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Read The Hobbit (2002)

The Hobbit (2002)

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4.22 of 5 Votes: 4
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ISBN
0618260307 (ISBN13: 9780618260300)
Language
English
Publisher
houghton mifflin

The Hobbit (2002) - Plot & Excerpts

The Plot القصهThe Action الاحداثThe Settings الاماكنThe Characters الشخصياتBut.. The Oscar Goes to.. J.R.R. Tolkien for BEST STORYTELLER فعلا لعل اكثر ما اعجبني في رحلتي مع الهوبيت ..تلك الرحله غير المتوقعه ليهو اسلوب روايه جي ار ار تولكين للقصه فله اسلوب مميز بالفعل في الحكي, كانه يروي وهو يجلس معك أنت شخصياالهــوبيت هي حجر الاساس والبدايه في واحده من اهم الروايات في العالم "سلسله ملك الخواتم" "وكانت السلسله الاعلي مبيعات حتي اطاحت بها روايه الساحره الانجليزيه جي كي رولينج عن قصه حياه هاري بوتر" , وحتي الكتاب منفردا قد حقق مبيعات عاليه ونسبه قراءه اعليلم اكن انتوي ابدا البدء في قراءه عالم فانتازي من اوله لاخره..فهذا لم يكن ابدا نوع القراءه المفضله بالنسبه لي "فلا الخيال العلمي مثل حرب النجوم او الهوبيت هو النوع المفضل لي في القراءه واحيانا الافلام ايضا"..فانا افضل الخيال الذي يحدث في العالم الحقيقي الواقعي,الفانتازيا التي تحدث في البلد المجاور والشخصيات الحقيقيه حتي وان كان لها قدرات خارقه..ولكن عندما تعج روايه بشخصيات غريبه كاقزام وغيلان وهوبيت وجن, بل وتدور في ارض خياليه فهذا كنت اعتبره كثيرا جدا لمخيلتي الي علي قدها :)ولكني اتذكر جيدا ان اول مشاهده لفيلم "ملك الخواتم" 2001 اعجبني قصه الجزء الاول نوعا ما الا ان يكون "الهوبيت" هذه الشخصيات الخياليه مع الاقزام مع الجن والغيلان والترول والصقور العملاقه, كل هذا في اراضي غير حقيقيه وعالم اخر تماما اربكني جدا ولم يجعلني استمتع بالاجزاء التاليهوتشأ الظروف ان اشاهد بعد اكثر من 10 سنوات النسخه الممتده من الفيلم, وشعرت ان الشخصيات لها عمق والسيناريو الممتد افضل بكثير من مجرد الاكشن والحروب التي ضجرت من طول مدتها خلال الاحداثومن هنا شعرت ان بالتأكيد الروايه نفسها وشخصياتها لها عمق غير الاكشن ولها تاريخ ايضا..وبعد صدور الفيلم الذي خرج عن روايه "الهوبيت" بعد اخر جزء بعشر سنوات واعجابي فعلا برسم الشخصيات قررت ان ابدا في دخول عالم الارض الوسطي ,عالم تولكين كما رواه بنفسه وكما "اختلقها" بقلمه وريشته ايضا..ومن البدايه********* الاحداث *********------- The Plot ------فكره الرحله وطريقه تقديمها اعجبتني جدا, وجود خريطه المسيره في غلاف الكتاب الداخلي بريشه تولكين امر اكثر من رائع وافادني كثيرا لتخيل الرحلهالا ان العيب الوحيد هو تسرب الملل في بعض اجزاء الرحله نفسها..ربما -واقولها مره اخري- هو ملل مقصود ادبيا لكي نشعر بمدي الملل الذي يعانيه البطل "فالبطل كان متمللا جدا طبعا ولايحلم الا بفراشه الوثير" ولكن مازالت بعض الاجزاء كانت اطول مما ينبغي ولم ترق لي كثيراوهنا يأتي جمال الفيلم والذي اعتبره مكمل للصوره الكامله التي رسمها تولكن, بيتر جاكسون فعلا منح الحياه البصريه للروايه بشكل رائع ويستحق فعلا ترشيح اوسكار اخربيتر جاكسون منذ بدايه الجزء الاول من سلسله ملك الخواتم قام باختيار اجمل مواقع التصوير التي يمكن جعل بها الارض الوسطي حقيقه مرئيه وليس في الامكان اجمل مما كانوهذا ما استخدمه هنا بطريقه اقوي في "الهوبيت" وحتي ان كان هذا الجمال اكثر بكثير من الروايه نفسها في وصف الاماكنكما قام في مغامره تحسب له بحذف بعض الاحداث الممله بالروايه "كالدوران مرارا وتكرارا في ممرات الغيلان بالجبل او الغابه المظلمه" ولكنه اضاف بعض الاحداث الاخري الاكشن والتي ربما زادت من الملل قليلا بالنسبه لي مثل جعل مطاره الغيلان للاقزام تأخذ مساحات اطول واحيانا في اوقات لم تكن بالروايهكما اضاف في الفيلم احداث تدور بين جاندلف وبين النكرومانسي والتي تم ذكرها عابره في احداث الروايه ولم نشهدها او نعرف عنها اي شئ..وهي اضافه في هذه الحاله تحسب له جدا وفعلا اتمني ان اقرأ عنها في روايه اخريوان اشفق الراوي الرائع علينا ويلات الحرب الاخيره -وهذا من حسن حظي اني غبت عن الوعي مع بيبلو "طبعا وكل من قرأ الروايه- لعدم تطويل الاحداث في وصف الحرب فاني اعتقد انها سيخصص لها نصف الجزء الثالث من الفيلم تقريبا, وربما يكون الامر مشوقا وقتهاولكن كما قلت جمال الطبيعه والتصوير الذي قام به الفيلم يشفع له التطويلولكن الاجمل فعلا كان في تصوير ********* الشخصيات *********-------The Characters--------Dwarf فعندما يكون هذا ...قزم تعرف انك امام فيلم يعشق شخصيات الروايه ويريد ان يقدمهم في اجمل صورهموقد كان.........حقافتصوير الشخصيات بالفيلم قدمه بيتر جاكسون باروع مايمكن ,وحتي ليس بصريا فقط بل وبناء الشخصيات نفسه وتطورها كان مشابهه للروايه ويعلوه في بعض الاحيان"بالطبع لطول فتره الفيلم باجزاءه" فسموج التنين مثلا كان رهبته افضل بكثير "بصوته" وهيئته في الفيلم الجزء الثاني, وان كان هناك اختلاف طفيف بين الحوار بين الروايه والفيلم الا انك تجد ان كلاهما مكملين لتصويره الرهيب...ولكن يظل توليكن يتفوق بالتأكيد وبدون اي شك او حتي معارضه في تقديمها اتذكر شخصيه "بوروين" الرجل الدب اني قرأت بدايه هذا الفصل وتقديم الشخصيه نفسها قبل نصف ساعه من دخول الفيلم الجزء الثاني..روح الدعابه في روايه القصه كان واضحا جدا وكان من اجمل الفصول فعلا, ولكنه تحول في الفيلم الي مشهد اكشن فحسب فلم يكن رائعا مثل الروايهفالحوار بينه وبين جاندلف كان في غايه الطرافه فعلا...وشخصيه جاندلف بالاخص اعشقها "صارت شخصيتي المفضله الجديده" لاني اشعر ان بها الكثير من ********* الـرواي *********----- The Storyteller -----تولكن , والذي منحناه الاوسكار في اول الريفيو كان له اسلوب اكثر من رائع في الحكي...في وصف العالم الذي يعشقه والشخصيات وماضيها وتاريخها ونفسيتها وعائلتهالغته المحببه في الروي وروح الدعابه واشعارك بانه يحكي لك الروايه خصيصا هو اكثر ما شدني لاستكمال رحلتي الغير متوقعه فعلا معهانجليزيته المحببه سواء في اللغه او حتي تصرفات شخصياته جعلتني اعشق اكثر الادب الانجليزي "فلا ننس ان جي كي روليج كاتبتي المفضله انجليزيه ايضا" جندلف انا متأكد انه شخصيته المفضله.."ربما سأبحث في هذا الامر فعلا" وقد اعجبني جدا حواره منذ اول مشاهده والتي حافظ عليها بروحها ونصها المخرج بيتر جاكسون“Good Morning!" said Bilbo, and he meant it. The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. But Gandalf looked at him from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his shady hat."What do you mean?" he said. "Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?""All of them at once," said Bilbo. "And a very fine morning for a pipe of tobacco out of doors, into the bargain...."Good morning!" he said at last. "We don't want any adventures here, thank you! You might try over The Hill or across The Water." By this he meant that the conversation was at an end."What a lot of things you do use Good morning for!" said Gandalf. "Now you mean that you want to get rid of me, and that it won't be good till I move off.” ستشعر فعلا بتلك الروح المرحه في الروي سواء من الراوي او من جمله جندلف نفسها "هل تتمني لي صباح سعيد ام انك تعني انه صباحا سعيدا سواء شئت انا او ابيت , او انك تعني انك تشعر بالسعاده هذا الصباح , او انه صباح لتكون فيه سعيد؟"“Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?” في النهايه********فعلا هي رحله غير متوفعهUnexpected Journeyلم اتخيل انه سيعجبني عالم خيالي وشخصيات خياليه الي هذا الحد..ربما تظل لاحداث القصه بعض الاجزاء التي مللت منها الا ان روح الراوي وتعبه في هذا العالم وتاريخه سيجعلك متشوقا لمعرفه المزيد من الاحداثالنسخه التي لديPaperback -Movie Tie inكان بها اخر 25 صفحه بخط اصغر من الخط الصغير اساسا اخاص بالروايه اول فصول ملك الخواتم, في البدايه عندما كانت اضجر احيانا من الملل اقول اني لن اقرأه وسيكفيني الفيلم بنسخته الممتدهالا ان بعد النهايه وجدت اني اريد المزيد , وفعلا شدني جدا الفصل الاول وسيكون لي رحله اخري للارض الوسطي ومدنها وجبالها وجمال طبيعتها وحتي طرقها الوعرهمع الهوبيت..مع جاندلف..والخاتم..وحتي بيتر جاكسون وفوقهمالرائعجي ار ار تولكنمحمد العربيمن 12 ديسمبر 2013 الي 29 ديسمبر 2013

2012 - Reread - What to add to my original review for this site? I don't. There is something everlasting and yet almost tragic about this book. Thorin doesn't fail but he does not live very long to enjoy his victory, if you can call it his. Perhaps that grey zone is what make the book last.Some time ago, Harold Bloom went on a Harry Potter rant. He is hardly the only academic to do so. In fact, A. S. Byatt wrote a wonderful essay on how strange and annoying she finds adults who read Harry Potter but disregarding Terry Pratchett . Dr. Bloom said that he doubted that the Potter books would become classic children’s literature in the lines of Alice in Wonderland or The Hobbit.I think Dr. Bloom is jumping the gun, if you will pardon the overused cliché, in terms of Harry Potter. It’s too early to tell if the Potter books will stand the test of time. I also am not sure if I fully agree with the idea of The Hobbit as an outstanding example of children’s literature. True, I know the publishing story around the book. Everyone, or almost everyone, at this point must know it. I know that I read it before I read Lord of the Rings. Yet, I have always, even as a child, liked LOTR better. The one thing that makes me think Bloom might be correct in how he sees The Hobbit is the fact that every time I return to it, I see something new. It is a classic, a classic, whether or not one sees it as children’s literature.The first thing that any reader above a certain age realizes about The Hobbit is the fact that it literally begs to be read aloud, and this no doubt is the reason why everyone sees it as a children’s book. Tolkien’s use of language, in particular his use of rhyme, makes reading this book aloud an irresistible option. From the beginning, from the alliterative name of its central character, Bilbo Baggins, to the rhymes in Gollum’s caves, to the many songs, and even down to the conversations, (especially Gandalf relating the story to Beorn), the novel drips a love of word play and language. This made it particularly easy to adapt the story into a cartoon, as Rankin Bass did. The movie stayed relatively true to the book, though the Wood Elves remind one of green drug addicts for some strange reason. Like some of the passages in Watership Down, The Hobbit contains passages that are memorable for their sheer poetry, and, no I’m not talking about the songs.The narrator also stands out as well. There is a warm, yet superior tone of voice to the narrator, as if he and the reader are in on some joke that the dwarves, Bilbo, and even Gandalf don’t get. Part of this comes from the quasi saga tone that is used, a tone that comes across far more in LOTR. Part of this seems to come from a sense of humor that is more obvious to an adult and far less obvious to a child. I know that some critics, even some children, have expressed a dislike or a recultance to view this book as a work of children’s literature. The tone of the narrator, at times a gently mocking tone, might have something to do with this. If the narrator sees himself as superior to Bilbo, as superior to the dwarves, then does the narrator see himself as superior to the children who are supposedly being told the story? Children who supposedly would identify with the hobbit and the dwarves simply due to size? What modern child thinks about pocket handkerchiefs and the morning post?The adult emphasis is elsewhere in the book. It is not hard to see overtones, parallels, or direct references to WWI in this book, in particular when the Five Armies join together. Though, I will admit, I am not entirely sure if I really am suppose to see the dwarfs as Frenchmen (Or maybe the French are the elves and the dwarfs are the Dutch. Hobbits, I know, are English). I also don’t think I’m supposed to see the Goblins as Germans. But one does wonder.One also wonders about the character of Bilbo who we know must secretly long for adventure. He is resourceful and wily. While he does pull rescues out of the hat, he is not the traditional hero. He doesn’t slay the dragon, and he sleeps though the battle. Okay, he was knocked out, but he missed the whole thing. The only character who comes close to being a tradition hero is Bard, who does heroic actions and has the blood line. But even Bard is not the romantic hero, for he is grim. Bilbo isn’t the traditional trickster hero either. He lacks that slight edge of cruelty that many tricksters have. Additionally, unlike Frodo, Bilbo seems relatively untouched by what he has experienced, unless one counts the whole interaction with Gollum. Bilbo is Bilbo in this book. A hero who succeeds though a mixture of luck and common sense. Bilbo is a unique take on the everyman hero. He does what the reader in many cases would do, he is at the center of the action, but is not the central of the action. He keeps his head because he, like Gandalf, is unaffected by the greed that the hoard causes in everyone else. Mayhap, because he is so childlike, innocent in the heart because unlike Thorin, Bilbo has been untouched by tragedy. Bilbo remains me, a little bit, of Jack the Giant Killer, though not as morally questionable.Maybe a fairy tale is the point. If we take The Hobbit and LOTR together, as they should be taken, then we have the fairy tale (The Hobbit) and the afterwards (LOTR, much like the musical Into the Woods. Considering the heavy use of myth and legend that makes its way into Tolkien’s world this is not surprising. Most of the characters in this book have a start in the legends of Europe. There have been traditions of bear men (berserkers), of dwarves, of dragons, of wizards, of everything except Hobbits (though we now know that they existed). Even at this early stage, Tolkien is making his mythology for England, and it is quite clear that he loves every minute of it. Neither writer nor narrator lacks a belief in the world. Tolkien’s mythology is far better and far more interesting than Milton’s attempt.This is believability comes out in Smaug, who will always be one of the most terrifying dragons in literature to me. What makes Smaug terrifying isn’t his power. Many authors have invented many worlds that have far more powerful dragons. Smaug works because he is so evilly smart. During his conversation with Bilbo, Smaug speaks not only to the doubts that echo inside of Bilbo’s head, but those doubts that roll around in the first time readers as well. It is entirely possible that the dwarfs intend to trick Bilbo out of his gold, a fact hammered in by the treatment of the River men after the death of Smaug. Smaug works because like most evil, he speaks to the worm of doubt that exists in everyone. The fact that he is as big as a dinosaur and can breath fire is just a happy bonus.Smaug would make a good godfather. I can just see him doing a Marlon Brando.If Tolkien’s work is rightly considered classic, the role of Smaug is one of the major reasons why. Another major reason would of course be the influence that both The Hobbit and TLOR have had on the fantasy that has followed them. From intentional knock offs such as Mithgar; to the parodies, such as the Disc; to simply inspiring other writesr, such as Jim Butcher, a true reader cannot ignore the role of the books.One final note. I am glad, supremely glad, that both Tolkien and his son have not overly tinkered with The Hobbit. I know that Tolkien went back and made slight changes after LOTR simply to make the story of Gollum work, but he left certain other things alone, the difference in the elves for example. I like that. It is much better than Lucas constantly reworking the Han Solo shooting Greedo scene in Star Wars. Both Tolkiens had the good sense to leave well enough alone. Thanks heavens for that, otherwise a PC Bilbo would be offering pipe weed to Smaug, who would be baking cookies for the orphans.

What do You think about The Hobbit (2002)?

Maybe one day soon I'll write a proper review of The Hobbit.In the meantime, I want to say this:If you are a child, you need to read this for Gollum's riddles.If you are an adult, you need to read this book to children (if you don't have children, rent borrow some) for at least one opportunity to roleplay Gollum.Becuz GOLLUM ROOOLZ!!!!! See here, he even won an award!! (Click on the link to see a hilarious video)Of course the most compelling reason to add this to your reading list in haste is that it's coming to the MOOVIEZZZ!! (Update: commentary on the moviez below).Btw, if you like kickass fighting elves, not to mention pretty kickass she-elves and some sizzling elf/dwarf romance--well, then you might like the second Hobbit movie more than the book... ahem!Part 3 coming to a cinema house near you soon(-ish). My PRECCIOOOUUSSSSS!...and soon I'll have a copy of the all the moviez, and they will be me MINE, all mine, just like my precciousss illustrated copies of the novel.Ha, you didn't think one copy would be enough did you??If you get around used bookstores a lot, do look out for an illustrated version of the book!Update: About the 3 films by Peter Jackson: I didn't find the first 2 films very memorable. He seemed to draw it out almost unbearably, and it also felt to me as if he was embellishing the original story a bit. The whole thing seemed like actiony rubbish, though I personally actually quite enjoyed the swinging, shooting, swordfighting ninja elves and the bit of romance.But the THIRD film, The Battle of the Five Armies , now -that- was a good one. I almost missed it on the big screen because of the mediocrity of the first two films. But I was glad, oh so glad that I actually did go and see it. The cinematics, acting and editing was all very well done, but it was the screenwriting and directing that really shone. Here we saw a story of courage and cowardice; of generosity; of greed and avarice; of greatness of soul and of smallness of soul; of love; of selflessness; of brotherhood; of hatred; of humanity; of pain; of sacrifice; of struggle; of moral and spiritual victories; of sadness and loss, but above all, of triumph of the soul.Yes, The Battle of the Five Armies is certainly something that does Tolkien justice at the very least, and what a joy it was to behold on the big screen. :)PS. The movies also taught us that dwarves CAN be hot!
—Traveller

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.Books exist in time and place and our experience of them is affected by the specific time and place in which we encounter them. Sometimes an uplifting or inspiring book can change the path of a life that has wandered onto a wrong course. Sometimes a book, discovered early on, can form part of the foundation of who we are. Or, discovered late, can offer insight into the journey we have taken to date. Sometimes a book is just a book. But not The Hobbit. Not for me. In January, 2013, I pulled out my forty-year old copy in anticipation of seeing the recently released Peter Jackson film. It is a substantial book, heavy, not only with its inherent mass, but for the weight of associations, the sediment of time. The book itself is a special hard-cover edition published in 1973, leather bound, in a slipcase, the booty of new love from that era. The book, while victim to some internal binding cracks (aren't we all?) is still in decent shape, unlike that long-vanquished relationship. Not surprising. I had read the story six times and been there and back again with this particular volume five.The Hobbit had first come to my attention in 1965 or '66. I was then a high school underclassman, and my eyes were drawn to it at a school book fair. That was probably the ideal age, for me anyway, to gain an introduction to Tolkien. Not too far along into adolescence and an appreciation of the reality of the world to have completely tarnished my capacity for child-like wonder. That is what one must bring to a reading of this book, openness and innocence. Tolkien was a step sidewise for me, as I was a fan of the science fiction of that and prior eras. It was also, of course, a gateway drug for the grander addiction of LOTR, still my favorite read of all time. One might think that looking at this book again with old, weary fresh eyes might lend new insight. After all, I have read literally thousands of books since, and have picked up at least a little critical capacity. And yes, there are things I notice now that perhaps skipped past back then. Of course that begs a specification of which back then one considers. While I first read the book as a high-schooler, I read it again when I was gifted with this beautiful volume, in my twenties. That makes two readings. But there would be more. I well recall reading the book aloud while sitting in a chair by my son's bed. And yes, each of the major characters was delivered with a distinct voice. I went as deep as I could for Gandalf. I vaguely recall giving the dwarves a Scottish burr. Bilbo was definitely a tenor. My Gollum was remarkably like the sound of the one created by Andy Serkisssssss. (patting self on back). Of course, my son was not the last to arrive at the gathering. Some years later there was a daughter, and more bedside theater. It was a bit more of a struggle then. Life was rather hectic. Nerves were often frayed. Sleep was in short supply. And there were far too many times when my eyes closed before those of my little gingersnap. But reading it that fourth time, one couldn't help but notice the absence of any significant females. Who might my little girl relate to here? It is certainly possible for folks to identify with characters of another gender, but the stark absence of representatives of the female persuasion did stand out. Somehow I managed to keep my eyes open long enough to get through the volume.But the party was not yet complete. There would be one more arrival, and one more opportunity to sit on or near a daughter's bed and read aloud, sometimes to an upturned, eager face, sometimes to a riot of ringlets as she settled. My capacity for consciousness remained an issue. By then, my voice had also suffered a bit with the years, the reward for too many cigarettes, too much yelling, too much ballpark whistling, and the usual demise of age, so it took a fair bit more effort and strain than reading it aloud had done previously. I am pretty certain I made it through that third time aloud. Truthfully, I am not 100% certain that I did.You probably know the story, or the broad strokes anyway. In the quiet rural village of Hobbiton Across the Water, in a land called Middle Earth, an unpresupposing everyman, Bilbo Baggins, lives a quiet existence. He has a smidgen of wanderlust in him, the genetic gift of ancestors on the Took branch of his family tree, but he is mostly content to enjoy hearty meals and a good pipe. One day, Gandalf, a lordly, father-figure wizard Bilbo has known for many years, comes a-calling and Bilbo's life is upended. Gandalf is helping a group of dwarves who are on a quest. Led by Thorin Oakenshield, a dwarf king, they aim to return to their home, inside the Lonely Mountain, somehow rid the place of Smaug, the dragon who has taken up residence, and regain the land and incredible treasure that is rightfully theirs. Gandalf has recommended that Bilbo accompany the group, as a burglar. Bilbo, of course, has never burgled a thing in his life, and is horrified by the prospect. But, heeding his Tookish side, Bilbo joins the dwarves and the adventure is on. One need not go far to see this as a journey of self-discovery, as Bilbo finds that there is more to him than even he realized. This raises one question for me. How did Gandalf know that Bilbo would be the right hobbit for the job? Bilbo faces many challenges and I betray no secrets for any who have not just arrived on this planet by reporting that Bilbo's dragons, real and symbolic, are ultimately slain and he returns home a new, and somewhat notorious hobbit. Bilbo serves well as the everyman, someone who is quite modest about his capacities, but who rises to meet the challenges that present, acting in spite of his fear and not in the absence of it. He is someone we can easily care and root for. Elements abound of youthful adventure yarns, treasure, a map to the treasure, a secret entrance that requires solving a riddle to gain entry, a spooky forest, foolishness and greed among those in charge, a huge battle, and, ultimately, good sense triumphing over evil and stupidity. Oh, yeah, there is something in there as well about a secret, powerful ring that can make it’s wearer invisible. Sorry, no damsels in distress.(Rivendell remains a pretty special place. If I am ever fortunate enough to be able to retire, I think I would like to spend my final days there, whether the vision seen by Tolkien or the Maxfield Parrish take as seen in the LOTR films.)There are magical beings aplenty here. Hobbits, of course, and the wizard and dwarves we meet immediately. A shape shifting Beorn assists the party but remains quite frightening. There are trolls, giant spiders, giants, goblins, were-wolf sorts called wargs, talking eagles, a communicative, if murderous dragon, elves of both the helpful and difficult sorts, and a few men, as well. Then there is Gollum.IMHO, Bilbo is not the most interesting character in Tolkien's world. Arguably there is a lot more going on with Gollum, an erstwhile hobbit riven by the internal conflict of love and hate, corrupted, but not without a salvageable soul. While he is given considerably more ink in the LOTR story, it is in The Hobbit that we meet him for the first time. He is the single least YA element in this classic yarn, one of the things that elevates this book from the field and makes it a classic. The Hobbit was written before Tolkien's ambitious Lord of the Rings. While there are many references to classic lore, the bottom line is that this is a YA book. It is easy to read, and to read aloud, (something that is not the case with LOTR. I know.) and is clearly intended for readers far younger than I am today. It remains a fun read, even on the sixth (or so, I may have dipped in again somewhere along the line) time through. Were I reading it today for the first time, I would probably give it four stars. But as it bears the weighty treasure of memory and fond association, I must keep it at five. If you are reading this for the first time as an adult, or an antique, the impact is likely to be different for you. If you are a younger sort, of the adolescent or pre-adolescent persuasion, particularly if you are a boy, it might become an invaluable part of your life. Maybe one day you can sit by your child's or grandchild's bedside and be the person who reads these words to them for the first time, "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit" and begin the adventure again. To see the glowing young eyes as the tale unfolds is nothing less than absolutely precious.PS – I would check out the review offered by GR pal Ted. He includes in his review outstanding, informative and very entertaining excerpts and comments re info on The Hobbit from JRRT's son Christopher. ==============================EXTRA STUFFHere is a lovely article on JRRT, from Smithsonian Magazine, January 2002In comment #32, below, GR pal Rand added a link to a reading of the entire book by Nicol Williamson. It is just the thing for bedtime, yours or your child's. Adding it here was done with Rand's kind permission.
—Will Byrnes

I love this book. Have I mentioned before how much I love Tolkien's books? They are part of my childhood and my memories are incredibly fond of them (yes I'm a nostalgic type of person alright). The Hobbit in many ways is of all my books part of my childhood. I was certainly the first time that I entered Tolkien's world when I first read it ten years ago. So I decided to re-read this for the fifth time ever as part of a fantasy challenge and to re-familiarise myself with a story I know by heart. And what I found surprised me.Even though I know this story so very well I was surprised to find hidden depth again. For one thing I saw Tolkien's wit shine through with some quotes. For instance in the following dialogue: Gandalf: "Indeed for your old grandfather Took's sake, and for the sake of poor Belladonna, I will give you what you asked for."Bilbo: "I beg your pardon, I haven't asked for anything!"Gandalf: "Yes, you have! Twice now. My pardon. I give it you. In fact I will go so far as to send you on this adventure. Very amusing for me, very good for you and profitable too, very likely, if you ever get over it."And that's one example out of many I noted this time around. Another thing I couldn't help but do was to compare what I read with this:The Hobbit TrailerI noted of course that the trailer shows a tone that hints at closer to the darkness of The Lord of the Rings and must suspect that the suggested references to Moria and the Necromancer in The Hobbit will play a larger role in the film. After all the Necromancer is Sauron. But there we go in conclusion there is an amazing film due out at the end of the year and this tale retains all of its potency and loses none of its vibrancy. If you haven't read it then 'fly you fools' to a bookshop or library and get a copy.Appendix - again this is one of those things that's added as an afterthought and turns what I write into a second edition even though nothing's really that different. 1.There's a new trailer out so I thought I'd link to that in my review. I personally am anticipating this film eagerly. I want to see a different view of this book on the screen, one that's (hopefully as good or better) what Peter Jackson did with 'Rings', staying to the story and yet making it into something I can look at and go: I'd never considered that in the book! (Also I can actually watch this at cinemas as I missed out on the Lord of the Rings phenomenon as a 7, 8 and 9 year old child...)The Hobbit Trailer 22.As for a further update I finally saw The Hobbit Part 1. I loved it and am actually surprised at the criticism being levelled against it. The 3D 48fps, while it took a few minutes to get used to, provided some of the best use of 3D in a film that I've seen without being forced. I'm very happy with what I got in the adaptation of my favoured childhood book.I loved the casting. Of course as soon as I heard that Martin Freeman was going to be Bilbo I thought: brilliant choice. I thought the choice of actor for Thorin was great. A lot of people are saying he's different from in the book but I see a lot of the book character's traits in the film characterisation. Speaking of the book compared to the film I didn't think that they messed up the plot too much at all. The additions they made, in my view, fleshed it out with little details from the Lord of the Rings nicely (in fact almost everything in the film is consistent with the internal logic of Tolkien's world and these films - they messed with things a little less than with The Lord of the Rings films anyway). The pacing was great and in fact I thought it had a better overall pace than some of The Lord of the Rings films. It's still a Hobbit film to me, it's just also a Middle Earth film too... I guess probably the major change is in tone, but we all knew that the tone would be a mixture of comic relief and the dark seriousness of The Lord of the Rings. The film also made a smart move in adding Galadriel to provide a female character in a male dominated cast. 3.Three weeks ago I did see the second part of The Hobbit 'trilogy'. There were changes I liked, some I found a touch odd and yet on the whole it was a film that was much, much better than the first. It basically is just a decent action film, and considering that the book is an adventure and action book it works. The addition of love interest may not add much to the plot, but it does add a female character (sorely lacking in an active role in the books) and a hint of romance which all good epics need. Also: Smaug, the spiders and the barrel riding scene are some of the finest scenes I have seen this year! In other words, these films are fine action films that update the book in ways some people do not like but are still good fun!
—Jonathan

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