Reviews

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

charlote_1347's review against another edition

2.0

My school runs a reading scheme and this book was part of it. In all honesty, I'd rather not have read it. I can see its value to the genre, but for me, personally, it danced idly around every potentially interesting subplot and merrily threw every cliché of the fantasy genre that I love to the wind. I know I'm also not the first to say this, but the lack of female representation was frustrating and it gave the story a monotony that almost bored me to tears. Finally, I remember reading once upon a time that Tolkien was the kind of person to go on a walk and stop at every new plant or animal, a habit which manifests in his writing in the form of endless and relentless descriptions of the natural landscape. I'm sure this book is beloved by many, but it's certainly not beloved by me.

laurenshikari's review against another edition

4.0

This book is a definite must read for fans of The Lord of the Rings as it sets the scene for the trilogy and has some of the same characters. However as a stand alone book it is also fantastic. The fantasy world Tolkien has created is amazing with wizards, dragons and magic it has all you could want from the genre. And the story is very engaging as well. It is a fun read for anyone and a much easier read than the Lord of the Rings so children will love it too!

jeffington99's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

haunt's review against another edition

5.0

I still prefer LOTR to The Hobbit more than a little, and I don’t expect that will change. But the fact remains that, like all of Tolkien’s work, this is a masterpiece in its own right and cannot be forgotten.

justin_stark's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

upcomingadventures's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

the_raenaissance's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

madsashley's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

kristab_well3's review against another edition

5.0

From the first line to the last, this book I pure magic. I love the world building, the characters, and Tolkien’s writing. This is my second read through of The Hobbit and I hope to read it many more times for all the comfort and joy it brings.

elizabethlanser's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

5.0