2. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when it was first published in 1937. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent.

This book was a lot easier to read than the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  To me, it seemed like more of a story than a list of events (which was kind of how the LOTR trilogy was, but I still enjoyed it).

It was fun getting a closer look at Bilbo.  I enjoyed reading about the dwarfs (though at time I thought there were too many, but I digress), and was glad that by the end of the journey they all respected and befriended Bilbo, especially Balin.  It was also fun reading about all of Bilbo's ideas and plans that saved them so many times.

There were parts of the journey that I thought were rather boring and drawn out, but overall it was enjoyable.  I am interested to see how the next two films depict the rest of the story... although the first movie was VERY different than the beginning of the book.  And what the heck?!?! - no Legolas?  I was deceived...

To me, Smaug was killed too quickly, certain people who died shouldn't have, but I guess that's why I don't write stories.  The ending was rather abrupt and I wish there was a little more to the story, but I will survive.


Rating: 4/5

REVISED:  While I enjoyed reading The Hobbit, I didn't enjoy it enough to give it four stars.  I just liked it.

New Rating: 3/5