Review: The Hobbit

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well that was adorable. It’s funny, I didn’t get into reading until I was older so when all my friends in elementary/middle school were reading these books (because at the time the movies were coming out) I was too intimidated by the size to pick one up. At the time, I was trying to do everything in my power to get away without reading.

So after all these years I sorta looked at Tolkien as more than a man. Ya know a guy who created our baseline for high fantasy, he had to be the standard of everything great in literature right? Well that’s not what this novel turned out to be and it was for the best because I loved it. It makes me regret not reading it as a child because I know I would’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Narrator was adorable and so welcoming. He was the old guy who shows up at a party and wants everyone to like him so he tells them the most fascinating story he can think of, all the while breaking the fourth wall or breaking from the narrative to offer exposition that enriches the story.

There was never a dull moment. It starts off with Bilbo being invited on the journey, oversleeping, then deciding he was going on an adventure. The characters were always on the move and always facing new challenges, whether it be trolls, elves, spiders, or goblins (which works well for a story because it offers plenty of opportunities to put it down and pick it back up without losing your place).

All in all, I loved this tale. It was a fun adventure that wasn’t stressful or intense. It didn’t require any deep thought to enjoy (I know one could dissect the layers of this book and pull out deeper meaning but it isn’t a requirement for enjoyment).

I now look forward to reading the LOTR series. This is exactly what I needed after finishing the Dark Tower series.

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