It's a beloved children's book and it's a classic.But a word of advice from someone who went down this dark path? Know thyself, Random Goodreader.I read books from the 1930s all the time but there is just something about the way J.R.R. Tolkien writes that kills me slowly inside. I knew this going into it, but I really wanted to like one of his books. Looking for honest book reviews? Maybe this isn't the one for you, but here we go...In my defense, my goal was to finish what I started with the Lo...

"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) who's taken over the ancestral home of the dwarves.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 superstitio...

Reread 10/24/21_________________I probably won't write a full review here, as this is just a reread for me, but I found *The Hobbit, or There and Back Again* just as enchanting as the first time I read it. While I still like this one only SLIGHTLY less than *The Lord of the Rings*, I'm glad I took the opportunity to read *The Hobbit, or There and Back Again* first before diving into a reread of LOTR this year. When I first read Tolkien's books about 15 years ago I didn't experience *The Hobbit, ...

What makes *The Hobbit, or There and Back Again* such a foundational work in the fantasy genre? Is it the nine hours of over-budget, sensorially explosive movies by Peter Jackson? Nope. 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? Nope. It's simply wonderful writing. As simple and (dare I say) boring as that. Does that mean I was incredibly disappointed in the movie adaptation (not to say abortion)? Y...

Gandalf Stormcrow. Bilbo Baggins is a Middle-earth hobbit, happily living his peaceful and uneventful days in the joyful lands of Hobbiton. Like any decent, well-respected hobbit, Bilbo loves cooking tasty meals, enjoying the blissful sun, and dutifully drinking his midday tea; always good-natured and hospitable with his neighbors, undisturbed, and never bothering anyone. This was his pleasant life, until one fine day an unexpected, troublesome visitor knocks heavily on his door: a wizard, no le...

Okay, I know saying this might get me crucified in some circles, but *The Hobbit, or There and Back Again* is honestly one of the dullest books I've ever forced myself to finish. J.R.R. Tolkien's writing style just feels so incredibly dry and detached, even though I have to admit the guy had some seriously cool ideas. As far as **book reviews** go, this one is not going to be a rave. Some people adore *The Hobbit, or There and Back Again* by J.R.R. Tolkien, but I just couldn't get into it.

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 H...

Some books are almost impossible to review. If a book is bad, we can dwell on its flaws so easily! But if the book is good, how do you offer a recommendation that does it justice? Unless you're an author of equal standing to the one whose work you're reviewing, what powers of prose and observation could you possibly have to properly adorn the work? 'The Hobbit, or There and Back Again' is, on one level, simply a charming adventure story – perhaps one of the most charming and adventurous ever tol...

There are some days when I genuinely believe that the humble *The Hobbit, or There and Back Again* is superior to its behemoth brother, *The Lord of the Rings*. It's a much tighter story, and Bilbo is a far more appealing character than Frodo. I also just adore this poem from *The Hobbit, or There and Back Again*:Far over the misty mountains coldTo dungeons deep and caverns oldWe must away ere break of dayTo seek the pale enchanted gold.The dwarves of yore made mighty spells,While hammers fell l...

This book?
Precious.