The Hobbit

Reader reviewed by Zachary

I love this book, so much.

Never too slow, never too vague.  The Hobbit kept my interest constantly.

The depicted mental imagery of the shire, the mountains and the dragon.

A hobbit decides to leave for adventure, and becomes the unwitting owner of an astounding ring.
He meets all sorts of characters on this journal to far away lands and makes many friends and allies.
Most importantly, he discovers the power in the ring.
Using this new excellent tool, he accomplishes more and greater things than he could've imagined, especially for such a small creature as a hobbit.

Excellent children's book, adapted excellently later into a larger series. 

I can't wait for the movie to come out.

Reader reviewed by Hannah Nurse

I first read J. R. R. Tolkein's "The Hobbit" when I was seven years old.  I'd been in bed for a week with a horrible virus and I was sick to death (no pun intended!) of it.  I had to lie down all day in a quiet room and it felt like the most boring thing in the world.  The only thing that took my mind from the illness was reading. But I'd read all the books on my shelf and I couldn't exactly get up and walk down to the library, so I turned to my elder sister for help.

She brought me "The Hobbit".  I'd vaguely heard of it and thought it was a boy's book, full of goblins and swords and nothing at all that would interest me.  But there was nothing else to do so I wearily opened it up and started reading.  And I was enchanted. 

The tale of Bilbo Baggins, a little hobbit who just wants to live in peace in Hobbiton but who is dragged on a quest to relcaim treasure from a dragon by Gandalf the wizard and a troupe of dwarves was the perfect antidote to my mental stupor.  I was enchanted by the thought of woodland elves who sang mysterious and beautiful songs, terrified by the giant spider and threatening trolls, delighted by the battle of wits and riddles between Gollum and Bilbo. 

"The Hobbit" was the only book in those weeks of frustrated bed-ridden boredom which could lift me from my room and pull me into new and exciting worlds.  Whole afternoons which I would have spent pestering my mum for attention flew by as I flicked through the pages as fast as I could to find out whether Bilbo would ever get home, and by the time I closed the book, thrilled and exhilerated, I knew I'd read something special.  I've always loved books, but this was the first book that made me feel better about something in my life. 

"The Hobbit" is a wonderful story.  Tolkein builds a beautiful and magical world so comprehensively, so believably, that by the time you close the book you long to tramp through the Misty Mountains or stroll through Hobbiton yourself.  And what's more, it is a story of friendship, of determination to the right thing and of bravery from someone ordinary.  Bilbo is not a prince or a knight or a wizard - he is a small, ordinary hobbit who discovers he is capable of remarkable things.  Reading it, I believed that maybe I could do remarkable things too. 

I love this book, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anybody else.  Whether old or young, a fan of fantasy or someone who has never touched it before, I truly believe this book will touch your heart and put a smile on your face.

Reader reviewed by Asil0828

Having began my experience with Lord of the Rings series by watching the blockbuster movies, I really enjoyed learning about Bilbo's story thought this book, which is left out of the movies. I felt that I really understood Frodos's choices at the end of all the books after reading this. It's clear to me now that he felt that he never really fit in anywhere. It was great to watch Bilbo grow and see how his choices affected who Frodo became. Overall a really good story.

Reader reviewed by Conor Mahany

The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkein, is an incredible prelude to the Lord of the Rings (also by Tolkein.) The book tells the tale of a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, and his journey, with a group of 13 dwarves, to the Lonely Mountain, far to the east, wherein reigns the great dragon Smaug. In the process of entering the mountain, Smaug killed many innocent dwarves and men, stealing their treasure and collecting it for himself. With this treasure he dwells inside of the mountain.

The story has an excellent beginning, leaving you uncertain about the task ahead, and keeping you reading and interested. Bilbo, the main character, has a very interesting development throughout the book. At the beginning, immediately after leaving, which he wishes he had never done, Bilbo wishes to be bake in his cozy hobbit-hole (house), sitting at his fire and frying bacon. Bilbos sense of adventure, or his Tookish side (as referred to in the book), slowly develops, showing stronger and stronger in him. Eventually, his bravery is marveling, as he slays giant spiders and sneaks upon fatal dragons.

Tolkeins commentary is also very entertaining. His clever use of foreshadowing keeps the reader interested, while his miscellaneous facts about Middle-earth (the setting where the story takes place) provide answers to trivial questions. The showing of dwarf emotions and hobbies is also very amusing. This invented race of creatures show so many different traits and feelings that Tolkein makes you feel as if you are there, in Middle-earth, along with the group of dwarves and Bilbo, headed on their dangerous mission.
I would definitely recommend this excellent book, for it will keep you reading, and leave you with a climactic, inspirational ending.

Reader reviewed by tay3196

i liked this book. at times it's very sad. probably no for youn children. it's about dwarves who go off on a journey to get some gold back from the great old dragon smaug. there they face many adventures and almost death! be sure to read this book for a great classic!

Reader reviewed by Latangi

The Hobbit is a book about one of the adventures of Bilbo Baggins. In this book Bilbo tricks trolls, helps defeat a dragon, and finds great treasure. If you liked The Lord of the Rings, this is a good book to read. With this book you have to use more of your imagination , than with Lord of the Rings, because there is no movie so far that actually allows you to see Middle Earth. There will be a movie in a year or two, though.

Reader reviewed by monkey gurl 23

It is halariuos when bilbo gets stuck in the door!!!!! it is a story that can keep you laughing if u understand different humors.

it is a book you will want to read aloud to every one and share the perfect memories!

the book is the perfect start to the lord of the rings even though Bilbo plays a small part in the trilogy but still clever none the less!!! I think it is a book that will never bore you however many times you read it!!!!!!!

Reader reviewed by Mairi

The respectable Bilbo Baggins lives a peaceful life in the Shire until Gandalf and a host of dwarves apppears on his doorstep one morning. They are in the service of Thorin Oakenshield, who is going to the Lonely Mountain to reclaim his kingdom from the dragon Smaug, and they want Bilbo to come along with them.

This book is, officially, the prelude to Lord of the Rings, but I have always felt that you should read this book first, read Lord of the Rings, then read The Hobbit again. I have done that and, as in the case of Lord of the Rings, I get more out of it, and like it better, each time.

The Hobbit is a great book for reading aloud, too.

Reader reviewed by The Great White Lop

The wizard is an ace at fireworks and smoke signals. The hobbits are a simple folk, and so it is surprising that Bilbo Baggins packs up his bags and heads out for parts unknown, especially when his only motivation is a magic ring that makes him invisible when he slips it on his finger. Maybe his long-lost cousin Gollum planted it there for him to find. I don't know. Well, I enjoyed reading this book almost as much as The War of Mirrors. The other Ring books were good, too!

Reader reviewed by Bettina

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit and likes his life simple, thank you very much. Now, Gandalf the wizard has charged him with a quest that he really doesn't want to go on, but some dwarves show up and drag him along anyway. Along the way, they expirience many frightening and exciting encounters with different creatures.

I thought that the story would have been better if it (and Chronicles of Narnia) had a little more humor. I'm not saying that The Hobbit or Choronicles of Narnia are bad, in fact I like the books somewhat, but it would just be a little better with a little more humor.