The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

That is an interesting article. Must feel great to know you built your own house!

[Emma]

I've just started! I shall summon all of my super human reading powers. I read this when I was a kid and I've wanted to pick it up again for ages so thanks for the extra push.
The first of the two "The Hobbit" movies is out next year so it'll be interesting to see what we all make of it after reading the book.

[Amy]

Just started reading it day before yesterday. Found an annotated version. Some good background on Tolkien and his inspirations. I'm going to be moving middle of next month so I hope I have time to finish it.

[[deleted user]]

I'm about 1/2 way done and in The Mirkwood now. I want to finish it SO bad but I've had essays, reaction papers, a literary analysis, mini essays ... I thought life of an English Major was suppose to be glamorous :(

[Jimmy]

Mupples wrote: "I'm about 1/2 way done and in The Mirkwood now. I want to finish it SO bad but I've had essays, reaction papers, a literary analysis, mini essays ... I thought life of an English Major was suppose ..."

Hey Mupples, I'm in Mirkwood too. Prioritise the study though - no pain no gain. I read to unwind after work, maybe you could do the same after all that study.

[The Pirate Ghost]

Mirkwood- Memories: The first experience with The Hobbit was when I was in the second Grade. I had a case of the Chicken Pox, with Poison Ivy on top of that and something else, mumps maybe?

My father worked as a parole officer in Houston, and he took the day off to take care of me. I wanted to hear what he was reading at the time so he read the Hobbit to me. (view spoiler)[ The Mirkwood spiders gave me nightmares, but I made him read it to me until the end. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Hugh (The other Hugh) wrote: "Mirkwood- Memories: The first experience with The Hobbit was when I was in the second Grade. I had a case of the Chicken Pox, with Poison Ivy on top of that and something else, mumps maybe?

My..."

A lot of people cite this book as The book they read as a child. That's so great your father shared that when you were going through your illnesses. I guess he wanted to show you it wasn't so bad--after all you could have been in the Mirkwoods. Little spiders give me the creeps anyway so when I finally got to it...egh.

[The Pirate Ghost]

Yea, after that I went on a fantasy binge that last for.... hmm.. what year is it now? (Cause it's still goin)

[[deleted user]]

I finished last night and I'm really glad I pushed myself to read from the group assignment. I think it would have been one of those books I'd be like "Mmmm get to it later..." and never do. I remember the first LOTR movie a little and now I can see where it ties in.

[Jimmy]

Finished last night too. A re-reading for me. I would have liked to have seen more of Smaug. I think the new film will be a really big hit. BTW really noticed the absence of any female characters this time, not that this takes anything away from the book.

[Nicolle]

Hugh (The other Hugh) wrote: "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 talki..."

I did not know there were others than The Hobbit and LOTR, have you or anyone else read them?

[The Pirate Ghost]

I've read the Silmarillion and "Unfinished Tales." I believe the Silmarillion was finished by Tolkien's son. Unfinished tales is just that. It gets to a certain point and he just goes "I'm not sure what father had in mind here..." or, "According to father's notes this is what is suposed to happen."

[[deleted user]]

Jimmy wrote: BTW really noticed the absence of any female characters this time..."

I told my husband the exact same thing! He told me "Well I think Smaug is a girl dragon." WHAT!
Not is that only not true, but even if it were-that'd be an awful girl name. Smaaaaug.
Maybe it's just a sign of those times. Girls didn't do adventures. They were at home making Tolkien a sandwich.

[Angie]

Have been putting off reading The Hobbit, but with all the great feedback from you guys, I know it will be the next book I pick up.

[Jennifer]

It's great to see so many people enjoying this book! I just finished reading it. I really liked the character Bilbo, because it is so easy to relate to him. We all want to live a comfortable life and be a homebody, but he took up the challenge to go on an adventure and gained so much from it. He changed into such a brave a soul and good friend. I laughed a lot on the first part when the dwarfs barged into this house. Such a great read!

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Well said, Jennifer. I am definitely a homebody and I need to be encouraged to get out there. So I know what you mean.

[Susan O]

Jennifer wrote: "It's great to see so many people enjoying this book! I just finished reading it. I really liked the character Bilbo, because it is so easy to relate to him. We all want to live a comfortable life a..."

I agree Jennifer. There is so much going on in the world now that is serious. I hadn't read the Hobbit for years, until now and it was wonderful, just to laugh out loud.

[Hannah]

I'm new so forgive my ignorance, but is there a location where I can find a discussion about this book?

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

This is the discussion thread, Hannah. It's pretty unstructured. Where you looking for specific areas of discussion?

[Hannah]

Oh I see! Sorry! Thanks for the clarification. I was thinking there was a sort of chapter by chapter discussion forum to be looking for. Just started last night, will post thoughts soon!

[The Pirate Ghost]

That's not a bad idea (the chapter by chapter discussion) is it worth a thread of it's own with a spoiler tag?

[Angie]

Well over half way through this now. You are all quite right - it is a great read.

[Hannah]

I think it would be really fun! Also a great way to spark conversation and ideas about the book with each other! Maybe a fun idea to start with the next chosen book?

[Terri Lynn]

This book was actually written for children at a time when children were far more literate than they are today. Notice how child-like and innocent the elves are here then read the Lord of The Rings trilogy to see how he transitioned them to the books aimed at adults. I read all 4 books for the first time in 5th grade and it was such a noticeable shift. The Hobbit is just plain fun to read. The LOTR trilogy is even better than the movies and that is saying something as Peter Jackson did a masterful job. He has said he will not be as involved in the making of The Hobbit unfortunately.

[Melissa Jeanette]

Terri wrote: "This book was actually written for children at a time when children were far more literate than they are today. Notice how child-like and innocent the elves are here then read the Lord of The Rings..."

You're right he didn't want to be as involved, but (Happy News!!) the studio wouldn't agree to do the movie unless he was both producing and directing again. I'm so excited about that! He was afraid he wouldn't top his work on LOTR and be judged like Lucas was with Star Wars, so I feel kind of bad for him, but I'm relieved because he did such a great job with LOTR. There are pictures out of the Dwarves in costume already and they look amazing! My hubby is a movie buff so he always keeps me informed about these things. lol

[Melissa Jeanette]

Hugh (A.K.A. Hermit the Curmudgeon) wrote: "That's not a bad idea (the chapter by chapter discussion) is it worth a thread of it's own with a spoiler tag?"

I saw on another group thread that people post the chapter they are on before their comments so anyone who isn't that far doesn't get spoilers. I think that would be wonderful. Sometimes I want to say more about a book but even the spoiler tag isn't enough if someone isn't as far along. It would be fun to see what people are saying about the stage of the book your at currently and be able to go back to read comments about later sections once you've gotten that far.

[Hannah]

Melissa wrote: "Hugh (A.K.A. Hermit the Curmudgeon) wrote: "That's not a bad idea (the chapter by chapter discussion) is it worth a thread of it's own with a spoiler tag?"

I saw on another group thread that peopl..."

Let's do it for 1984 in November

[Melissa Jeanette]

Sounds good to me!

[Nicolle]

I am just over half way (it's taken me ages I've only been reading small parts every now and again) and it is fab! I love Bilbo Baggins he is adorable! I think his character is well developed throughout this novel (what I have read so far).

[Alea]

They really is! Have about 100 pages left, and I can't wait to finish it :)

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I loved Bilbo as well, Nicolle.

[Nicolle]

He is a brave fellow, he just doesn't know it himself.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

He will definitely find out.

[The Pirate Ghost]

"Seems more like a Grocer than a Burgler to me."

[Nicolle]

Heehee!

[Jonathan]

Interesting fact: compared to his other work Tolkien apparently disliked the Hobbit because it was a dumbed down mythology.

[Nicolle]

Why did he write/publish it then?

[The Pirate Ghost]

To get C.S. Lewis off of his back.

[Nicolle]

huh

[The Pirate Ghost]

While Tolkien was writing the Hobbit and and Lord of the Rings, he met in a pub with his writing group that included C.S. Lewis who was churning out the Narnia books left and right and wondering when Tolkien would get his manuscript finished.

[Jimmy]

That's sort of right. CS Lewis and Tolkein were drinking buddies, but Lewis was the pushy go-getter type, whereas Tolkein was more reserved and a perfectionst. Lewis read Tolkeins early manuscript early on & well before it was published in 1937, & Lewis gave it rave reviews, so likely if it wasn't for Lewis Tolkein would never have published the Hobbit. But Lewis didn't publish the Narnia series until the 1950's. Tolkein really hated the Narnia stories, whereas he beleived in a factual basis for myths, the presence of Father Christmas in TLTW&TW was utterly irrelevant to Tolkein. They fell out in later years.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I believe I read somewhere that Lewis and Tolkien had a falling-out because Lewis married Joy Gresham (who was divorced, which Tolkein disapproved of), but they actually reconciled prior to Lewis' death.

[Nicolle]

I wonder which is true...

[Jonathan]

I've read the same thing. Since those two are my favourite inspirational authors I've read a fair amount of biographical information incidentally. I believe there was a falling out for a while between the two and they reconciled at the end.

In the foreword of The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun Christopher Tolkien quotes his father: "I don't much approve of The Hobbit myself, preferring my own mythology (which is just touched on) with its consistent nomenclature...to this rabble of Eddaic-named dwarves out of Voluspa, newfangled hobbits and gollums (invented in an idle hour) and Anglo-Saxon runes."

From what I understand they were a part of a reading and writing club named The Inklings. They inspired each other to write stories and it was Lewis' drive that lead to the publication of Tolkien's first middle earth novel. At least that's what I gathered from what I've read.

[Philippa]

Being from New Zealand, I have walked the set of Hobbiton a few times, and very excited to see the final movie that Peter Jackson comes up with.
This book holds a special place in my heart as it was the first book my Dad ever read to me. I just read it to our seven year old, and she is just as inchanted with it, though the writing style is certainly not one she is used to.

[Nicolle]

Philippa wrote: "Being from New Zealand, I have walked the set of Hobbiton a few times, and very excited to see the final movie that Peter Jackson comes up with.
This book holds a special place in my heart as it w..."

Yes, whilst reading this I thought that I wouldn't have understood this at a younger age. Probably not until 11 or 12. I think my reading abilities were not so good up until the last few years.

[Jonathan]

It depends on your circumstances I believe. I was raised on Lewis and Tolkien so the writing style is one I'm fond of and is familiar.

[Nicolle]

Yes, that's what I mean. I don't really come from an academic background and no one I am related to has read a full book (as far as I'm aware). I am the first to go to college and I will (hopefully) be the first to go to university too!

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I think that reading older style language can be hard for most people, even if they come from an academic background. I have several teachers in my family, and I had trouble reading Victorian language the first times I tried to read those books. I'm still useless with Shakespeare! The more books you read from a period, the more it makes sense to your brain.

[Nicolle]

Yep, like my friend can read Shakespeare like any book (she has read ALL his works) and yet I can hardly read an act without help from notes and teachers. I've never done Shakespeare before so have no clue! Yet I am alright at 18th and 19th Century works.