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The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
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Tolkien, J.R.R.; The Hobbit "Buddy Read" (Start Date: June 8th, 2013)
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Lisa Kay
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Jun 10, 2013 05:48PM
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I saw it in early a.m. there, Ozana. Sweet Dreams! May they not be about dragons. Unless you want them to be. ☺
Good night Lisa Key, sweet dreamsM
Did anyone else notice that in the movie they pronounced it "smowg" like brow? I'd only ever heard it as "smog" and most of the people I talked to thought that was a strange choice.
I did notice something a little different, Logan, but not all of it. I guess I'll have to watch it again!
Lisa Kay wrote: "I did notice something a little different, Logan, but not all of it. I guess I'll have to watch it again!"Like you need reason ☺
Logan wrote: "Did anyone else notice that in the movie they pronounced it "smowg" like brow? I'd only ever heard it as "smog" and most of the people I talked to thought that was a strange choice."
When you come from a country that is read-as-written type, it actually sounded correct to me. ☺
Maybe I should also re-watch it?! Hmmmm...
Did anyone notice the reference to Golf? :D
Melissa (ladybug) wrote: "Did anyone notice the reference to Golf? :D"I did! I thought that was really cute and clever.
Melissa (ladybug) wrote: "Did anyone notice the reference to Golf? :D"Golf?
Book or movie? Or both? ☺
The book. :D A relative of Bilbo's was in a fight and chopped the head of a Goblin(?) and invented Golf. :D In the first chapter before they leave on the adventure.
Melissa (ladybug) wrote: "The book. :D A relative of Bilbo's was in a fight and chopped the head of a Goblin(?) and invented Golf. :D In the first chapter before they leave on the adventure."I've read it few times and missed it?!
Ok I admit, last few times were read fast just so I could get to LotR :D
❀Tea❀ wrote: "Maybe I should also re-watch it?! Hmmmm... "Like you need a reason. LOL! Actually, I've been very tempted to watch this again, as I've started to listen an abridged dramatized version of the book.
Yes, the golf part is funny. LMBO!
Lisa Kay wrote: "Like you need a reason. LOL! Actually, I've been very tempted to watch this again, as I've started to listen an abridged dramatized..."I just talked to friend and we are going to do Hobbit/LotR marathon. :D
*sigh*
I wish I was going with you... "my precious!"
I'm going to start this tomorrow.
You are!?! Neat, ShoSho. Have you read it before?
Lisa Kay wrote: "You are!?! Neat, ShoSho. Have you read it before?"Well I was going to , and got the audiobook from the library but what I got is only 3 hours , it's a radio dramatisation of the book .I can get the ebook , but this is one of those book that I prefer to listen rather than read. and No I haven't read it before.
That's the one I just listened to. Only, I think it was longer than three hours. More like five. So, I listened to the whole series on "radio dramatization" - and it was a nice refresher. So neat that this is your first time.
Lisa Kay wrote: "That's the one I just listened to. Only, I think it was longer than three hours. More like five. So, I listened to the whole series on "radio dramatization" - and it was a nice refresher. So n..."
So should I go for it? are they as good as normal audiobooks?
No. I think the audiobooks are better. I just did the "radio dramatization" because I already knew the story. But, there is not where near the detail in the "r.d."
Lisa Kay wrote: "No. I think the audiobooks are better. I just did the "radio dramatization" because I already knew the story. But, there is not where near the detail in the "r.d.""hummm I have to think about this , I don't want to ruin the story for me
In the end,beside The Passage, I manage to re- read The Hobbit too, as I wrote in my short review:To each of us, adults, specially those who didn't find time for reading for years, Hobbit is books which opens paths of unexpected, magical world of children literature where imaginations has no limits and life is thread of exciteing adventures.
Every time I take my Hobbit book in my hands it's like a first time world of magic and brave, little hobbit Bilbo Baggins unfolds before my eyes. My bravery grows with his and his kindness, witts are mine too.
Well said, Ozana!
1. Is this the first time you’ve read The Hobbit? Have you seen the movie? Or do you want to read the book first?I remember vaguely trying to read The Hobbit when I was pretty young (probably 8 or 9ish). At the time I thought it was weird and boring, and stopped after the first chapter or so, I believe. I don't know why I didn't like it. Maybe because there were no female characters? Or it was just too fantastical for me? At that time, I was really into The Baby-Sitter's Club books (hahaha!) so maybe just needed something more grounded in reality, even though I do remember being obsessed with the Phantom Tollbooth. Anyway, I'm giving it another go here at 29 and I am actually kinda surprised I didn't like it as a child. I wish I had tried harder when I was a child to read it, because it is a very engaging and funny story. As I'm reading it now, I just keep thinking, this is the *perfect* "read to your kids at bedtime" story! I did see the most recent movie and I remember seeing a cartoon version of the Hobbit when I was really young. I enjoyed the movie.
2. What is your first impression of Bilbo? His relationship with Gandalf?
Bilbo amuses me greatly. He's so fussy and funny but still brave. Gandalf is kind of a moody jerk but I like him too.
3. Why do you think Gandalf picked Bilbo to go on the quest with the dwarves? What of his lie about Bilbo being a thief? Is it “smoothed over” by his telling the dwarves that hobbits can go unnoticed? Why did he pick a hobbit at all, since they abhor adventure?
I just chalked it up to wizard knowledge. He knows hobbits and Bilbo and his character and knows they will need someone like Bilbo to accomplish their task.
4. What about your first impression Thorin Oakenshield? His interactions with Bilbo? Are any of the other dwarves a favorite?
The dwarves are pretty awesome.
5. Why do you think that Gandalf keeps leaving the party on “other business”?
He's doing wizard things to help them out.
6. Tolkien intended this story to be read by young and old alike. Do you think it is suited for one group more than the other?
I feel like it's well suited for all ages. I have always been a huge fan of "children's literature" (and actually hate that term) because I feel that writing something that can equally appeal to a wide range of developmental levels is the skill of a genius writer and the author has the ability to tap into some deep aspects of humanity that are engrained in all of us. (I've gotten into debates with some high-brow friends over this exact topic).
7. Tolkien's work has often been criticized for its dearth of women characters. In The Hobbit, only Bilbo's mother, Belladonna Took, is mentioned. (The movie added Galadriel to the cast.) Does all this testosterone change the tone of Tolkien's adventure? Would it have changed if he included a few lady hobbits, elves, or dwarves in this journey? Or didn’t you notice the lack? Why do you think he didn't include them?
Yes, I noticed the lack of women in the work and actually commented to my friends after watching the movie initially. ("There are like, NO women in this entire movie!") Maybe it is more noticeable in my generation? I would say this is a viable criticism of the work. Why are the women not allowed to go on any adventures? :) In addition, this is posited as an epic story, with archetypcal characters, so why would there be no female archetypes included?
9. Another complaint about The Hobbit is the amount of songs and poems included, especially by the “younger adult generation.” Why so? Did you read them? Skim them? Enjoy them? Dislike them?
I like them okay, but feel like you can't get a strong feel for them musically just based on reading them. I felt like the film did an excellent job with the dwarf song.
10. Do you like Tolkien's subtle use of humor? What was your favorite so far?
Yes! This book is much funnier than I thought it would be. I always thought Tolkien was such a serious writer, but there's this wry sarcastic humor throughout. I can't think of a specific example, but I have laughed multiple times while reading so far.
I finished this one finally, and I still prefer LOTR to this one. It's a cute story, but doesn't reach the same emotional depth as his later works. I can see why this is a good one for kids.It's easy enough to get through, but sometimes when they wind up at strange locations and lose their forward momentum, I as a reader also lose my momentum. When they get to Beorn's house, for example, I struggled to keep reading. Even the dragon parts felt anti-climactic to me.
Now that I've read it, I'm looking forward to seeing the movie. There is a lot more material in this book than I first thought, and the action should play out nicely - particularly the final battles.
Logan, in earlier movie versions (animated) or radio dramatizations of The Hobbit they often cut out Beorn's house. My father didn't like this, as that was one of his favorite parts.
They didn't quite get that far in this recent movie, did they? I couldn't remember. Instead they substituted Radagast I think?I wonder if we'll see Beorn in the next one.
No, we (yes, I'm on the adventure with them, LOL!) didn't get that far. I don't think Jackson will leave that part out.
Nothing But Reading Challenges
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The Silmarillion (other topics)The Hobbit, or There and Back Again (other topics)
