bilbo knows it, and going on in that moment reassures his strength of character for the rest of his life.
In presenting his classic story of a small, common person finding identity through heroism and grand adventure, J.R.R. Tolkien gave us a powerful way to learn about ourselves. The book was a favorite of mine growing up and has been a major influence in my writing. I hope you will give this book to a young person and share the magic of literature through this extraordinary adventure.
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Book Review: Adventures of Bilbo Bagins with Thorin and Co.
Summary: 4 Stars
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is a great book "you read before bed". I would recommend this for ages 10+. You could also say that there are three different climaxes, in the beginning, middle, and end, so this is a long, detailed book. The plot is detailed and is a classic example of fantasy literature. The book starts at the house of Bilbo Bagins, which is in a place where houses are built in hills and the people are very short or hobbits. His peaceful life is shattered by a party of dwarves and a wizard who takes Bilbo on a adventure through the Misty Mountains: with cold winters and hordes of evil goblins, Mirkwood: a forest where giant spiders and bloodthirsty elves live, and last, the Lonely Mountain, where a great treasure is guarded by the dangerous dragon, Smaug. Soon a series of events lead to the ultimate treasure hunt for an unsuspecting Bilbo Bagins. But as interesting as the settings are, it is the characters that bring the reader inside the story.
One of the main characters is Bilbo Bagins. Bilbo is short so he is shy and wants to look big at times, yet he is shy in most other scenes. Gandalf is the wizard of the party and is the wisest. He saves the party many times and is a great negotiator. Thorin and the many other dwarves are the others in the party. They are seen as a bit short, fat, but strong warriors. Thorin and the other dwarves love the adventure and each one has unique traits that give the story a variety. Many of these characters bring the reader inside the story, and combined with the setting makes The Hobbit a classic fantasy.
All in the fun, classic fantasy book "you read before bed" The Hobbit.
Book Review: An 11-year-old's review
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first picked up this book at the bookstore, with my parents, I didn't know what to expect. I decided to get The Hobbit because of its immense popularity. Being 7 years old at the time, this was one of my first 300+ page chapter books. The introduction was simple enough: A hobbit named Bilbo Baggins was sitting lazily outside his hobbit hole, with a long pipe, when the wizard, Gandalf, came by. Our first exposure to Gandalf is quite a bit different however. "Gandalf came by. Galdalf! If you heard only a quarter of what I heard about him, and I have only heard very little of what there is to hear, you would be prepared for any sort of remarkable tale." To the reader, Bilbo Baggins seemed the lazy type -- content with his quiet life, baking seedcakes, smoking pipes, and living in his father's enormous hobbit hole. One must question Gandalf's motives for choosing such a person to go on a daunting quest. The "daunting quest" is helping 13 dwarves, including the great Thorin Oakensheid, recapture their gold from the dragon, Smaug. Smaug smashed down on the merry village of Dale, utterly destroying the village itself, eating up all its inhabitants, and (to add insult to injury) taking all of the gold and moving it into the Lonely Mountain. Thorin himself was the grandson of The King Under the Mountain, and so was even more outraged at this attack. After eating most of his food, the dwarves sang a song, which made Bilbo feel many adventurous things. Hobbits do not normally even appreciate this type of music. Bilbo must use all of the qualities he never knew he had (i.e., bravery, wisdom, ingenuity, and unselfishness). Along the way, a major part of the book takes place in Bilbo's legendary meeting with Gollum, a peculiar underground creature who calls himself "My Precious". Here Bilbo picks up a magic ring that gives the wearer the power of invisibility. Now, to fully understand the curiousness of a hobbit going on an adventure, you may want to know details about them. Hobbits are half the height of humans, love to eat, dress in bright colors such as green and yellow, live in holes in the ground, and hate adventures or anything that is unpredictable. The Tooks are an exception to this, and are the unpopular relations of the Bagginses. This is why Bilbo has his "Tookish" side. Another amazing part is Bilbo's memorable confrontation with Smaug. I would recommend this book for all ages. As this was also the intended age, since J.R.R. Tolkien wrote this book for his children (unlike the darker, yet still fabulous Lord of the Rings). And many other children will probably also enjoy this book. Lastly, I have to say that my soft cover edition of The Hobbit has lasted four years, an amazing feat for a soft cover book.