The Hobbit [May 10, 2023]

[Yanique, Thread Master]

This is a Buddy Read for The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien starting May 10, 2023.

[Nirkatze]

Thank you Yanique! If anyone wants to read the Silmarillion first, feel free to comment here too. :)

[Shaitarn]

I might; a re-read of Tolkien is always a pleasure.

Also, when were you thinking of reading the Silmarillion, Nirkatze? I found my copy earlier and I still haven't read it!

[Nyssa]

Oooh! Sign me up! :)

[Gaea]

I was hoping to read the Silmarillion before the Hobbit so I'd love to join any buddy read if there is any~

[Nirkatze]

I'm not sure if I want to commit to the Silmarillion myself, but could be persuaded otherwise... :) If folks want a separate thread for Silmarillion too, that can be arranged.

[Katie]

I'm in! :D

[Sam]

Can’t wait for this one!

[Saar The Book owl]

I'm in. Didn't make it through LotR, but I want to give this one a try.

[Katie]

Awesome to have you Saar! I find The Hobbit to be a much easier read for sure. I loved it! So I can't wait for the re-read. But everyone has their on opinions, some like the trilogy better... the one which I struggle with lots XD Hope this LOTR BR gives me the strength to carry on lol

[Emily]

I’m in as well! Just need that extra push to finally read The Hobbit.

[Melanie]

I got a great annotated version! I’m in

[Darby]

I’m in! :)

[Gaea]

Started! I've decided to go with an audiobook version instead of my paperback for this reread and I'm really liking it so far~

[Ann-Marie]

Gaea wrote: "Started! I've decided to go with an audiobook version instead of my paperback for this reread and I'm really liking it so far~"

Which narration? I had Andy Serkis read all of these to me last month and it was pretty terrific. I considered skipping this one because I did not really love the movies and I am so glad I decided not to do so, I really enjoyed it!

[Gaea]

It's a theatrical audiobook that I found, where someone narrated it and also added sounds effects and music from the movies, etc. So not an official thing but it's still entertaining haha

[Saar The Book owl]

I've got my copy and I'm ready to start this weekend :)

[Nirkatze]

Oh fun!

I just started on Friday--I'm also doing the Andy Serkis version and also really loving it.

I enjoyed the movies--or maybe I should say parts of the movies--and the scene at Bilbo's house (view spoiler)[when all the dwarves started singing and breaking Bilbo's stuff reminded me of the movies... I liked that scene... (hide spoiler)]

Or maybe what I'm actually remembering is this little parody treasure... the REAL truth behind how (view spoiler)[Gandalf got Bilbo to sign that contract... (hide spoiler)] and got him to go on his journey...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXFQF...
Took me a while of stumbling through youtube, but I finally found the parody movie I was thinking of...

[Shaitarn]

Does anyone else find that when you're buddy reading a book you don't like you can comment on points that annoyed you and be snarky, but when you actually enjoy a book you have nothing to say?

[Nirkatze]

Shaitarn wrote: "Does anyone else find that when you're buddy reading a book you don't like you can comment on points that annoyed you and be snarky, but when you actually enjoy a book you have nothing to say?"

LOL I can relate to that... though I think it can go both ways for me, and has more to do with how tired I am or how much brain cells are being used up on other things than specifically on enjoying something or not...

Though I did also just finish the book and had very little to say. LOL I really find it interesting, revisiting this so much later in life. The language is both lyrical, but also feels more simplistic. The book isn't as complex as more modern books, which makes it feel like it is aimed at children more than adults...

Though one thing that DOES bother me about this book. Was there a SINGLE named female character in the whole thing? I don't think so.

Mirkwood is where Legolas is from, right? (view spoiler)[The Elven King there seemed pretty different from the elves in LotR... there are a lot of parts that sort of seem like a rough draft for things that are more well-shaped in the trilogy.... definitely looking forward to rereading LotR to see if my feelings hold true there. (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

Nirkatze wrote: "Oh fun!

I just started on Friday--I'm also doing the Andy Serkis version and also really loving it. "

He did a wonderful job of all 4 books which didn't surprise me because I like him as an actor and I wish we saw him more in his roles. At any rate I knew the Gollum voice would be solid lol

[Nirkatze]

Ann-Marie wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "Oh fun!

I just started on Friday--I'm also doing the Andy Serkis version and also really loving it. "

He did a wonderful job of all 4 books which didn't surprise me because I lik..."

So true! Sometimes I get a little nervous when I see that the narrator is an actor... not all actors are also good voice-actors, y'know? But then I remembered how much of Serkis's work has been voice-and-body acting more than just person-acting, and of course, he really delivers so wonderfully!

The only complaint I have of the audio is that he does the gets-quiet gets-loud dramatic voice thing... and so I have to keep turning up volume and turning back down again or just missing bits...

[Shaitarn]

Nirkatze wrote: "Shaitarn wrote: "Does anyone else find that when you're buddy reading a book you don't like you can comment on points that annoyed you and be snarky, but when you actually enjoy a book you have not..."

There aren't any female characters, but don't forget this book was written in the 1930s, when women weren't expected to go off on adventures, or to want to. It may jar with our modern ideas, but to be honest so long as they aren't displaying totally racist or sexist bias I'm willing to give a pass to most authors who were writing almost a century ago - they were bought up in a totally different time.

And this is a children's book rather than a book for adults - it started as a story that Tolkien was telling his own children.

[Saar The Book owl]

I've started yesterday and I totally forgot about the different writing! It's just getting used to. It feels like it's a story that someone is telling.

[Darby]

This is the first time I’ve read The Hobbit. I really enjoyed it! I love the writing style, grammar and language usage. I like that this book was written for children and it’s written just like how I imagine the author would tell the story verbally. I am excited to read the rest of the books.

[Nirkatze]

@Shaitarn--thank you for that background information about the book! I can definitely see what @Saar & Darby are saying about the cadence of the story giving that feeling, of a parent-figure reading/telling a story at bedtime, in front of a fireplace...

re: Women--I'm willing to forgive the book for having no women in it... but it really makes me appreciate today's books, which have a much more diverse cast of characters in general...