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J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit, Reviewed by Nora, 12

I first read The Hobbit when I was seven years old. I was instantly intrigued by the adventure, and wanted to read as much as I could. The story was exciting, and interesting, despite the rather dense language that often frightens people away. Some people think that The Hobbit is for middle schoolers to read, or sometimes high schoolers. But it is an adventure that will appeal to all ages, whether you’re seven or seventeen. One thing that made The Hobbit so interesting was that the main character, Bilbo Baggins, was a normal hobbit, and never ever wanted an adventure in his life. Throughout the book, he was often frightened, and not sure if he could do what he had been given to do. Everyone thought that he was some great burglar, when in truth, he had never left his hobbit-hole in Bag-End before. But despite all this, he ended up being crucial for the mission, and saved his friend’s lives on more than one occasion. Bilbo Baggins is unknowingly caught up in a great scheme between the dwarves and the great wizard, Gandalf, to get their gold and treasure back from the evil dragon, Smaug. Along the way, they come across many dangers, and almost die a few times. Bilbo is worried that he will never see his cosy home in Bag-End ever again. The Hobbit is the amazing prequel to The Lord of the Rings series. All four books take place in J.R.R. Tolkien’s imaginary world, called Middle Earth. Elves and goblins live there, along with hobbits, dragons, and other magical creatures. But Tolkein puts enough reality into it so that the characters are relatable, and although impossible things are happening to them, and they are not even human, it feels as though they are actually real. The dense writing style of The Hobbit often causes people to think that the book is very hard to understand, and not worth the time it takes them to read it. But it most definitely is. From the moment you read the first line, “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit” you will be fascinated, drawn in by the charm that J.R.R. Tolkien puts into his words. You will battle giant spiders, escape from goblins, and play a game of riddles with a creature in the dark. You will journey through the dark and dangerous forest, and confront Smaug, the dragon. I would recommend The Hobbit to anyone at all who is looking for a new adventure book. Whether you’re young or old, the story that has captivated audiences for generations will captivate you, too. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Mariner Books, 1937. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!