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huligari's review against another edition
5.0
I bought this book shortly after watching the first Hobbit movie, because I loved it so much I kept watching it every night before going to sleep for, like, two weeks. And it’s still my favorite of the three films.
Despite this, I found it very hard to actually finish the book. It wasn’t gripping me the way the LOTR trilogy gripped me from day one (and it still grips me to this day). Maybe it was because I read LOTR first because I was constantly comparing them, and I felt it was coming up short. Maybe it just wasn’t the right time for me to read it.
And now, after three movies and (almost!) three years, I’ve finally read The Hobbit! It was easier this time around once I got into the groove. There’s a poignancy to it too, it’s like, from the movies to the book, I’m ending this current journey with Bilbo, and a bittersweet taste lingers.
This particular edition caught my eye because of the beautiful Alan Lee illustrations! Worth every piece of my hard-earned money!
Because it's never too late for spoilers!Sadly, the dwarves, with the exception of Thorin, were as much of a non-entity as in the movies. No characteristics, no stories, no arcs at all. I’d have wanted to get to know them better. Bilbo’s character from there and back again was handled better too, as was the elvenking’s! I was surprised that Thranduil wasn’t a complete huge dick as the movies would have us believe. Bilbo would even rather die protecting the elvenking over anybody else.
Despite this, I found it very hard to actually finish the book. It wasn’t gripping me the way the LOTR trilogy gripped me from day one (and it still grips me to this day). Maybe it was because I read LOTR first because I was constantly comparing them, and I felt it was coming up short. Maybe it just wasn’t the right time for me to read it.
And now, after three movies and (almost!) three years, I’ve finally read The Hobbit! It was easier this time around once I got into the groove. There’s a poignancy to it too, it’s like, from the movies to the book, I’m ending this current journey with Bilbo, and a bittersweet taste lingers.
This particular edition caught my eye because of the beautiful Alan Lee illustrations! Worth every piece of my hard-earned money!
Because it's never too late for spoilers!
apostrophen's review against another edition
4.0
It's hard to really review 'The Hobbit.'
On the one hand, it's inextricably tied with my childhood. In fact, it was published the year I was born, and it was read to me - the first book ever read to me - while my father tried to get me to sleep. It became a book re-read to me many times in my youth, and then somewhere along the way, even though it was a favourite, I went a long while with it just being on my shelf.
Until now.
It's the movie, of course, that made me revisit the book. My husband and I went to see it and I spent a good chunk of the time thinking that I'd missed something. I enjoyed the movie - don't get me wrong - but I couldn't remember most of what was happening on the screen.
Which, it turns out, is due to the movie being considerably filled in from scanter details from the book. And that's fine.
On the other hand, the book on its own has some flaws that are harder to bear as an adult re-reading a treasured childhood memory. Tolkien sure liked his exclamation marks, and had an odd tendency to tell, not show. Also - the poetry (especially the nearly nonsensical elves). Again, though, it's hard to mind. This is a classic, the first of its sort, and that begs a certain level of forgiveness - there was a lot of smiling on my part at the fussiness of Bilbo himself, and the rather stolid (and often punch-line) nature of the dwarves. The elves are certainly not their Lord of the Rings counterparts in this book, and the overall amusement tone is much higher here.
And I'd completely misremembered the ending. I'd re-written it in my childhood memories and reversed a few things. Revisiting the book and seeing how things actually turned out was a bit of a shock in places - I remembered the dwarves as being so darned honourable, and they really aren't - but that made it more intriguing to re-read. I thought I knew 'The Hobbit.' I didn't. But it was nice to get to know it again.
On the one hand, it's inextricably tied with my childhood. In fact, it was published the year I was born, and it was read to me - the first book ever read to me - while my father tried to get me to sleep. It became a book re-read to me many times in my youth, and then somewhere along the way, even though it was a favourite, I went a long while with it just being on my shelf.
Until now.
It's the movie, of course, that made me revisit the book. My husband and I went to see it and I spent a good chunk of the time thinking that I'd missed something. I enjoyed the movie - don't get me wrong - but I couldn't remember most of what was happening on the screen.
Which, it turns out, is due to the movie being considerably filled in from scanter details from the book. And that's fine.
On the other hand, the book on its own has some flaws that are harder to bear as an adult re-reading a treasured childhood memory. Tolkien sure liked his exclamation marks, and had an odd tendency to tell, not show. Also - the poetry (especially the nearly nonsensical elves). Again, though, it's hard to mind. This is a classic, the first of its sort, and that begs a certain level of forgiveness - there was a lot of smiling on my part at the fussiness of Bilbo himself, and the rather stolid (and often punch-line) nature of the dwarves. The elves are certainly not their Lord of the Rings counterparts in this book, and the overall amusement tone is much higher here.
And I'd completely misremembered the ending. I'd re-written it in my childhood memories and reversed a few things. Revisiting the book and seeing how things actually turned out was a bit of a shock in places - I remembered the dwarves as being so darned honourable, and they really aren't - but that made it more intriguing to re-read. I thought I knew 'The Hobbit.' I didn't. But it was nice to get to know it again.
tovejansson's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
she gets an extra star for nostalgia purposes
jenk2020's review against another edition
4.0
A whirlwind introduction to middle earth. I can see why and how fleshing out the film is justified. Each battle lasts just a few pages and each significant character just a chapter or so. I definitely prefer the epic that is lord of rings. I enjoy the detail and the incredible world Tolkien creates. There are just glimpses and teasers in the hobbit.
I think the fact that I didn't remember any of the story during this second read, shows that it is lacking in detail and doesn't draw you in as much as LOTR. Saying that I enjoyed it. Looking forward to seeing what they've done with the two upcoming films. I hope the episode with Smaug is sufficiently drawn out.
I think the fact that I didn't remember any of the story during this second read, shows that it is lacking in detail and doesn't draw you in as much as LOTR. Saying that I enjoyed it. Looking forward to seeing what they've done with the two upcoming films. I hope the episode with Smaug is sufficiently drawn out.
indi72547's review against another edition
3.0
3,5 stars
I didn't like the Hobbit movie trilogy. And now I've re-read the book, I REALLY don't like those stupid movies :)))
We went to see the Tolkien exhibition at the BNF and damn I felt so nostalgic and decided to re-read the Hobbit before going into LOTR. As expected, Tolkien's writing style takes some time to get used to but the story is nice and Middle Earth is AWESOME.
Bilbo and the other characters actually are much more interesting than in the movies. I really liked the fact they all had their flaws.
Anyway, it was a pretty nice read and I'm looking forward to re-read LOTR ^^
I didn't like the Hobbit movie trilogy. And now I've re-read the book, I REALLY don't like those stupid movies :)))
We went to see the Tolkien exhibition at the BNF and damn I felt so nostalgic and decided to re-read the Hobbit before going into LOTR. As expected, Tolkien's writing style takes some time to get used to but the story is nice and Middle Earth is AWESOME.
Bilbo and the other characters actually are much more interesting than in the movies. I really liked the fact they all had their flaws.
Anyway, it was a pretty nice read and I'm looking forward to re-read LOTR ^^
sarahxify's review against another edition
4.0
This was a reread for me. I didn't particularly enjoy it the first time round but really liked it this time.
Tolkien's world building is amazing - it's so thorough and well done. The only thing that stops me from giving this five stars is that his writing style annoys me; I find it overly descriptive and laborious. Aside from this, the man really is a genius.
Tolkien's world building is amazing - it's so thorough and well done. The only thing that stops me from giving this five stars is that his writing style annoys me; I find it overly descriptive and laborious. Aside from this, the man really is a genius.
gomamonshinka's review against another edition
5.0
Bilbo dipilih menjadi anggota ke-14 oleh rombongan kurcaci yang akan pergi menuju petualangan besar yang melibatkan naga dan emas! Emas yang banyak! Tapi ternyata bukan hanya para kurcaci saja yang menginginkan emas tersebut, ada banyak kaum yang berlomba memperebutkan emas tersebut. Baca resensinya di sini
padme's review against another edition
5.0
Shouldnt have read this so soon after BoFa... Feels. From the entire books. So. Many. Freaking. Feels.
It is now official that Bilbo's my favourite hobbit <3
It is now official that Bilbo's my favourite hobbit <3
angek22's review against another edition
4.0
Back when I first read this in 2012, I gave this an unfair "review" of 'Average book was average' simply because I couldn't be bothered immersing myself into Tolkien's writing or the world of Middle Earth, and just settled for skimming pages.
Now that I've properly read it, I can now accurately convey my feelings towards this book.
The Hobbit tells the story of Bilbo Baggins who would not rather be going on dangerous adventures, than being in the comfort of his hobbit-hole (As someone who strives for magical adventures like the one described in this book, I can't relate), and once he does, we see that even the most smallest of creatures, and the most underestimated of people can be practitioners of heroism.
The events in the story do not necessarily relate to the end goal of the narrative, but even though I felt such scenes (ex: troll scene) did not add much to the story, I think they were important in establishing Bilbo and letting the 'Tookish' side of him come out and show that he is a quick thinker and able to get himself and the band of Dwarves out of tight spots.
The Hobbit was an enjoyable story, accessible to those who actually want to read it, and I think essential reading if you love the fantasy/adventure genre.
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Average book was average.
Now that I've properly read it, I can now accurately convey my feelings towards this book.
The Hobbit tells the story of Bilbo Baggins who would not rather be going on dangerous adventures, than being in the comfort of his hobbit-hole (As someone who strives for magical adventures like the one described in this book, I can't relate), and once he does, we see that even the most smallest of creatures, and the most underestimated of people can be practitioners of heroism.
The events in the story do not necessarily relate to the end goal of the narrative, but even though I felt such scenes (ex: troll scene) did not add much to the story, I think they were important in establishing Bilbo and letting the 'Tookish' side of him come out and show that he is a quick thinker and able to get himself and the band of Dwarves out of tight spots.
The Hobbit was an enjoyable story, accessible to those who actually want to read it, and I think essential reading if you love the fantasy/adventure genre.
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Average book was average.