Title: The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Summary:
The Hobbit, known for being the prequel to the Lord of the Rings, and yet it is a gem all by itself
and remains an all time classic in English Literature. The story follows Bilbo Baggins who is a
hobbit, small creatures who live peaceful lives out of any danger in the world. Of course, the last
thing he’s looking for finds him first. A company of thirteen dwarves and a wizard invite Bilbo
to join them on a quest to reclaim their homeland in the far east, the Lonely Mountain. Inside
rests the abandoned dwarven kingdom of Erebor, taken over by the dragon Smaug over sixty
years prior to the setting. The company encounters numerous experiences with elves, goblins,
giant spiders, along with one silly gold ring, and Bilbo is thrust into a world which he never
knew existed. Although he felt out of place at first, throughout the adventure, the dwarves look
to Bilbo for his leadership, honorability, and courage to help them finish their quest. After all is
said and done, Bilbo returns to his home, changed forever by his experiences during this truly
epic quest.
Opinion:
The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings series is one of my personal favorites of all time whether it be the
movies or books. I cherish these novels not only because of its epic setting, characters, and story,
but also because of the symbolism it carries. The Hobbit can be looked at as an analogy for WWI
(in which Tolkien had fought in): a happy, content individual is pulled into an adventure which
changes his life forever, similar to how the war changed anyone who fought in it and scarred
them for the rest of their lives. Tolkien also wanted to put an emphasis on how much we take our
homes for granted and don’t realize how much we value them until their existence is in jeopardy.
Learning about this afterward made me appreciate this novel even more. Despite this, it is on the
older side and is written primarily in older styled English, which is something to keep in mind if
you are considering giving it a shot. I would recommend The Hobbit to anyone in high school
and above and to at least give one of the all-time greats a chance.
Cover (Library Catalog):
I thought the cover was fine for attracting attention from readers who are unfamiliar to the series.
However, after reading the novel and reviewing its themes and the overall message behind it, a
more artistic, simple cover would suit it more in my opinion.
Rating:
The Hobbit is an easy five stars for me; while it may not be the best book I’ve read, it’s certainly
one of my favorites.