So after about four months of dedicated reading, I have finally finished the classic Lord of the Rings series by JR. Tolkien. We started the club back in November, with me, Shawna, K-man, Laura, and Marc. This would be my second attempt at the series. On my first attempt, during my college years, I made it half way through The Two Towers and eventually hit a wall. However this time I tackled the series, from beginning to end, with a new patience and keen admiration. Here is my review of The Hobbit.
Published back in 1937, The Hobbit was Tolkien's first claim to fame. The book was written primarily as a children's fantasy book, and for this reason is quite easy to read. The story immediately takes us into Middle Earth, without much background, and revolves around a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo is visited by a company of dwarves, led by Thorin, and a wizard, named Gandalf. The dwarves ask Bilbo to join them on a quest to defeat a deadly dragon named Smaug, who has stolen their treasure.
The story then tells of their epic journey to the Lonely Mountain, where they pass through Rivendell, the Misty Mountains, and the black forests of Mirkwood. Along their journey, Bilbo comes across a magical ring that belongs to Gollum. Bilbo is able to escape from Gollum, through a series of riddles, and eventually discovers that the ring makes him invisible. He later regroups with the company of dwarves, and says nothing of his recently discovered ring, which turns to be the driving force of the next three books. The company finally reaches the lake-town of Dale. Bilbo is able to trick the dragon Smaug, and find his weakness. Smaug is eventually slayed by the hero of Dale, Bard the Bowman. Following the slaying of the dragon, a dispute amongst the men and dwarves occur over the treasure. Bilbo is once again able to use his clever wit, to find a solution to the problem. In the final Battle of Five Armies the men, dwarves, and elves unite against the Goblins and the Wargs. The treasure is divided amongst the men and dwarves, and Bilbo accepts only a small portion of the treasure. He returns to the shire as a very wealthy hobbit, full of adventorous tales.
As I said the book is a very easy read, yet also a very necessary prequel to understand the Lord of the Rings series. What's most interesting to me, is the literary comparison of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series. There is no question that his target audience significantly changed from children to adult. In the Lord of the Rings, Tolkien reaches a new depth of creativity, detail, and poetry. Whether or not he had already envisioned this vast concept of Middle-Earth, Tolkien was able to begin his vision in The Hobbit. It became the necessary foundation, and a launching pad for the masterpiece to come. However this book, in itself, is still a classic that can be enjoyed by both children and adult.
Published back in 1937, The Hobbit was Tolkien's first claim to fame. The book was written primarily as a children's fantasy book, and for this reason is quite easy to read. The story immediately takes us into Middle Earth, without much background, and revolves around a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo is visited by a company of dwarves, led by Thorin, and a wizard, named Gandalf. The dwarves ask Bilbo to join them on a quest to defeat a deadly dragon named Smaug, who has stolen their treasure.The story then tells of their epic journey to the Lonely Mountain, where they pass through Rivendell, the Misty Mountains, and the black forests of Mirkwood. Along their journey, Bilbo comes across a magical ring that belongs to Gollum. Bilbo is able to escape from Gollum, through a series of riddles, and eventually discovers that the ring makes him invisible. He later regroups with the company of dwarves, and says nothing of his recently discovered ring, which turns to be the driving force of the next three books. The company finally reaches the lake-town of Dale. Bilbo is able to trick the dragon Smaug, and find his weakness. Smaug is eventually slayed by the hero of Dale, Bard the Bowman. Following the slaying of the dragon, a dispute amongst the men and dwarves occur over the treasure. Bilbo is once again able to use his clever wit, to find a solution to the problem. In the final Battle of Five Armies the men, dwarves, and elves unite against the Goblins and the Wargs. The treasure is divided amongst the men and dwarves, and Bilbo accepts only a small portion of the treasure. He returns to the shire as a very wealthy hobbit, full of adventorous tales.
As I said the book is a very easy read, yet also a very necessary prequel to understand the Lord of the Rings series. What's most interesting to me, is the literary comparison of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series. There is no question that his target audience significantly changed from children to adult. In the Lord of the Rings, Tolkien reaches a new depth of creativity, detail, and poetry. Whether or not he had already envisioned this vast concept of Middle-Earth, Tolkien was able to begin his vision in The Hobbit. It became the necessary foundation, and a launching pad for the masterpiece to come. However this book, in itself, is still a classic that can be enjoyed by both children and adult.
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