The Hobbit

This book is so fantastic, and the narrator Andy Serkis knocked it out of the park.

minor spoilers below

I read this for the first time several years ago, it was the start of my love of reading as an adult.

This time around, I listened to the audiobook and it was even better than the ebook I read.

The story is simple but amazing. Each chapter flows into the next with excitement lurking around every corner. Watching Bilbo become the hobbit he is destined to be is so enjoyable. Some of it is a little silly and a little dated, but it is a midgrade book from the 1930’s so it gets a big pass.

I forgot how many songs there were in the book, but thankfully the narrator did them justice and made them really enjoyable.

My favorite scene is still the spider fight in the forest.

This is definitely a classic. I think it was my first real fantasy book when I was a child, but I had not read it again since then, while I have read Lord of the Rings multiple times. It's definitely written for a much younger audience, but very entertaining.

What surprised me is how many hints of the bigger Tolkien world are already in there. As I read the Silmarillion just recently, I was pleased to find that Glamdring and Orcrist are swords from Gondolin. Also, several hints at Moria and such. I really enjoyed those parts the most, to find out how the Hobbit fits into the larger picture.

I highly recommend reading this book first before you move on to Lord of the Rings, it will make it more enjoyable.