The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
I finished reading this one a couple of days ago, but the return to academia has put a damper on my reading, and my blogging. I think this was the third or fourth time I've delved into the "prequel" to LotR, but I really can't remember at this point.
It's astonishing that each time I read this book, I still get nervous during Bilbo and Gollum's riddle game, and I feel a little jolt of pride when my favorite hobbit sneaks past the elves to rescue his friends. Call it corny, but for some reason this one has never lost its charm. Perhaps it's the year or two in between readings that keeps it fresh. Whatever the case, I don't think I will ever tire of Bilbo Baggins and Thorin & Co.
One of the greatest things about this book, as well as the Trilogy that follows, is that it can be read by anyone. Obviously there are some who would choose not to read it, but what I mean is that it's a book I wouldn't think twice about recommending to an adult or giving to a child. The language is tame, if a bit lofty at times, but I gained most of my vocabulary in grade school by reading things that were well above my grade level, and now I'm eight months away from a doctorate. I really cannot put into words how important it is that children are encouraged to read early and often.
It's also a book that I, at 24, can still enjoy. I may not be in the majority, given my penchant for fantasy and my strange addiction to historical romance, but the point is that people of all ages enjoy reading The Hobbit. It's ageless, and timeless, just like the elves.
It's no secret that I find Tolkien's work thoroughly amazing. And this is no exception. I find myself returning to The Hobbit more often than The Lord of the Rings, partially due to the length of the latter, but also because of the story. While LotR holds a special place in my heart, there is just something infinitely superior about The Hobbit, with its simple hero and his bumbling adventures. He feels the most human of all the character's in Tolkien's universe.
Bilbo Baggins, the Everyman. It sounds silly, but I think I may be on to something. This deserves further consideration, but for now I will have to be satisfied with my current attempt to read Jane Eyre. Wish me luck!
It's astonishing that each time I read this book, I still get nervous during Bilbo and Gollum's riddle game, and I feel a little jolt of pride when my favorite hobbit sneaks past the elves to rescue his friends. Call it corny, but for some reason this one has never lost its charm. Perhaps it's the year or two in between readings that keeps it fresh. Whatever the case, I don't think I will ever tire of Bilbo Baggins and Thorin & Co.
One of the greatest things about this book, as well as the Trilogy that follows, is that it can be read by anyone. Obviously there are some who would choose not to read it, but what I mean is that it's a book I wouldn't think twice about recommending to an adult or giving to a child. The language is tame, if a bit lofty at times, but I gained most of my vocabulary in grade school by reading things that were well above my grade level, and now I'm eight months away from a doctorate. I really cannot put into words how important it is that children are encouraged to read early and often.
It's also a book that I, at 24, can still enjoy. I may not be in the majority, given my penchant for fantasy and my strange addiction to historical romance, but the point is that people of all ages enjoy reading The Hobbit. It's ageless, and timeless, just like the elves.
It's no secret that I find Tolkien's work thoroughly amazing. And this is no exception. I find myself returning to The Hobbit more often than The Lord of the Rings, partially due to the length of the latter, but also because of the story. While LotR holds a special place in my heart, there is just something infinitely superior about The Hobbit, with its simple hero and his bumbling adventures. He feels the most human of all the character's in Tolkien's universe.
Bilbo Baggins, the Everyman. It sounds silly, but I think I may be on to something. This deserves further consideration, but for now I will have to be satisfied with my current attempt to read Jane Eyre. Wish me luck!