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He is simple. He is humble. Power and wealth have little attraction for him. He is kind. He takes less than his share, and that that he takes he gives away.
He is a peacemaker. Though wrongly imprisoned, he bears no grudge and desires no vengeance for the wrongs done to him. Rather he apologizes for stealing food, and offers to repay in recompense far more than he took. Though mistreated, he harbors no enmity. He never puts himself forward, but he never shirks when others do. How often do we fantasize about being this different sort of hero, and yet how much better we would be if we did? How much better off would we be if we, like Thorin could declare in our hearts, “There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West.
Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. What profit would we really have if we had in great measure the power to ‘beat people up good’? What real use could we put it too? How much better off would we be individually and as a people if we most desired to be graced with Bilbo’s virtues, rather than Achilles speed, strength, and skill with arms?
How much less mature does this mere children’s book of a well lit-world cause our darker fantasies to seem? Now, I admit I am biased in my review. I read this book 36 times before the age of I broke the spines of three copies of it with continual reading. Yet in my defense I will say that I’m considered only a moderate fan of the book by many.
I’ve known several devotees of the book who, like the protagonist of Bradbury’s ‘Fahrenheit ‘, can recite whole chapters from memory – ensuring that this would be one of the few books that would survive the sudden destruction of all the world’s technology if only the world’s story tellers survived. If you are inclined to think no book can be that good, and that my review overhypes it, so much the better. Go in with low expectations so as to be certain that they will be met or exceeded.
Forget all I have said save that, “If you haven’t read it, you should, because it is quite enjoyable. View all comments. If you’ve ever wondered which literary world would be the best to live in, wonder no longer, cause there’s a BookTube Video to answer that! The Written Review : In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.
Bilbo Baggins, living comfortably in his hobbit-hole in Bag End, finds himself on the wrong end of an adventure. Gandalf the Grey has come recruiting for a burglar willing to raid the home of Smaug a dragon whose taken over the ancestral home of the dwarves. These dwarves, who If you’ve ever wondered which literary world would be the best to live in, wonder no longer, cause there’s a BookTube Video to answer that!
These dwarves, who number thirteen, are deeply suspicious and are unwilling to proceed unless their number is rounded up. Evil is afoot and they refuse to ignore common sense aka superstition.
Gandalf soon finds that persuading Bilbo ends up a quest in and of itself! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things!
Make you late for dinner! Is it nice, my preciousss? Is it juicy? Is it scrumptiously crunchable? And yet, despite the hardships, trials and tribulations. Bilbo finds himself eagerly plunging ahead. Already he was a very different hobbit from the one that had run out without a pocket-handkerchief from Bag-End long ago. He had not had a pocket-handkerchief for ages. I’ve read it so many times , and yet each time through, I find myself just absolutely enamored with the book as if it is the first time.
Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on? It just has such a wonderful feel – I want to read it over and over and over again. I absolutely love Bilbo’s reluctance to adventure – he and I would get along splendidly!
So many characters are just ready to run off and do things My blankets? My turtle??? You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after. And, above all, the world that J. Tolkien is absolutely magical.
Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars, not if you care for such things. Such an enchanting book – one that I truly, truly treasure. May the hair on your toes never fall out! Audiobook Commnets Read by Rob Inglis You’d think that the narrator would be able to muster SOME enthusiasm for such a wonderful story. View all 56 comments. Dear Tolkien fans: please don’t leave a comment if you’re going to spew hatred – I’ll just delete it.
I’m glad you enjoy Tolkien’s work, but I am actually allowed to feel this way, no matter how scandalous you find that idea. Thank you. To be fair, it really is a cool story.
To be able to conjure a whole new, magical world and all these creatures in it.. But it is also a very long-winded story and I Dear Tolkien fans: please don’t leave a comment if you’re going to spew hatred – I’ll just delete it. But it is also a very long-winded story and I found myself struggling to get the job done. For me, The Hobbit was not an engaging story — I was distracted constantly and kept missing paragraphs.
The story in itself is pretty great, but the way it is told makes the magic disappear. I am not quite sure how to explain. Maybe it was the way it was written, or the fact that they take a long time before anything happens. And the songs! Dear Merlin, the songs! I felt like I was in a ruddy musical.
I wish I did. In any case, still a cool story. Nov 05, Will Byrnes rated it it was amazing Shelves: fiction , literary-fiction , all-time-favorites-fiction , young-adult. In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Books exist in time and place and our experience of them is affected by the specific time and place in which we encounter them.
Sometimes an uplifting or inspiring book can change the path of a life that has wandered onto a wrong course. Sometimes a book, discovered early on, can form part of the foundation of who we are. Or, discovered late, can offer insight into the journey we have taken to date. Sometimes a book is just a book. But not The Hob In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. But not The Hobbit. Not for me. In January, , I pulled out my forty-year old copy in anticipation of seeing the recently released Peter Jackson film.
It is a substantial book, heavy, not only with its inherent mass, but for the weight of associations, the sediment of time. The book itself is a special hard-cover edition published in , leather bound, in a slipcase, the booty of new love from that era. The book, while victim to some internal binding cracks aren’t we all? Not surprising.
I had read the story six times and been there and back again with this particular volume five. Tolkien – image from Vision. I was then a high school underclassman, and my eyes were drawn to it at a school book fair. That was probably the ideal age, for me anyway, to gain an introduction to Tolkien. Not too far along into adolescence and an appreciation of the reality of the world to have completely tarnished my capacity for child-like wonder.
That is what one must bring to a reading of this book, openness and innocence. Tolkien was a step sidewise for me, as I was a fan of the science fiction of that and prior eras. It was also, of course, a gateway drug for the grander addiction of LOTR, still my favorite read of all time. One might think that looking at this book again with old, weary fresh eyes might lend new insight.
After all, I have read literally thousands of books since, and have picked up at least a little critical capacity. And yes, there are things I notice now that perhaps skipped past back then. Of course that begs a specification of which back then one considers.
While I first read the book as a high-schooler, I read it again when I was gifted with this beautiful volume, in my twenties. That makes two readings. But there would be more. I well recall reading the book aloud while sitting in a chair by my son’s bed. And yes, each of the major characters was delivered with a distinct voice. I went as deep as I could for Gandalf. I vaguely recall giving the dwarves a Scottish burr.
Bilbo was definitely a tenor. My Gollum was remarkably like the sound of the one created by Andy Serkisssssss. Of course, my son was not the last to arrive at the gathering. Some years later there was a daughter, and more bedside theater. It was a bit more of a struggle then. Life was rather hectic. Nerves were often frayed.
Sleep was in short supply. And there were far too many times when my eyes closed before those of my little gingersnap. But reading it that fourth time, one couldn’t help but notice the absence of any significant females.
Who might my little girl relate to here? It is certainly possible for folks to identify with characters of another gender, but the stark absence of representatives of the female persuasion did stand out.
Somehow I managed to keep my eyes open long enough to get through the volume. But the party was not yet complete. There would be one more arrival, and one more opportunity to sit on or near a daughter’s bed and read aloud, sometimes to an upturned, eager face, sometimes to a riot of ringlets as she settled.
My capacity for consciousness remained an issue. By then, my voice had also suffered a bit with the years, the reward for too many cigarettes, too much yelling, too much ballpark whistling, and the usual demise of age, so it took a fair bit more effort and strain than reading it aloud had done previously. I am pretty certain I made it through that third time aloud. You probably know the story, or the broad strokes anyway. In the quiet rural village of Hobbiton Across the Water, in a land called Middle Earth, an unpresupposing everyman, Bilbo Baggins, lives a quiet existence.
He has a smidgen of wanderlust in him, the genetic gift of ancestors on the Took branch of his family tree, but he is mostly content to enjoy hearty meals and a good pipe. One day, Gandalf, a lordly, father-figure wizard Bilbo has known for many years, comes a-calling and Bilbo’s life is upended. Gandalf is helping a group of dwarves who are on a quest. Led by Thorin Oakenshield, a dwarf king, they aim to return to their home, inside the Lonely Mountain, somehow rid the place of Smaug, the dragon who has taken up residence, and regain the land and incredible treasure that is rightfully theirs.
Gandalf has recommended that Bilbo accompany the group, as a burglar. Bilbo, of course, has never burgled a thing in his life, and is horrified by the prospect. But, heeding his Tookish side, Bilbo joins the dwarves and the adventure is on.
One need not go far to see this as a journey of self-discovery, as Bilbo finds that there is more to him than even he realized. This raises one question for me. How did Gandalf know that Bilbo would be the right hobbit for the job?
Bilbo faces many challenges and I betray no secrets for any who have not just arrived on this planet by reporting that Bilbo’s dragons, real and symbolic, are ultimately slain and he returns home a new, and somewhat notorious hobbit. Bilbo serves well as the everyman, someone who is quite modest about his capacities, but who rises to meet the challenges that present, acting in spite of his fear and not in the absence of it.
He is someone we can easily care and root for. Elements abound of youthful adventure yarns, treasure, a map to the treasure, a secret entrance that requires solving a riddle to gain entry, a spooky forest, foolishness and greed among those in charge, a huge battle, and, ultimately, good sense triumphing over evil and stupidity.
Sorry, no damsels in distress. Rivendell remains a pretty special place. If I am ever fortunate enough to be able to retire, I think I would like to spend my final days there, whether the vision seen by Tolkien or the Maxfield Parrish take as seen in the LOTR films. There are magical beings aplenty here. Hobbits, of course, and the wizard and dwarves we meet immediately. A shape shifting Beorn assists the party but remains quite frightening.
There are trolls, giant spiders, giants, goblins, were-wolf sorts called wargs, talking eagles, a communicative, if murderous dragon, elves of both the helpful and difficult sorts, and a few men, as well. Then there is Gollum. Arguably there is a lot more going on with Gollum, an erstwhile hobbit riven by the internal conflict of love and hate, corrupted, but not without a salvageable soul. He is the single least YA element in this classic yarn, one of the things that elevates this book from the field and makes it a classic.
The Hobbit was written before Tolkien’s ambitious Lord of the Rings. While there are many references to classic lore, the bottom line is that this is a YA book. It is easy to read, and to read aloud, something that is not the case with LOTR. I know. It remains a fun read, even on the sixth or so, I may have dipped in again somewhere along the line time through.
Were I reading it today for the first time, I would probably give it four stars. But as it bears the weighty treasure of memory and fond association, I must keep it at five. If you are reading this for the first time as an adult, or an antique, the impact is likely to be different for you. If you are a younger sort, of the adolescent or pre-adolescent persuasion, particularly if you are a boy, it might become an invaluable part of your life.
Maybe one day you can sit by your child’s or grandchild’s bedside and be the person who reads these words to them for the first time, ” In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit ” and begin the adventure again. To see the glowing young eyes as the tale unfolds is nothing less than absolutely precious. He includes in his review outstanding, informative and very entertaining excerpts and comments re info on The Hobbit from JRRT’s son Christopher.
It is just the thing for bedtime, yours or your child’s. Adding it here was done with Rand’s kind permission. There is a dragon’s trove of treasures here. You might want to listen to your Tookish side, and go exploring. There are some days when I actually think that the humble Hobbit is superior to it’s bohemoth brother, The Lord of the Rings. It’s a much tighter story, and Bilbo is a much more appeal character than is Frodo.
I also just love this poem, from The Hobbit Far over the misty mountains cold To dungeons deep and caverns old We must away ere break of day To seek the pale enchanted gold. The dwarves of yore made mighty spells, While hammers fell like ringing bells In places deep, where dark things sleep, I There are some days when I actually think that the humble Hobbit is superior to it’s bohemoth brother, The Lord of the Rings.
The dwarves of yore made mighty spells, While hammers fell like ringing bells In places deep, where dark things sleep, In hollow halls beneath the fells. For ancient king and elvish lord There many a gleaming golden hoard They shaped and wrought, and light they caught To hide in gems on hilt of sword.
On silver necklaces they strung The flowering stars, on crowns they hung The dragon-fire, in twisted wire They meshed the light of moon and sun. Far over the misty mountains cold To dungeons deep and caverns old We must away, ere break of day, To claim our long-forgotten gold. Goblets they carved there for themselves And harps of gold; where no man delves There lay they long, and many a song Was sung unheard by men or elves. The pines were roaring on the height, The winds were moaning in the night.
The fire was red, it flaming spread; The trees like torches blazed with light. The bells were ringing in the dale And men looked up with faces pale; The dragon’s ire more fierce that fire Laid low their towers and houses frail. The mountain smoked beneath the moon; The dwarves, they heard the tramp of doom. They fled their hall to dying fall Beaneath his feet, beneath the moon. Far over the misty mountains grim To dungeons deep and caverns dim We must away, ere break of day, To win our harps and gold from him View all 45 comments.
What makes The Hobbit such a seminal work in the fantasy genre? Is it the nine hours of over-budget, sensorially explosive movies by Peter Jackson? Is it a complex tale of multiple human kingdoms slaughtering each other for an Iron Throne with buckets of blood and guts and plenty of sex? Is it simply wonderful writing. As simple and boring as that. Does that mean that I was incredibly disappointed in the movie adaptation not to say abortion?
No, they are great too. But the seminal work, the Divine Comedy that created the language and inspiration for George R. Unlike Peter Jackson’s version, there are no orcs and the element of danger is more psychological than psychical: Bilbo Baggins is battling his fears and his provincialism and growing up. The Hobbit should be read as the Odyssey of Middle Earth – a voyage of self-learning and maturation that is more about the monsters in Bilbo’s imagination than those encountered in his baptismal voyage into the unknown with Gandalf.
Bilbo does encounter some monsters and even outsmarts Smaug the Dragon wow, I mean what a perfect name for a dragon! More evocative than Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion in my opinion – and again would they even have existed had Smaug not preceded them?
He is not the same person he was before leaving. He is Ulysses without a Penelope waiting for him unless his pipe is secretly called Penelope in his expanded imagination or his Penelope is a symbol of his vast library in Rivendell.
In literature, there is nothing quite like the Hobbit in its simplicity and beauty and its symbolic voyage: we are of course introduced to the elves, the humans, the dwarves The Hobbit is about one small hobbit fighting his greatest fears View all 34 comments. This book was originally meant for the pleasure of children and was created with that idea in mind. Even so, it can be enjoyed by all ages. Regardless of your age, or affinity for the fantasy genre, there has an experience of an adventure that everyone can take away from reading this.
It’s certainly worth reading. So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their endings. View all 11 comments. It was published on 21 September to wide critical acclaim, being nominated for the Carnegie Medal and awarded a prize from the New York Herald Tribune for best juvenile fiction. The book remains popular and is recognized as a classic in children’s literature.
Gandalf tricks Bilbo Baggins into hosting a party for Thorin Oakenshield and his band of dwarves, who sing of reclaiming the Lonely Mountain and its vast treasure from the dragon Smaug. The dwarves ridicule the idea, but Bilbo, indignant, joins despite himself.
The group travels into the wild, where Gandalf saves the company from trolls and leads them to Rivendell, where Elrond reveals more secrets from the map. When they attempt to cross the Misty Mountains they are caught by goblins and driven deep underground. Although Gandalf rescues them, Bilbo gets separated from the others as they flee the goblins. Lost in the goblin tunnels, he stumbles across a mysterious ring and then encounters Gollum, who engages him in a game of riddles.
As a reward for solving all riddles Gollum will show him the path out of the tunnels, but if Bilbo fails, his life will be forfeit. With the help of the ring, which confers invisibility, Bilbo escapes and rejoins the dwarves, improving his reputation with them. The goblins and Wargs give chase, but the company are saved by eagles before resting in the house of Beorn. View all 17 comments. When I first read Tolkien’s books about 15 years ago I didn’t experience The Hobbit until I finished LOTR, so it gave me the feeling of being able to read this one as an introduction to the latter book.
Highly recommended to anyone who may not have read this yet; Tolkien’s world building and storytelling skills are rarely matched and aimed for all ages. View all 7 comments. Just imagine how empty the nowadays fantasy world could look like. Reading Karens are just ridiculous.
There definitively is an equivalent of this concept in the pure, endless exponential evil growth concept in LOTR and one could take another, controversial step and ask who Morgoth the Prime minister or CEO?
Sauron an important minister or CDO , and Saruman an overachieving higher bureaucrat or rayon manager could be in 21st century real life.
In the worst case, this is not just political terror mixed with theocracy witch burning, but garnished with a stupid, self destructive economic system ruining everything. At least privileged Western people like me just have the ethical problem of choosing the favored luxury consumer goods from the top of piles of corpses and natural destruction caused in some place nobody knows.
However, Why should anyone handle Tolkien the Nobel prize for literature? Just because he founded one of the greatest literary genres ever? View all 4 comments.
To call this the epitome in which all high fantasy should be judged does not quite suffice; this is simply one of the best books that has ever been written or will ever be written.
The Hobbit defines the high fantasy genre along with its sequel, of course, and has been an inspiration to countless authors and readers alike. Tolkien, quite literally, kick started a genre that would eventually capture the hearts of thousands of people. He changed the literary world.
The Silmarillion, Illustrated by Ted Naismith. The Hobbit: Original Publication in Hardcover. Beren and Luthien. Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-Earth. The Lays of Beleriand. Tales from the Perilous Realm. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, 3 Volumes. The Space Trilogy, 3 Volumes in 1. This beautiful, deluxe collector’s edition of “The Hobbit” will be one you’ll treasure. Encased in a green leatherette slipcase with front square illustration, the book cover features a border of imprinted gold and red runes on the same green leatherette, with a square illustration in the center matching the illustration on the exterior of the case.
The spine also features gold-and-red imprinted edging with the title and author spelled out in English and in Runes. The interior illustrations by Tolkien are presented in a two-tone, pale mint-green and black format, with five fully-colorized illustrations.
Page edges are white and speckled with green; text pages feature black font with green accents. Book is 9. Related Products. But this account, based on his personal memoirs, of the one exciting year in the otherwise quiet life of Mr. Baggins will give you a fair idea of the estimable people now it is said becoming rather rare. They do not like noise. His books have been translated into more than fifty languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide.
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One need not go far to see this as a journey of self-discovery, as Bilbo finds that there is more to him than even he realized. Definitely a book to display downnload well as enjoy! And, this wandering around can stretch for several books.
The Hobbit, Collector’s Edition: J.R.R. Tolkien: – replace.me
Click here to watch a video review of this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend. A trip in a world where you can forget your troubles and drop into one let’s face it, quite interesting I blame Twilight, fifty shades of grey and low standards of literacy for this. When I first read Tolkien’s books about 15 years ago I didn’t experience The Hobbit until I finished LOTR, so it gave me the feeling of being able to read this one as an introduction to the latter book. I think Bilbo managed to be this unusual yet relatable hero, because of how human he was in this inhumanly world, how nice he was or at least tried to be to Gandalf and the Dwarves even when they made him uncomfortable and how he saved them even when they needed saving from themselves.
