The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Hobbit
Book Review: Fast delivery, product as discribed
Summary: 5 Stars
Although a used book it was in very good condition. I read this book many years ago but my wife and daughter have never read it. After seeing the Lord of the Rings movies they now want to explore the story with the detail the Tolkien put into his work. I am sure they will enjoy it.Book Review: Fun fantasy story
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is great for anyone who is interested in fantasy or Lord of the Rings but doesn't want to take the time in effort to read them.It is also good as a prelude to the series altough I'd recommend the Silmarillion too.It is a short little book about a sensible and yet adventurous Hobbit who goes on an adventure with Gandalf the wizard and a group of dwarves to find a lost treasure guarded by a dragon in a far away land.There are many references to the Lord of the Rings books such as the finding of the Ring and Gollum,Mirkwood and the wood elves(Legolas' kin),and Sauron(the Necromancer).It is a fun book that you can probably finish in a week without too much effort.Not deep like the Lord of the Rings,but fun,active,and adventurous so it's great for kids as well as adults.I was disappointed with the ending,however,because it did seem rather anti-climactic.Book Review: Going on an adventure!
Summary: 4 Stars
I read "The Hobbit" because I had already read "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and adored it. Therefore, it's hard for me to think of The Hobbit without comparing and contrasting it to the trilogy. First off, The Hobbit bears all of Tolkien's genius: descriptive passages that are more like a painting than a paragraph, clever poetry and songs, and an imaginary world that has come to life with Tolkien's inventive language and culture of the characters. When one reads Tolkien, it's like reading about a real place. However, the one thing that I really did not like about "The Hobbit," especially in comparison to LOTR, is that there is very little character development. I often had trouble keeping track of names because the characters just don't do much besides have adventures. On the whole, I give this book 4 stars for its creativity, originality, adventurous plot, and beautiful language.Book Review: Great Book!
Summary: 5 Stars
A wonderful book filled with lots of excitement.
This is only a small preview of what's in store in the following books.
It will keep you reading!
Strongly Recommended!!
Book Review: Great Intro to Tolkien's Work
Summary: 5 Stars
An enthralling tale of Bilbo and his epic adventure, "The Hobbit" lets the reader explore the wonders of Tolkien's mythological Middle Earth. A prequel to "Lord of the Rings" (which I have already read), "The Hobbit" provides a much lighter tone than his more famous epic trilogy, but also provides the same wonder and excitement. "The Hobbit" may be more of a children's novel, but it sets the stage for his more ambitious Middle Earth trilogy, and is anything but childish in its storytelling.
"The Hobbit" is a great introduction to Tolkien's Middle Earth and the rich tapestry of legends and songs that imbue a sense of aura to his world. Tolkien knows how to pique the imagination, and his vivid descriptions of dragons, elves, goblins, and the like let the reader's imagination run wild. Yes, this may be geared toward children, but any adult will thoroughly enjoy this reading as well.
Perhaps Tolkien's most important lesson is that it does not take a strong, valiant warrior to become a hero. Indeed, Bilbo is the antitheses of a typical hero, being small of stature, pudgy, and reluctant to explore the world. Yet, when all the chips are down, it is this brave little hobbit who turns the epic quest of ancient treasure from mere certain death to an opportunity for success. Sure, he didn't single-handedly deliver the goods or slay the dragon, but he provided an instrumental part to their success, a success that seemed nearly impossible at the onset.
Tolkien also warns about the effect of money and greed. As the dwarves (with Bilbo's aforementioned help) are ready to claim the spoils of their victory, their intense longing for treasure turns into unabashed greed. Indeed, if not for an outside event, this greed would have caused them to war against their allies. Even Bilbo is tempted by the treasures and outright steals a priceless jewel. It seems that no one is immune to the allure of treasure and gold.
Overall, this is a great introduction to Tolkien's work. And, unlike myself, I would recommend reading this novel first before delving into the "Lord of the Rings."