Avwriter answers “I was wondering, is it best to read The...”

Jess (AKA shortstuff) asked this question about The Lord of the Rings:

I was wondering, is it best to read The Hobbit series first or does it not matter?

Avwriter Both are effectively stand alone works, and the introduction in LOTR does a good job of filling in what any reader needs to know. It really depends up…moreBoth are effectively stand alone works, and the introduction in LOTR does a good job of filling in what any reader needs to know. It really depends upon your personality and what you are after. I read the Hobbit years after reading LOTR, and found myself disappointed by the former. The Hobbit is a simpler, shorter work, slanted slightly more toward younger readers. Tolkien's world of Middle Earth was less developed when he wrote it. Thus, while their were a number of enjoyable moments, and some interesting bits background information, I generally felt that The Hobbit lacked the sophistication and level of detail that I had become accustomed to while reading and rereading LOTR. (less)

flag

More questions about The Lord of the Rings…

The Lord of the Rings

by J.R.R. Tolkien

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more