The Hobbit

Addicting

This was an enjoyable read and would work for younger readers, as young as 8 if they are into the elf and goblin themed world. It was very explanatory and the diction was easy enough for all to understand. A great read all the way around!

The Hobbit is based in a magic medieval world with dragons and magic golden rings. A dragon called Smaug had stolen all of the gold in a little town that Thorin Oakshield lives. Bilbo Baggins is a Hobbit. A Hobbit is half the size of a dwarf and is a peaceful person. They never go on adventures and eat 7 meals a day. Gandalf a great and powerful wizard sends him and another 13 dwarfs off to find the golden mountain where the dragon Smaug lives and all of the gold he plundered. I thought it was a fun and amazing book to read because the characters were well described and I could picture them in my head really well. As the characters wonder thought the woods on to the misty mountains they come across black river and other nasty and fowl creatures.

From crossing the mountains they get captured by goblins and try to escape all while leaving Bilbo all alone in the paths under the mountains. As he is walking he finds something that belongs to a fowl creature named Gollum. Gollum wants the thing back and challenges Bilbo to a riddle challenge. If he loses Gollum will eat him if he wins Gollum will show him the way out of the passages. Once they reach the Mountain they get in another pickle. They can’t seem to open the door and Gandalf has left there to find how. They finally get in and fight the dragon. If you would like to find out the rest you will have to read the book.

Highly recommended.

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien, is a book that takes you on an adventure with Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit. He travels with many dwarves and a powerful wizard across the land of Middle-Earth, filled with many fantastical creatures, such as goblins and dragons. The adventure is exciting and suspenseful, almost making it a perfect story. The only problem is that the plot becomes somewhat predictable towards the ending, but the novel is still very enjoyable because of the way Tolkien keeps the action going.
The characters in The Hobbit are unique and special because of the different races and personalities they show. One of the main characters, Bilbo Baggins, appealed to me the most, as he managed to draw me in with his unpredictable changes and acts. Throughout the book, he becomes the total opposite of what he was before, and he influences the outcome of several major events. Anyone can tell that he is a very important character in this way because the book’s title refers to him.
Not only are these characters exceptionally intriguing, but the setting and dialogue are a major parts of the novel worthy of reading. The different places that they travel to are all described vividly, and Tolkien manages to keep a good balance between descriptions and the rest of the story. On the other hand, the dialogue is just as good because there is a lot of it, and the words that come out of each character reveal many emotions and feelings. This allows the reader to imagine the scene better in their head, enhancing the reading experience by that much more.
Out of five, I would give this book four and a half stars, as I found the book to be a joy to read. Those who like adventure or fantasy books are definitely recommended to pick this book up because it fits right under those categories.

I don't know how many times I've re-read this book. Every time, I find new treasures in the pages. The world building is incomparable. The adventure is thrilling. The characters are vivid and unique. And after reading this book, the words "my precious" now send chills up my spine. Love it. Highly recommend.

Reader reviewed by john m

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is a very interesting book. The
story includes many ancient characters such as Bilbo, The Hobbit, Gandalf, the
wizard, Dwarves, Smaug the dragon, elves, Beorn the bear man, and goblins. The
setting is in Wilderland and includes a journey from Hobbiton, through
Mirkwood, and to the Lonely Mountain.

The plot of the Hobbit is begins when dwarves get Bilbo to
go on an adventure, something Hobbits dont normally do.  Soon, they are fighting Goblins and
Bilbo gets a ring that makes him turn invisible. Next, they have troubles in
Mirkwood Forest because of giant spiders, and get put into jail by the Wood
Elves.  Their journey ends with a
stop in Lake Town and they travel to the lonely mountains and meet Smaug the
Dragon.  Here is where they ancient
Dwarf treasure is located.  The
theme is about doing something you dont normally do, like Bilbo going on an
adventure.

The author did a good job of describing the bad characters
so I would feel something horrible was going to happen to Bilbo and the
Dwarves. I wish the author had added more pictures to make the characters more
memorable.

 

I think kids and adults should read this book if they like
adventure and fantasy. Plus, its the story before The Lord of the Rings.  Id give this book an overall rating of
(five stars).

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 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.