The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
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Some reviews I found about The Hobbit say that the book is nothing more than an adventure story. I could not disagree more, this novel although an amazing adventure story is so much more than that. It goes deeper than that because it creates an entirely new world that is similar to our own but has more interesting and fantastic problems than the ones in our world. This novel has stood the test of time and that alone suggest it is more than just an enjoyable read.
The book starts with a simple creature not too different from humans just living a boring life that he enjoys very much. Within the first chapter there is already a huge twist. An unknown wizard shows up to the Hobbits house to invite him on a journey. This reflects our world in a much more entertaining way; our lives can change in an instant just like Bilbo but it is never to go on a journey to steal treasure from a dragon. It is for this reason that this novel is a classic; it portrays aspects of our world that we can relate to, while entertaining us with adventure.
The plot follows a regular Hobbit that likes to stay home. He is convinced to go on an adventure with a wizard to help dwarfs get their kingdom and treasure back from a greedy dragon. On their way to the kingdom the group of halflings and wizards face many roadblocks that extend their journey and make for an entertaining story.
Bilbo, the Hobbit, is the protagonist of this novel for many reasons. He is not a dwarf like the rest of the adventurers and he is chosen by Gandalf (the omniscient wizard) because Bilbo is an amazing thief. On their journey Bilbo finds a magic ring that sets up the story of The Lord of the Rings, the sequel trilogy to The Hobbit. The ring has the power to turn the person wearing it invisible. However the ring is so powerful it corrupts any creature that wears it. This also separates Bilbo from the rest of the group.
The genre of The Hobbit is fiction. This book includes magic, but also ideas that could work in the real world like war, corruption and betrayal. If you enjoy adventure and fantasy books, you will enjoy the Hobbit. I was very excited to read this novel because I am a huge fan of this genre.