Book Review: The Hobbit
“In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.” - J.R.R Tolkien
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, written in 1937, is a story that has stood the test of time. Almost a century later and this novel is still heavily read, well-known and referenced within modern media. I have always been a fan of the movies but reading the book has wildly changed my outlook on the entirety of the Hobbit as well as Tolkien as a writer.
The Hobbit was originally written as a children’s story but has an appeal to older audiences as well. The narrator within this book is heavily involved, which makes the story feel like it is being read aloud to you. The narrator has constant intrusions throughout the story that create a playful element. This is seen through jokes or small comments about what is happening in the story. There are also lots of songs throughout the text, which adds to the feeling of oral storytelling.
“Far over misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away, ere break of day,
To find our long-forgotten gold.”
Tolkien’s writing is extremely detailed, which helps create verisimilitude for the readers. Anything that is important setting or character is described in great detail. This heavy imagery throws the reader fully into the fantasy world that is being created.
Bilbo Baggins is the main character. He is a Hobbit who lives in a well-decorated hole, loves to eat food and hates leaving the comforts of his home. Gandalf throws this poor Hobbit into a journey with a bunch of dwarves to venture to the misty mountains.
Throughout the journey, there are many obstacles like giant trolls, wolves, orcs and dragons. Since this book was intended for children, most of the dark parts are sprinkled with humor to keep the text light.
Along with humor, The Hobbit is filled with beautiful writing:
“Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar”
I highly recommend reading this book! It is not super long and the narration style makes it a quick read as well. The story is entertaining because the characters are always facing some type of conflict or dilemma.
Overall, I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. It is a tale of an epic adventure filled with action, humor and friendship. The only downside is that some of the conflicts get a little repetitive, but overall this does not take away too much from the overall value of the book.
