J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit

Alan Lee

Hobbit

anne

Er hatte keinen Hut, den er abnehmen konnte, und die vielen fehlenden Knöpfe waren ihm sehr peinlich.

Bilbo Baggins, a respectable, well-to-do hobbit, lives comfortably in his hobbit-hole until the day the wandering wizard Gandalf chooses him to share in an adventure from which he may never return.

Come on Gandalf 😂 you are in Bilbos home, don’t shush him 

Liv Gliese Johnsen

“Hush!” said Gandalf. “Let Thorin speak!” 

Dylan Williams

Pocket Edition

Laura

...till suddenly his hand met what felt like a tiny ring of cold metal lying on the floor of the tunnel. It was a turning point in his career, but he did not know it.

Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal of telling anyway.

Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and heare the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.

This is a story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected. He may have lost the neighbors' respect, but he gained - well, you will see whether he gained anything in the end.

Katy Schwarz

He charged the ranks of the goblins of Mount Gram in the OIse, Battle of the Green Fields, and knocked their king Golfimbul's head clean off with a wooden club. It sailed a hundred yards through the air and went down a rabbit- hole, and in this way the battle was won and the game of Golf invented at the same moment.

Liz Griffin

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again

Emma Hak-Kovacs

A great modern classic and the prelude to The Lord of the Rings. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum. “A glorious account of a magnificent adventure, filled with suspense and seasoned with a quiet humor that is irresistible . . . All those, young or old, who love a fine adventurous tale, beautifully told, will take The Hobbit to their hearts.” – New York Times Book Review

jana 

Shari Ilg

Bilbo Baggins enjoys a quiet and contented life, with no desire to travel far from the comforts of home; then one day the wizard Gandalf and a band of dwarves arrive unexpectedly and enlist his services - as a burglar - on a dangerous expedition to raid the treasure-hoard of Smaug the dragon. Bilbo's life is never to be the same again.The Hobbit became an instant success when it was first published in 1937, and more than 60 years later Tolkien's epic tale of elves, dwarves, trolls, goblins, myth, magic and adventure, with its reluctant hero Bilbo Baggins, has lost none of its appeal.Bilbo Baggins has taken his place among the ranks of the immortals of children's fiction. Written by Professor Tolkien for his own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when published - it was the Harry Potter of its generation. With new Lord of the Rings movies around the corner, this special Children's edition is designed to put the book back where it belongs - at the top of every child's 'must-read' list.

Noah Cross

Eilidh 

The Hobbit is set within Tolkien's fictional universe and follows the quest of home-loving Bilbo Baggins, the titular hobbit, to win a share of the treasure guarded by a dragon named Smaug. Bilbo's journey takes him from his light-hearted, rural surroundings into more sinister territory.

Or There And Back

Anna with an A

Or There And Back Again

Abby Lane

I enjoyed the whimsical homely feel the book had - it was very different to the movie (that I watched first), which was more epic. Tolkien's voice in The Hobbit is funny, lighthearted, yet intentional. It was a wholesome experience, I really enjoyed it.

Little Bilbo is a darling and I like him. He goes through much more peril with the dwarves than in the movies, which surprised me. Their attitude towards Bilbo is also more dependent than expected, but it made Bilbo all the more likeable because he struggled with their expectations, and that's something relatable.

The book has proven Very Interesting as far as researching Mirkwood goes. I wish Peter Jackson had explored the Silvan elves and their relationship with the men of the Lake more, but alas, I'm happy I read the book now.

I love seeing all the characters and little details in descriptions come back in The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings as expanded and developed concepts - especially Elrond, and the talking eagles & spiders.

Overall I love this book because it's wholesome, a light and fun read, and this book I'll probably reread again next year.

Marshie

I enjoyed the whimsical homely feel the book had - it was very different to the movie (that I watched first), which was more epic. Tolkien's voice in The Hobbit is funny, lighthearted, yet intentional. It was a wholesome experience, I really enjoyed it.

Little Bilbo is a darling and I like him. He goes through much more peril with the dwarves than in the movies, which surprised me. Their attitude towards Bilbo is also more dependent than expected, but it made Bilbo all the more likeable because he struggled with their expectations, and that's something relatable.

The book has proven Very Interesting as far as researching Mirkwood goes. I wish Peter Jackson had explored the Silvan elves and their relationship with the men of the Lake more, but alas, I'm happy I read the book now.

I love seeing all the characters and little details in descriptions come back in The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings as expanded and developed concepts - especially Elrond, and the talking eagles & spiders.

Overall I love this book because it's wholesome, a light and fun read, and this book I'll probably reread again next year.

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey ‘there and back again’. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon…

The prelude to The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit has sold many millions of copies since its publication in 1937, establishing itself as one of the most beloved and influential books of the twentieth century.
--back cover

or There and Back Again

This will likely not find favour with Tolkien fans, but if I were to rank the three interrelated pieces of media, the original novel, the films made from this material and the fanfic made as a result of the films, my rating would go: 1) fanfic, 2) films, 3) novel. While a good deal of this rating is based on my being a Bagginshield shipper, the fanfic tends to do the best job of filling out pieces where readers or viewers may have wanted to see more detail. 

And of course, the wealth of fix-it fic where Thorin doesn't fucking die!

Most will find this an unfair assessment of the original work, as there really isn't enough in the original text to infer a romantic relationship between  Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakenshield, it's  not the point of that story. The subtext is present in the films chiefly because of the performance of the actors, even more so than the script, and fans just ran with it to expand on canon and fulfill the suggestion. It's not just this romance that flourishes in fanfic, though, you get all kinds of more complex windows into other characters and side ventures, that, while up to the transformative author's interpretation, enriches the world that Tolkien built. 

The message at the heart of The Hobbit is present in the films and the better fanfic, though the fic I favour does its best to show that characters learn the lesson without the same tragedy. It's why I don't find myself spending much time with Tolkien-related media outside the fix-it realm. He had good reason for telling the stories he did, but they're all so goddamn sad. 

And I can say with confidence now, having run back through his four most well known books, this ventures a little further into the high fantasy, and a narrative style that I don't love. I doubt I'll be investigating other works by this author. To each their own. 🤷🏼‍♂️ 

This will likely not find favour with Tolkien fans, but if I were to rank the three interrelated pieces of media, the original novel, the films made from this material and the fanfic made as a result of the films, my rating would go: 1) fanfic, 2) films, 3) novel. While a good deal of this rating is based on my being a Bagginshield shipper, the fanfic tends to do the best job of filling out pieces where readers or viewers may have wanted to see more detail. 

And of course, the wealth of fix-it fic where Thorin doesn't fucking die!

Most will find this an unfair assessment of the original work, as there really isn't enough in the original text to infer a romantic relationship between  Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakenshield, it's  not the point of that story. The subtext is present in the films chiefly because of the performance of the actors, even more so than the script, and fans just ran with it to expand on canon and fulfill the suggestion. It's not just this romance that flourishes in fanfic, though, you get all kinds of more complex windows into other characters and side ventures, that, while up to the transformative author's interpretation, enriches the world that Tolkien built. 

The message at the heart of The Hobbit is present in the films and the better fanfic, though the fic I favour does its best to show that characters learn the lesson without the same tragedy. It's why I don't find myself spending much time with Tolkien-related media outside the fix-it realm. He had good reason for telling the stories he did, but they're all so goddamn sad. 

And I can say with confidence now, having run back through his four most well known books, this ventures a little further into the high fantasy, and a narrative style that I don't love. I doubt I'll be investigating other works by this author. To each their own. 🤷🏼‍♂️ 

⚠️ Fatphobia 

Presents a box set including the complete "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, as well as its prequel, "The Hobbit."

The Hobbit / The Fellowship of the Ring / The Two Towers / The Return of the King

The Hobbit / The Lord of the Rings

Kendi Dockum

I can't believe I've never reviewed this series... I was literally just thinking to myself, "Hey, maybe I should reread LOTR again." Then the very next thought I had was, "I better make dang sure my schedule is free for awhile before I decide to tackle this series again." It is a commitment, but it is well worth it! I only rated it as such because it takes a while for it to get good, at least from how I remember it.

i loved every second of it, so much better than the movies and soo entertaining and funny without being trivial or ridiculous 

Jonathan

becky oh

A classic book I haven't read in ages. Seriously, I was falling asleep halfway through the book. Maybe that's because I was reading this on my bed, but it was boring. I mean, that's part of the classic books. 

Classic=boring 

I still gave a 3 star, since that characters and the fantasy were epic :) But don't think I would read it again. Might as well donate it to a library or something. It's squeaky clean that I think it's new....

Boxed with the three Lord of the Rings books. It is bound much like a bible with a leatherette cover.

"contains all corrections and revisions that have been made since the original publication."--t.p. verso.
Includes index

Absolute perfection (though I was a little disappointed by how different the movies are)

Lenja

I first read this when I was eleven, and have since read it around forty times. It's much more whimsical and fantastical than the Lord of the rings, which made it much easier to read. 

This has long been part of a very small list of books that I love everything about and have absolutely nothing to critique on. 10/10, have recommended and will again

Normal Human

I first read this when I was eleven, and have since read it around forty times. It's much more whimsical and fantastical than the Lord of the rings, which made it much easier to read. 

This has long been part of a very small list of books that I love everything about and have absolutely nothing to critique on. 10/10, have recommended and will again

shellybn

The book that introduced me to Tolkien, "The Lord of the Rings," and profoundly changed my life.

Dimitris Papastergiou

Yes my dear Frodo, it's still as good as I remember it to be!

A true classic. Great for all ages. A desert island book for sure. 

Brandon

Dakshin

Lo hobbit

Silvia Lucchini

L'inizio di un coraggioso e inaspettato viaggio che darà poi il via all'eccezionale trilogia che è LOTR. Una storia che sembra quasi una fiaba, piena di avvenimenti e di avventure con personaggi vecchi (per chi già conosce LOTR) e tanti nuovi. Personalmente ho adorato Bilbo.

Un Tolkien sicuramente diverso da quello de Il Signore degli Anelli: nel Lo Hobbit si percepisce che il pubblico al quale si rivolge è molto giovane e ho apprezzato molto le parti nelle quali il narratore passava dalla terza alla prima persona.
Sicuramente non supera la poetica bellezza di LOTR, ma ne vale assolutamente la pena.

Ah, e sei hai visto il film, ti svelo un segreto: non c'entra quasi nulla.

Probably the most famous children's book of modern times -- regularly topping polls for "favourite book" and now available in a Large Type format to complement The Lord of The Rings Large Type trilogy. Bilbo Baggins enjoys a quiet and contented life, with no desire to travel far from the comforts of home; then one day the wizard Gandalf and a band of dwarves arrive unexpectedly and enlist his services -- as a burglar -- on a dangerous expedition to raid the treasure-hoard of Smaug the dragon. Bilbo's life is never to be the same again. The Hobbit became an instant success when it was first published in 1937, and more than 60 years later Tolkien's epic tale of elves, dwarves, trolls, goblins, myth, magic and adventure, with its reluctant hero Bilbo Baggins, has lost none of its appeal.

Nessa Luna

Just drown me in feelings why don't you. (view spoiler)[Slight unpopular opinion I think, but I honestly love the movies and I love what they gave us, especially when it came to battles. Because if the movies had stayed accurate to the book, there would have been NO Battle of Five Armies at all. Because Bilbo literally passes out at the beginning and doesn't wake up until after it's all done. *shrug* (hide spoiler)]

In this delightful and enthralling tale, J R R Tolkien first created the imperishable world of fantasy called Middle-earth, and those charming, indomitable creatures, the hobbits, whose adventures are continued in “The Lord of the Rings”.
—back cover

spent most of my time reading this with tears in my eyes due to tolkien’s use of language alone! such lovable characters and such an interesting, albeit dangerous, world they’re all living in! 

༺ kat ༻

Lovely descriptions of nature in an adventure. Cool creatures, a simple plot and a simple conflict. A very pleasant read. Self-contained which I for some reason did not expect.

The main character passes out during some battles, but he is not a fighter and they get discussed later so I dont mind. The latter half of the book did not peak my interest as much as the start, I guess I dont like the epic proportion stuff personally. It seems that the goblins in this book are inherently bad which is a bit concerning, and in general I just don't like the concept of that (Maybe I will develop more thoughts on this as I read more fantasy)

I loved this book, and hope to read more fantasy, also I really want to start Lord of the rings now. The lord of the eagles 🩷🩷🩷

Nota

Lovely descriptions of nature in an adventure. Cool creatures, a simple plot and a simple conflict. A very pleasant read. Self-contained which I for some reason did not expect.

The main character passes out during some battles, but he is not a fighter and they get discussed later so I dont mind. The latter half of the book did not peak my interest as much as the start, I guess I dont like the epic proportion stuff personally. It seems that the goblins in this book are inherently bad which is a bit concerning, and in general I just don't like the concept of that (Maybe I will develop more thoughts on this as I read more fantasy)

I loved this book, and hope to read more fantasy, also I really want to start Lord of the rings now. The lord of the eagles 🩷🩷🩷

Wynter

2018 update: I'm knocking down a star this time to a solid 4, because while I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Hobbit once more, I did notice a few problem spots this time around. I'm not talking about the glaring absence of female characters, since that argument against Tolkien has been done to death. I think this is the book where he tried to fit too much into too short of the book, so that some scenes feel very rushed and conveniently wrapped up. For example, I hate when during the climax of an epic scene the main character either faints or gets knocked out, because it's a lazy way for the writer to get out of coming up with a truly impactful exit scene that takes us from the war back to peace. Notorious for his fainting spells, Frodo in The Lord of the Rings continues this trend. Other scenes rushed past me with a breakneck speed, and I cannot believe I'm saying this, but I missed Tolkien's trademark wordiness. Great children's novel though, even if many ponies died in the making.

Cheri Fuller

Love This Book! I think a big part of why I love The Hobbit is because two of the three times I've read it, I've listened to the audio version with my young son. We always have an audio book going and sharing books is a wonderful way for us to always have at least one thing in common to talk about.
 
The first time we listened to it, he had to have been about 8 years old. This time around, he's 11 and we've decided to read the Lord of the Rings series immediately afterward. I imagine we'll listen to The Hobbit and the LOTR series together again.

Ward

Emily Perkovich

I wanted to like this sooooo much more than I did. There were definitely parts I liked. The writing is not bad in itself. But so much is unnecessary that it became boring quickly. I found many times where I was not taking in any information. I had heard over and over again that Tolkien is overly descriptive, but I had also heard this about other writers that I ended up enjoying. I can say without a doubt that this book could be cut in half and I’d enjoy it far more.

I read this as a child and it had been far too long since I had re-read it .

I was a nice balance of humor and seriousness. I love the way it is written, taking more of a "you are being told a story" type of style. The characters are entertaining and believable. 

It is a good classic fantasy story and I highly recommend it.

Alex Landau

I read this as a child and it had been far too long since I had re-read it .

I was a nice balance of humor and seriousness. I love the way it is written, taking more of a "you are being told a story" type of style. The characters are entertaining and believable. 

It is a good classic fantasy story and I highly recommend it.

Hardik parmar 

Reading "The Hobbit" was an enrapturing experience which rides you directly to the well and rich imagined world of J.R.R. Tolkien. Bilbo, a hobbit who loves NO adventures and always seeking for comfort went to an actual horrified adventure to win the dragon guarded gold treasure for the dwarves. And the adventure changes hobbit in many ways. It somehow quotes to let life take its remote in some situations and stop living so acquisitive life. It was the first Tolkien book of mine and as I expected at the start, it ends leaving a deep pleasure inside you.

Sophie

Vond het wel een leuk boek om te lezen nadat ik de film eerst heb gezien.

partially listened to the audiobook for this; andy serkis' narration is realy wonderful. wish i read this when i was younger; i think i would've enjoyed it then. to be honest, didn't enjoy it as much as i'd hoped to, but it was a breezy read.

morgan

Sarthak Verma

No doubt that its a great and a well-written book but, I can't exactly say I loved it. I mean I certainly enjoyed reading it and indeed it was adventurous, but it is also true that I just didn't get hooked to it, and it's a personal thing.
I liked how simple and short this book was, even after containing all these adventures it was really concise. It was perfectly elaborate even after being a short (305 pg) read. Except some parts were very slow and made it not very interesting, which is why it took me almost 1 month to complete it.

Conclusion: I think anyone who wants a fantasy book with lots of adventures, happy memories, loves reading magical stories consisting of a large number of characters and detailed history behind them would love it.

The Hobbit

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