Book Review: The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
Ever had an itch that you couldn't ignore? Well, that happened to me with this title, I had a need to visit Middle Earth once more, and I felt it was right to give The Hobbit a re-read. The last time I read this title was about 10 years ago, in preparation for the film's release. I remember enjoying the title and being disappointed by the film, ha! Let's see if that is still the case.
Title: The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R Tolkien
Format: Kindle
Page Count: 322
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Blurb: 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.
Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when it was first published in 1937. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent. The text in this 372-page paperback edition is based on that first published in Great Britain by Collins Modern Classics (1998), and includes a note on the text by Douglas A. Anderson (2001). Unforgettable!
Review
Well, I am glad to revisit this classic. Reviewing a classic like this is hard because what can I realistically add that hasn't been said?
The story introduces us to characters that will become important in other tales, like Gandalf, the Eagles and Gollum, but the main focus of the account is Bilbo. A hobbit who unknowingly was searching for adventure and ultimately finds his true worth whilst under the employ of Thorin.
Thorin and his company of misfit Dwarves are a fun cast. Though an essential part of the story, they never overtake the lead. They are a displaced line of dwarves, chased from their home by a dragon, who claims their fortress as its new nest. They have roamed from place to place, selling their strength and skills to earn a living, but now this group of 14 unlikely heroes hope to sneak in and retake the fortress and gold from the mighty dragon. Seems like a terrible plan.
It is worth noting that when compared to the film, the book has a lot less hacking and slashing happening and is, in fact, a lot more realistic tale. The group attempts to get from A to B, with as little attention drawn to them as possible. Of course, this doesn't happen; otherwise, we wouldn't have a story. Most of the book comically is about them getting into trouble and solving how to get out of it in one piece. They sneak around whilst attempting to distract their enemies, this seems like a more realistic choice in the events described, and it is comical to watch them lose everything in their first encounter. They are like a bad D&D group stumbling from one bad natural roll to the next. Yes, Thorin is a great warrior, but in no way are these an elite unit of Dwarves, being made up of old-timers, youngsters and cooks!
I also love how Tolkien describes the landscape; we visit some fantastic locations throughout the story. Like the Misty Mountains, the home to trolls, goblins and Stone Giants. Then scary Mirkwood is the home of Spiders and paranoid Elves (no Legolas and no Dwarf/Elf love stories), before finally reaching Laketown and the Dwarves’ home. These locations sparked my hobby love, especially Mirkwood and are possibly why I am such an Elvish fan nowadays.
It is a book that people either adore or dislike; I love it, and I have so many memories attached to it. Why I hadn't read this in over ten years is unknown to me. But I am very excited to introduce this book to my children in the coming years, and I hope I can spark their imagination as it did for me.
My itch is itched—such an excellent refresher for me. I don't think I am ready for LoTR yet, but I can only assume it will soon be in my future. As always, cheers for reading and let me know your thoughts in the comments. Feel free to sign up to get notifications and use any of these links to support me (any Amazon link gives me a kickback...Thank you).
