The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I agree. Gandalf is interesting as well.

[Hayley]

Well, i think i've picked a rather good time to come back to Goodreads, as The Hobbit was something i was considering.. !

[Nicolle]

Raindropmelody wrote: "Well, i think i've picked a rather good time to come back to Goodreads, as The Hobbit was something i was considering.. !"

Great, Pick it up and get reading!!

[Susan O]

I'm through chapter 9 and really enjoying it. Definitely an easier read than TLOR although I enjoyed all of them in the past. Don't know why I waited so long to reread "The Hobbit"!

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I've finished reading this, and I am pondering what to say in my review. I really enjoyed it.

[The Pirate Ghost]

Extra points if it reminds you of the Industrial Revolution in England... (B-{))>

[Trisha]

I finished reading "The Hobbit" a few months ago and finished the first book in the LOTR trilogy. I am hoping to finish the next two right away :-)

I love "The Hobbit" because it such a great reminder of bardic storytelling. I can kick back, relax, and imagine that I am sitting outside on a dark night in front of a bonfire, while a bearded dwarf is telling us the tale of Gandalf the Grey and his friend Bilbo Baggins! Middle Earth is not a place to rush through in a hurry to knock it off your reading queue, it is a leisurely place that you read at a slower speed, as if you were listening to someone telling you the story out loud. There is such beauty and magic in the description :-)

[Fei Fei]

Found this adorable companion book in my local bookstore today: There and Back Again: The Map of the Hobbit. I'm a visual person and I'm fond of illustrations - I wish I had found this when I was reading The Hobbit. Just wanted to share with you guys what I'd found :)

[Susan O]

I agree with Trish that this is not a book to rush through, but last night I couldn't help finishing it. At the end I felt as though I had been on a long journey that was over too soon. I enjoyed it so much and although I was glad to see the end and outcome of the adventure, I wanted to go on visiting Middle Earth. I may have to start LOTR again!

[Susan O]

I loved all the characters, but this time I think Beorn is my favorite.

[The Pirate Ghost]

Beorn was cool, i liked him. I thought the eagles were cool too.

[Anna]

ive read it, but im gonna read the other books in the seris

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I ended up reading the rest of this book compulsively, because I was so drawn into the story. It was a really excellent read.

[Jill]

I still haven't started this book. I seem to be dragging my feet, as I finished TKAMB and went ahead and started a different book... Next week! That's my plan for starting:) Glad you guys are enjoying it!

[Miss.terri]

Fallensnow wrote: "Found this adorable companion book in my local bookstore today: There and Back Again: The Map of the Hobbit. I'm a visual person and I'm fond of illustrations - I wish I had found this..."

Are they the same book?

[Fei Fei]

Theresa wrote: "Fallensnow wrote: "Found this adorable companion book in my local bookstore today: There and Back Again: The Map of the Hobbit. I'm a visual person and I'm fond of illustrations - I wi..."

@ Miss.terri: It's not the same book. More of a companion/guide book?

@ Theresa: Unfortunately, this book was shrink-wrap closed when I found it in the bookstore so I couldn't take a peek inside. But based on what the backcover summary indicates, I would think so :D

[[deleted user]]

I am on Chapter 4 as well....I am having a hard time picturing elves and hobbits...I do love it though!!!!

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Tolkien was quite vague in describing the elves. I believe he cemented his ideas of elves more greatly in the LOTR books, or so I read somewhere. I had an image of hobbits much aided by the movies, I must confess.

[Jimmy]

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Tolkien was quite vague in describing the elves. I believe he cemented his ideas of elves more greatly in the LOTR books, or so I read somewhere. I had an image of hobbits much aided by the movie..."

I'm going read the Hobbit in October, but I know that actually the Elves came first! Tolkien wrote the The Book of Lost Tales, Part 1 way before the Hobbit or LOTR.

[The Pirate Ghost]

Jimmy wrote: "Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Tolkien was quite vague in describing the elves. I believe he cemented his ideas of elves more greatly in the LOTR books, or so I read somewhere. I had a..."

Yes, but I don't think that was ever meant for more than back story for Lord of the Rings. If you want to go that rought, then read

These are all tales from the same time period in Middle Earth History, but these are finished (some of them by his son).

The story of Huron is particularly interesting.

[[deleted user]]

Hugh (The other Hugh) wrote: "Jimmy wrote: "Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Tolkien was quite vague in describing the elves. I believe he cemented his ideas of elves more greatly in the LOTR books, or so I read somew..."

I always thought that this was actually the first book in the LOTR and Hobbit series....or is it last????

[The Pirate Ghost]

I think we are dealing with two chronolgies here. In terms of when they were published. It goes ...

Hobbit, then LoTR, then Silmarillon, Then Lost Tales and Unfinished tales.

If were are talking Middle earth chronolgy I believe that Lost tales, Unfinished Tales and the Silmarillion make a mish mash of the time before the hobbit. Then comes the hobbit, then LoTR.

I'm no Hobbitogist though.

[The Pirate Ghost]

There may even be a different chronlogy about when they were written or thought of which isn't necessarilly when they were published.

My understanding is that the main body of work was always Hobbit then LoTR.

[Jill]

Finally started! I read chapter 1 last night. I am enjoying this more than I thought I would, which is a nice surprise!

[The Pirate Ghost]

Delightfully light, like chocolate sprinkles on ice cream isn't it?

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I liked the writing, although the poetry/songs took some getting used to.

[Jill]

Yes Hugh...like chocolate sprinkles on ice cream! I read chapter 2 at lunch today, more tonight. I've have to stop myself from laughing out loud!

[Jill]

I read a bit more today/last night. I just finished the chapter with the wild Wargs and the Eagles. I mentioned somewhere else, but there have been tons of fires in Texas lately due to the drought. There was/is one about 8 miles from my house. When Bilbo's tree catches on fire and he can feel the flames licking at his feet, I felt his fear! Too close!

Still enjoying it!

[Miss.terri]

I am starting to re-read the book today. I am thinking about getting the companion book, There and Back Again, also for a more rounded reading experience.

@ Jill: My brother and family live in central Texas and the fire came within a mile of their house. They were evacuated overnight. Last I heard it was 50 percent contained. Both my sister and her adult daughter’s homes were very close to other fires in the area. Very, very dry.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

My goodness, that's scary, Jill. I hope your house and everyone around you is okay.

The same for your family, Miss.terri!

[The Pirate Ghost]

My Goodness guys, keep in touch. I have a lot of Family in East Texas and some as far as San Antonio. Let us know how things are going!

[Alea]

Just started reading it, like it allready :D

[Jill]

Miss.terri..that's awful! It has been so scary and heartbreaking to hear of people losing homes and pets and lots of things. It makes me hold the really important things a little closer. I know the Riley Road fire (which is more near me, in Houston...really in Magnolia) is finally contained. And, luckily the one nearest my house is taken care of. Just unnerving to have ash falling in my yard! Yikes!

Hugh, I know East Texas has some too, hope your family is okay too! We just need some rain! It's like a tinderbox. The fire near me started with someone throwing their cigarette out the window. Geez louise!

Okay, back to the book!:) I just passed through the spiders, and Bilbo has shared with the dwarves about his ring. Still really liking it!

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

It's pretty dumb that people would throw cigarettes out the window in a drought. But, they do. Sigh!

[Jago]

Beautiful book. Completely different from the LOTR-books . The story is magnificent and it's fun to know the story before the trilogy.
I think anyone can see Bilbo changing at the end of the book to a real globetrotter and adventurer. I'm looking forward to the film next year...

[The Pirate Ghost]

Jago wrote: "Beautiful book. Completely different from the LOTR-books . The story is magnificent and it's fun to know the story before the trilogy.
I think anyone can see Bilbo changing at the end of the book ..."

I kind of pictured him sitting before the fire in bunny slippers smoking his pipe. He seemed exhausted after "There and Back Again."

The change in tone between the Hobbit and the LoTR is remarkable. I once went back and compared some of the singular Frodo Scenes with Bilbo wandering lost in the Goblin tunnels. Obviously written by the same person, with a lot of the same stylish descriptions, I don't know how Tolkien managed to make the books so different in energy. I wonder if the impact of WWII had anything to do with the tone. (it certainly did have something to do with the inner message.)

[Jill]

I finished last night! I really enjoyed it, and as I mentioned previously, it was surprising to me! It's not my typical read, so I kind of dreaded it. But, I really enjoyed Bilbo's adventures. I loved seeing his adventures and his rawness/realness of emotion.

Side note, there's a restaurant in Houston called The Hobbit Cafe. I've been there several times, and love their food..but without having read the book, many of the dishes were lost on me (I had no idea Smaug was a dragon!). I'm glad that I can order a Gandalf or Bilbo with the background knowledge of what I'm eating!

[The Pirate Ghost]

Hobbit Cafe'? I bet the stuffed mushrooms are good.

[Jimmy]

Hugh (The other Hugh) wrote: "Hobbit Cafe'? I bet the stuffed mushrooms are good."

Stuff the mushrooms! just read chapter one and I'm up for the seed cake and beer!!

[The Pirate Ghost]

LOL, and maybe some cold chicken and pickels.

[Richard]

I have read this before, both as a child and adult, and I adore it. Starting again today...

[Melissa Knight]

I'm a huge nerd but I have never read this or the LOTR series. It's a travesty! Just got the Hobbit and I'm starting right now :)

[Melissa Knight]

Chapter 1 Thoughts: If golf were really played by short people riding horses and clubbing goblins in the head, I would watch it on tv.

I have something new I have to do once before I die, now... Invite myself to someone's house, eat all their goodies, and then sing a jaunty little tune about how I'm going to break all their stuff and mash food into their carpets. Gold!

What's up with Gandalf springing that news on Thorin, btw? It was like,

Gandalf> You remember that one guy that we haven't seen in like a hundred years... He used to date your mom....

Thorin> My...DAD?

Gandalf> Yeah, HIM! Well he's been living in the basement of an evil wizard and now he just drools on himself all day...But I brought you back a map and a key!

Thorin> Neato! But shouldn't we like... avenge him, or something?

Gandalf> Naaaah...

But then again, Thorin's daddy and peepaw had a secret escape route they didn't tell Thorin about so I guess they weren't very close.

[Miss.terri]

I just finished! It was wonderful to read it again. I really enjoyed it all over again.

[The Pirate Ghost]

Melissa wrote: "Chapter 1 Thoughts: If golf were really played by short people riding horses and clubbing goblins in the head, I would watch it on tv.

I have something new I have to do once before I die, now... ..."

That's a good interpetation. You got the idea... of course they dwarves and Balin try to avenge the Oakensheilds, in between the Hobbit and LoTR. It didn't turn out so well. (as we learn in LoTR)

[[deleted user]]

I've just started and my husbands response was "...The way you read, and you've just started this now?" I hope for a great adventure!

Edit: I don't know if anyone has seen this, but after reading a few pages this is what I'd imagine.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic...


Sorry if anyone has shared. I didn't want to read all the comments for fear of spoilers.

[[deleted user]]

"Good Morning!" said Bilbo, and he meant it. [...] "What do you mean? he said. "Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?"

Now, that is a red flag for adventure if I ever saw one.

[Susan O]

Mupples wrote: "I've just started and my husbands response was "...The way you read, and you've just started this now?" I hope for a great adventure!

Edit: I don't know if anyone has seen this, but after readin..."

Great article - thanks for posting.

[Miss.terri]

Mupples wrote: "I've just started and my husbands response was "...The way you read, and you've just started this now?" I hope for a great adventure!

Edit: I don't know if anyone has seen this, but after readin..."

Wow, that was awesome! Thanks for sharing it.

[kwesi 章英狮]

Done reading The Hobbit and it was fun to read! Now guys, sing with me. Tra-la-la-la-la! *Creech*