The Hobbit

This book was my favorite book for most of my life, so it holds a special place in my heart. It was only bumped by Well Witched (Verdigris Deep). 

This is the book I read over and over to my two children. One of whom loved to act out being the indomitable Bilbo Baggins. The prose is beautiful, the plot is tight, the adventure is fun, the wonder is wondrous. Who doesn’t love forest elves? And the world-building is amazing. I guess we all know that was Tolkien’s specialty!

I will argue with anyone that this is the best story… show more.

Like many others, this was my first love as a fantasy reader, and I don’t mind confessing that, even as an adult, I tend to enjoy it meaningfully more than its companion, Lord of the Rings, despite my significant affection for that work.

I believe, with the possible exception of The Gunslinger, that I’ve re-read this book more than any other in my life, always taking something new and exciting, or at the very least interesting, from it with each passing decade. I think that says more than I ever could about its impact, its staying power, and… show more.

Tolkien is quintessential fantasy, the keystone for so much of what is beloved about this genre. I especially love how Bilbo Baggins, a simple hobbit, goes from an easy, peaceful life to one of adventure and bravery, and he truly proves his worth to the seasoned warriors around him.

Then, of course, is the adventure itself, full of magic and depth as an entire, complex, sprawling world is revealed throughout the narrative. Everyone should read this book at least once.

This is the first pure fantasy book I had ever read. In the summer break between my 4th and 5th Grade, while my Mom, little brother, and I were visiting my grandparents in California, I was at the pool. I loved going to the pool and swimming, but this day, my Uncle Dave lent me a battered paperback of his favorite book. Instead of swimming, I was reading this amazing story. And while it was a few more years before I was able to tackle The Lord of the Rings, this was the beginning of my love for fantasy.… show more.

A book about a hobbit, thirteen dwarves, and a wizard may seem an odd choice to reflect on the fragility of human culture—but I think this is the most human of journeys I’ve read, as Bilbo interrupts his gentle life in the Shire for an uncomfortable adventure.

Now I’m reading it to my nine-month-old son and noticing how much this is a story about social vulnerability—Bilbo’s displacement, the dwarves adrift from their ancestral home, the ruined town of Dale, and the damage caused by the dragon Smaug in the name of amassing a fortune (which he simply sits on like… show more.

I really enjoy reading this book and have read it multiple times. The reason I like it so much is the world.
The way Tolkien built his world, history, and lore is fascinating and thoroughly engrossing. Everything from the joyfulness of the hobbits and The Shire, the mystery and beauty of the elves, to the darkness and fear that the orcs and other foul beings embody. 

Although I always thought Tolkien’s character creation and depth could have been done better, nothing beats his ability to create a world I want to explore and experience.

The adventure here alone makes me want to pick up a bow and fire away!

I love the mixture of characters and personalities. The journey they go on, the relationships created, the personal growth of each character, and the suspense had me staying up late to finish the entire reading in one sitting. I enjoyed how Tolkien sets the stage for each race of character. You can identify them from the way they speak, dress, act, and fight.

The world is beautifully constructed, allowing your imagination to take flight and your heart to sore between the pages, making this one… show more.

A classic adventure story full of hobbits, trolls, and so much more.

It surprised me how much I enjoyed The Hobbit!

It’s underrated how funny this book is and it’s not as challenging a read as you’d think.

(I also highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Andy Serkis).

I know I made a big jump from a modern sci-fi series to classic fantasy, but when I was a skinny, anemic 10-year-old kid, Bilbo Baggins, a hero who was three feet tall and liked good food, was the first time I genuinely identified with a fantasy hero. 

Heroes are always these big, strong, aggressive men. I love Marvel movies, so I think of Steve Rogers, Captain America. Bilbo Baggins broke that mold so far it shattered in a million pieces. Some people forget that even Captain America started out as a small guy with poor hearing and some major… show more.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Hobbit especially after visiting Hobbiton and Rivendell while traveling in New Zealand. I’ve seen the movie but hadn’t read Tolkien’s prose so I decided to rectify my oversight and started reading The Hobbit. I’m so glad I did!

There is more to the story than what is seen in the movie and having the background, the mythology, the motivations more clearly defined helped make the story even better. Definitely worth a read if you haven’t already!