The Hobbit

[Alana]

And again, I apologize that this is so late. I actually just started reading it myself last night. I'd forgotten how delightful the words are and how wonderfully Tolkien strings them together.

Are you a first time reader, or is this a multiple re-read for you? What are your thoughts?

[Irene]

I read this less than a year ago. It was my first read at that time. I agree that the language is so creative. I think this needs to be read aloud to a child because the beauty of this book is in the playfulness of the sounds.

[Alana]

I'm listening to an audio version and really enjoying I've done a full cast version before, too, and that was fun.

[Pallavi]

I too have read this a year ago... and i like it very much ...at least i liked the hobbit hole very much and the food too :)

[Nabz28]

I started reading the book a few months ago and still reading it. I'm on chapter 10 and honestly this chapter makes me sleep more compared to other chapters. All it is talking about is Bilbo sitting and just listening to the wood-elves and the lake-men conversation. He's just basically sitting down and doing nothing. It also sounds like he's admiring the sunlight. It could be more interesting if he used the ring to look for the dwarves as they were separated along the Running River after escaping the Thranduil's dungeon in Mirkwood. He did saw a few of the barrels taken ashore which probably Bilbo wants to find out whether the dwarves are in there or not. I'm just saying that the chapter is boring and that J.R.R. Tolkien could turn it up a notch.

[♪ Kim N]

Pallavi wrote: "I too have read this a year ago... and i like it very much ...at least i liked the hobbit hole very much and the food too :)"

Yes, hobbits do enjoy their meals :)

This is my third time through. I'm listening to the audiobook read by Rob Inglis.

[Alana]

That's the one I'm doing, Kim. He's no Jim Dale but I'm quite enjoying it :)

[Valerie]

I finished the book, before this thread was put up. I really enjoyed the book.

This was my first time reading this type of book. I thought I wouldn't enjoy it, but I did and I finished it very quickly.

[♪ Kim N]

Alana wrote: "That's the one I'm doing, Kim. He's no Jim Dale but I'm quite enjoying it :)"

I have The Lord of the Rings done by him as well, which is excellent. I think it's a case where the books and the narrator are really well suited.

And I agree, Irene, that The Hobbit is best read aloud.

[Alana]

There is a lot of tone of voice that is so playful that comes out very well when spoken. It's so sing-songy, too (sometimes literally).

[Alana]

I'm nearing halfway through this one. I think I've read it enough times that I practically have it memorized, yet it is still so enjoyable every time :).

I love the scene in the mountains with Gollum. (view spoiler)[Bilbo choosing to spare Gollum's life shows so much about his character. It also goes on to have more significance for the Lord of the Rings, but of course Bilbo doesn't know this. His sense of honor is amazing, especially considering the circumstances. Beautiful message to kids, AND adults. (hide spoiler)]

[Nabz28]

Yea, Gollum is really mysterious if you ask me.. I mean why did he go in the mountains where goblins live? Wouldn't it be dangerous and spooky. And sometimes I wonder how old he is because I read that whoever wore the ring, his/her life will be extended.
Gollum.... do you guys ever wonder why he didn't wear the ring?

[Kressel]

If we continue with Lord of the Rings next month, would that be under adult or children's?

[Alana]

Nabz28, those are hard questions to answer without going into details from LOTR. In the Hobbit, we really don't get any other info about him, except that it is from him that Bilbo acquires the Ring. They are, however, good questions, and I'm looking forward to delving into those when we get to LOTR.

Kressel, those are under our Adult list, so we would discuss them there, if that's what we vote on.

[Kressel]

I finished it! You know, my husband is a huge Tolkien fan and the person who turned me onto Harry Potter, but it took this group to get me to finally read The Hobbit.

[Alana]

And, what did you think? Does it live up to the hype? Too much of a kidsie tale, or a nice prelude to LOTR?

[Kressel]

It's very well-written and imaginative, so yes, it does live up to the hype. But I didn't love it enough to give it 5 stars.

[Alana]

Kressel wrote: "It's very well-written and imaginative, so yes, it does live up to the hype. But I didn't love it enough to give it 5 stars."

Fair enough assessment :)

Did you say that you have read the Lord of the Rings before? If not, does this one make you want to read it, or just kind of "meh?"

[♪ Kim N]

Maybe it's because I first read the book as an adult, but I never loved The Hobbit in the way I do The Lord of the Rings. It's not as rich a story and geared more toward kids.

I do have fond memories of reading it to my son. And I enjoyed the audiobook enough to add an additional star to my original 3-star rating.

[Kressel]

I read a few pages of LOTR even before reading The Hobbit, and now that I've read Bilbo's adventures, I'm more curious about finishing, but it's not at the top of my to-read list.

[Renee]

I was running a little behind on this one and finished it the other night. This was my first Tolkien book, but I have seen the movies and loved them. I absolutely loved this book! It had some very funny moments and dialogue in it. For a children's book, it did have some scary moments in it I thought, but it depends on the kid reading it I guess.

Not really wanting to go himself, at first the dwarves aren't sure how Bilbo would do with them on their quest, but after escaping the goblin cave and Gollum and saving them a few times they started to look to him for ideas and advice.

The chapter with Gollum and the riddle game, and Bilbo's conversation with Smaug were my favourite parts. Can't wait to continue on with The Lord of the Rings trilogy!

[Alana]

Renee, that's a good point about some of the scary points, although I sometimes wonder if we find things scarier as adults? I read those scenes now and think "gosh, kids would find those so scary!" but that book was read to me as a VERY young child, and I don't recall ever being scared about the spiders, etc. Maybe my child imagination better processed that it was a fantasy story and of COURSE it all works out in the end?