Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit - a little man with hairy feet that loves to eat. Most hobbits prefer a slow-paced, peaceful life, but Bilbo finds he can't resist an adventure when a wizard accompanied by thirteen dwarves fall upon his doorstep. On his travels, he meets goblins, elves, and a very large dragon. He fights battles. He riddles with Gollum. And, he often wishes he were drinking tea in the comfort of his little hobbit hole.
I have read The Hobbit many times - so many times that I have lost count. I can easily get lost in Tolkien's Middle Earth, particularly without all the crazy detail that comes with his Lord of the Rings trilogy. I love the journey through the worlds of hobbits, elves, goblins, men, and more. I love that Bilbo did something completely unexpected of him, and that he continues to do so throughout the entire story. As the hobbit gave hope to Gandalf, Tolkien gives me hope as a reader to believe in the good of people, to be open to adventures that may unexpectedly arise, and to beware of dragons. Afterall, one of my favorite quotes of all times comes from this tale . . .
"Never laugh at live dragons . . ." (p. 227)The Hobbit deserves to be a classic, one read over and over again. It is one you will not want to miss, will probably want to revisit, and share with the children in your lives to keep that hope alive for generations to come.
My most recent read of The Hobbit was with my son, but it will definitely not be my last!
Are you a fan of The Hobbit? What did you love (or hate) about this fantastical tale?
I actually read this for the first time a few months ago. I was surprised by how much I liked it! My favorite scene is when all the dwarves show up at Bilbo's house.
ReplyDeleteTasha Brandstatter ... I really do like this one much more than LOTR! It's not quite so bogged down in the detail and has more humor in it. I love the scene of the dwarves showing up at Bilbo's as well as the dwarves riding in the barrels!
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