The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Posted on by Lashaan Balasingam @ Roars and Echoes
details
Title: The Hobbit.
Writer(s): J.R.R. Tolkien.
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers.
Format: Hardcover.
Release Date: October 1st 2011 (first published September 21st 1937).
Pages: 340.
Genre(s): Fantasy.
ISBN13: 9780007440849.
My Overall Rating: ★★★★★.

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Oh, what would we do for an adventure like none other! To be mesmerized, enchanted, transported, and put way outside our comfort zone only to discover and explore the subtle beauty of life and the surprises it has for those who dare take the leap. Thankfully, there are stories out there who allow us to enjoy this without setting foot outside our own little caves. They somehow still manage to tug on our emotions, tickle our most profound desires, stimulating an uncontrollable urge in us to go on our next big adventure, anticipating the climactic hour where everything erupts, plunging us in the midst of all the action that only life can offer you. Sometimes it’s through the little folks that you can truly understand the richness of the world and the courage we all have deep within to go on such adventures. It was thus about time that I finally tackled J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic children’s novel where I can now find everything I need in a hobbit’s extraordinary plight.

What is The Hobbit about? At peace in his little home, void of any sense of adventure, Bilbo Baggins, a most respectable hobbit who embraced the rules of etiquette with all his heart saw his life flip upside down with the arrival of the great wizard Gandalf. Caught completely off guard, unable to stand up for himself, he is whisked away by Gandalf and the thirteen dwarves on a mission to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the treasure that belongs to Thorin Oakenshield, heir to the destroyed dwarvish kingdom, from the mighty and marvelous Smaug, a legendary dragon who shows no mercy to all who dares cross paths with him. Although thunderstruck and reluctant, Bilbo Baggins heads into the world as the assigned burglar and solely relies on his resourcefulness to survive what will be an unforgettable and unforgiving quest of a lifetime.

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Despite its linear story, J.R.R. Tolkien proves that even in simplicity you can find a myriad of wonders in The Hobbit, allowing you to appreciate the complexity derived from an epic adventure brought to life through stellar world-building. With an omniscient narrator to guide the reader through the various perils that await Bilbo Baggins, the story unfolds in several episodes where the group stumbles and fumbles their way into the hands of terrifying foes with barely ever a moment of respite as they kick into survival mode, with food and sleep becoming a luxury. It’s how J.R.R. Tolkien effortlessly brings to life the bag of creatures he conjures from the depths of his marvelous imagination that really distinguishes his story from others. From goblins to wolves, he masterfully illustrates them throughout this tale to add a sense of impending danger and rising tension to every step of the dwarves’ and hobbit’s way.

Although the story doesn’t include a single female character, it’s how J.R.R. Tolkien manages to make characters transcend their gender and nature to embody ideas that anyone can relate to that proves why this beloved tale is an unmatched classic. In fact, it is without question that Bilbo Baggins remains the focal point of this adventure, showcasing a precious and delightful growth, that all will be in awe at, as he faces adversity that he has never would have sought in the first place. Although he starts off with an appointed role with zero credibility to establish his pertinence in this trip and only Gandalf to vouch for his indispensable and enigmatic abilities, he quickly embraces a role of a leader as he makes a name for himself and proves the dwarves, their enemies, and himself that he is more than just a hobbit with a habit for all that is cyclic. This route of self-discovery that he paves for himself is one that ultimately allows him to become more than what he ever could have fancied for himself and it is this stark transformation that readers will always love him for.

The Hobbit is an enchanting classic serving as the epitome of fantasy literature and follows a little man in his journey of unwarranted calamity for a vital revelation in the form of self-discovery.

EXHIBITA

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) is the first movie of director Peter Jackson’s trilogy.

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Published by Lashaan Balasingam @ Roars and Echoes

Reader. Reviewer. Researcher. Criminology Ph.D. Candidate. Montreal, Quebec (Canada). Want to know more? Connect with him!

64 thoughts on “The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien”

  1. As soon as this post popped up in my email notifications, I started hyperventilating! FOR REALLL! Been waiting for it a LOONNNNNGGGGGGG time and my only fear was how will I be able to display my disappointment if, for some reason, you had given the book anything less than 5 stars!! WELL THANK GODDDDDDDDD YOU LOVEEDDD IT SOOOOO MUCHHH!! 😭😭❤️❤️😍😍😍😍😍😍🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

    I just! I haven’t even read the complete review yet..just until the quote but I HAD to comment firstt! 🤣🤣🤣 I am a bit excitable like that! 🤣🤣

    BUT YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HAPPY IT MAKES MEEEE WHEN I SEE SOMEONE ELSE ENJOYING THE BOOK, UNDERSTANDING IT, LOVING IT AS MUCH AS I DOOOO!! 😍😍AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! 😍😍😍😭😭😭💕💕🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

    I love Bilbo Baggins SOOO MUCHHH! And Thorin too! And GANDALF! AND EVERYONE!! Okay now I HAVE TO GO AND RE-READ IT! 😍😍😍😍

    AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!*still pretty fucking excited*

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    1. Hahahahahah I’m glad to not disappoint you! I would’ve been sad if I hadn’t been able to appreciate this as much as I wanted to too. I mean, the foundation to all fantasy litterature??? How could I not love it??? 😛 And yes, every single one in this book was amazing. I reaallllyy can’t wait to dive into the LotR trilogy now. I’ll probably queue it up for 2020. 😛 Thanks for reading, Rain! I really appreciate it. 😀

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      1. YESSS!! Tolkien changed the landscape of fantasy. T O T A L L Y. We wouldnt have all those great series like HP or GOT if it wasnt for him! I am thinking of starting Silmarillion now. SOO EXCITED! 😍😍😍

        AND YESSS! PLEASE READ IT ASAP! Its a bit descriptive but SOO ENCHANTING! 😍😍🌟

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  4. This book has been a part of my life since I can remember. I know I read it in elementary school but I can’t remember if my mom ever read it to me before I learned to read for myself (I listened to a lot of books at that tender age). Your post has got me to thinking if I could name all the experiences I’ve had with the Hobbit throughout the years. I think I might start writing that up this weekend!

    I still love the Hobbit and while I don’t like to read it too often anymore, it IS a regular re-read.

    The movies. Oh man, what a directorial train wreck. Jackson was riding his victory from the original LotR trilogy and did whatever the phrack he felt like. I think he ruined the story in the movie myself. It was as epic and bigger than life as LotR, and the Hobbit was never meant to be that kind of story. I am glad I watched the movies, but by the end it was a fan enduring for the sake of his love for the book. It is what has made me so hesitant about the announced tv series on Amazon. And just to be clear, I like Jackson. His extended edition of King Kong was masterful and I own that on dvd along with all the extended editions of LotR and the Hobbit. I just wish he had stayed truer to the spirit of the Hobbit.

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    1. I really like the idea of hearing about your various experiences with The Hobbit throughout time. I’ve read one similar review that was written with that concept, and how it was passed down from one generation to another. I think it’s one of the best ways to highlight its timelessness.

      I can’t blame you about the Hobbit trilogy. I watched the first movie (Unexpected Journey) and was in awe that they were able to stretch it (it was the extended cut too) to that extent. Also wasn’t too compelled by how it didn’t allow Bilbo to have the growth you see in the book. I do look forward to reading the LotR trilogy and rewatching the movies though. Hopefully Amazon and its extra large budget will give us something decent to appreciate. Something that won’t have everyone remisnescing about the movie more than enjoying the series for what it is at this point.

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      1. I believe most of the amazon series will take place in other times of history besides The War of the Ring. So it will be brand new for 90% of people. Only die hard Tolkien fans and history’ish buffs will take issue with anything in it.

        I thought the LotR movies did a fantastic job of portraying the story from the books. Jackson did a fantastic job with not straying too far afield.

        I started the post about my hobbit experience just so I wouldn’t forget about it, but I’ll probably have to wait until “inspiration” strikes and I really feel like writing. It “feels” like a “feelingz” kind of post, if you know what I mean.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. I felt extremely happy reading this review, more so because I read The Hobbit and LOTR this year and now it has become one of my favorite things ever. I love books so darn much! And I totally agree with you on how the characters transcend their gender! I hate how some people call Tolkein sexist when In fact he was not? Anyway, LOVED this review ❤

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    1. Aww man, thank you so much, Anushka! I’m really happy that we could share this passion for The Hobbit now! I look forward to diving into the LotR trilogy too now. And yes, I don’t even care if the dude is sexist or anything. I just take his creation for what it is and I definitely didn’t feel any intention for sexism here. Thank you again for reading! ❤

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  11. An all-time classic. It’s a shame that Peter Jackson’s movie adaptation didn’t go over so well. Not that it didn’t have some good moments, but it’s way too long, the action is usually way too cartoony to take seriously, and despite how they clearly had time to explain the eagles, they never did.

    As for the book, I read it during school years ago, and watched the animated movie a week later. Read this book again shortly after reading Lord of the Rings for the first time. I’ve also got the graphic novel version of the book, and that’s also extremely well done. All the images are painted and all the dialogue and text is taken straight out of the book. I’d highly recommend it.

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    1. Saw the first Hobbit movie last night and I definitely see why so many have issues with it now. Overstretched and lost a lot of the original book’s purpose/message.

      I look forward to trying the animated movie and I actually did look up the graphic novel by Chuck Dixon too. Will try to get my hands on a copy for sure now!

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  13. First let’s talk about that cover which is so pretty Lashaan! Second yes that’s also why I read: to live adventures with the thrill but without the danger!

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  15. Yay, I’m so happy you enjoyed it so much, even after reading all those various Tolkien successors! Hobbit is such a wonderful book, absolutely fabulous and deep despite it’s deceptive simplicity. Great review, Lashaan!

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      1. What can I say, these classics! 😀 Hobbit will always defend itself, like Dune or Wizard of Earthsea – exactly because they are timeless – they talk about human condition in an inherently mythical narrative, framing the unique experiences of an individual into the broader canvas of a universal experience.
        To be honest, the first time I read Hobbit I didn’t even notice there weren’t any women around – Bilbo’s and his company’s adventures were absolutely non-gendered to me 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  16. Yesss, I was waiting for this review and it did not disappoint 😁 Needless to say, I really want to read the Hobbit, this made me way too excited and I can’t wait to start it! Thanks for getting me excited about this again 😁

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  18. I came to The Hobbit quite late in my life, and a long time after I fell in love with the LOTR, and yet this story holds a special place in my heart: it speaks to the desire for adventure that is so normal for children when they dream alongside the heroes of their books, and it speaks to the child who lives in the soul of grown-ups who have not forgotten how to keep those dreams alive. Thank you for reminding me… 🙂

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    1. Thank you so much, Maddalena. I really appreciate that you read and reminesced through my review. 😀 I almost thought I might have been too old for The Hobbit at 25 but I felt like a kid as I read it and could see myself reread it or reading it down from one generation to another. I look forward to diving into the LotR trilogy now! 😀

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  20. Wonderful review :). This remains one of my favorite classics of all time. I prefer it to Lord of the Rings and get all warm and fuzzy just at the mention of it. Glad you liked it.

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  22. Awww I’m glad you enjoyed this Lashaan! I agree that Tolkien’s creatures are so epic. Funny though there is a different author who developed many of them. (I read all about them at some point. I found it fascinating?) I also love how he could take a rather common type of man and make him a hero.

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  23. Am glad you liked it. It is a delightful read which is why I also enjoyed it — also I just love Bilbo’s reluctance to go adventuring and feeling uncomfortable in the various situations he’s placed in. Didn’t like the Lord of the Rings proper books though.

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    1. Thanks for reading! 😍 And yes, it’s amazing how someone who doesn’t enjoy adventures does so well for himself hahah

      Ahhh, I think I remember reading about your experience with the LotR books. I look forward to seeing how I’ll feel about them next year.

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  24. Fantastic review, Lashaan 😍 I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much ! I personally did not finish it, mainly because I read it straight after finishing the LotR trilogy and I was probably missing too much the characters to fully enjoy the Hobbit 😂 I’m so happy I finally read your review and I can’t wait to watch the other movies 🥰

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  27. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you liked this!! 😀 It’s definitely an adventure like no other! And it is definitely one of the best books for character growth and transformation- ahh I just adore it in every way! What an incredible review! You definitely did the book justice 😀

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