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A review by a_j_torres0
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
3.0
This is a Children/Middle Grade Fantasy novel.
Book Cover: 4* - 2nd time reading this book and I am finally leaving a review lol. This time I have my hands on a hard cover version of The Hobbit, and I really like this cover. I think it is very simplistic and stylistic, which works well for this story. I also have the version with the red sun and dragon, so the 75th anniversary edition of the book, which really pop on this cover.
Summary/Tagline: 3* - The summary is ok. I'm curious enough to want to read the story. Bilbo is a simple living hobbit who is suddenly met with Gandalf and some dwarves who come to take him away to steal from a dragon. So, simple and curious enough lol.
Characters: 3* - Well, The Hobbit follows Bilbo Baggins for a good majority of the book with a few POV hopping moments peppered throughout the story. He was an ok little dude. I didn't love him, but I also didn't hate him, he was just ok for me. Unfortunately, the dwarves that Bilbo travels with, are pretty forgettable. Even Thorin, who is going to be King of the Lonely Mountains, but he and his company just felt like there were just there sometimes and complain when they feel like Bilbo is being an inconvenience, even though he saves them a lot lol. Gandalf was an interesting character, but he was just gone for most of the book, needing to do a different task that I thought was a little more interesting than the journey to the Lonely Mountain lol.
World Building: 2* - To be honest, the world building wasn't really that noticeable in this book. Even the magic system, which, I guess because this is a children book, there is normally never a need to go in depth for that stuff. So just expect a lot of just go with it and coincidental conveniences throughout the story.
Story: 3* - The story, I think, is an ok yet simple, fun and exciting adventure children story. Bilbo was having an ordinary, quiet life in Bag Ends, and his life is suddenly interrupted by Gandalf and 12 or 13 dwarves, needing him to go with them and steal some stuff that is being guarded by a massive dragon. There is quite a bit of coincidental conveniences made by Gandalf with his, "A wizard did it!" moments lol, and just go with it moments when it comes to Bilbo being on his own when he is separated from the group. Just suspend your disbelief when reading this story and you may actually enjoy it, unless you want something more in depth and expansive, then this story may not be for you.
Audio Book: 3* - The narrator for this book wasn't bad. He attempted a variety of voices for different characters and creatures, but I suppose my problem was struggling to pay attention. The only times I listened was when I was showering and pumping breast milk, however when I was pumping I was trying to follow along with the physical book in front of me because why not lol.
Over All: 3* - I give The Hobbit 3 stars. I thought this story was a simple but fun and exciting adventure children story where I must suspend my disbelief and just go with whatever is happening. This book was written with kids in mind so if you are looking for something on the same level as The Lord of the Rings, A Song of Ice and Fire, Mistborn trilogy, etc. I may ask you to look elsewhere. I'm not sure if I would recommend this book to first time fantasy readers as it is a very simple adventure story for kids, but if you want to give it a shot anyway then I say go for it. You may have fun reading it, especially if you are reading it to your kids.
Book Cover: 4* - 2nd time reading this book and I am finally leaving a review lol. This time I have my hands on a hard cover version of The Hobbit, and I really like this cover. I think it is very simplistic and stylistic, which works well for this story. I also have the version with the red sun and dragon, so the 75th anniversary edition of the book, which really pop on this cover.
Summary/Tagline: 3* - The summary is ok. I'm curious enough to want to read the story. Bilbo is a simple living hobbit who is suddenly met with Gandalf and some dwarves who come to take him away to steal from a dragon. So, simple and curious enough lol.
Characters: 3* - Well, The Hobbit follows Bilbo Baggins for a good majority of the book with a few POV hopping moments peppered throughout the story. He was an ok little dude. I didn't love him, but I also didn't hate him, he was just ok for me. Unfortunately, the dwarves that Bilbo travels with, are pretty forgettable. Even Thorin, who is going to be King of the Lonely Mountains, but he and his company just felt like there were just there sometimes and complain when they feel like Bilbo is being an inconvenience, even though he saves them a lot lol. Gandalf was an interesting character, but he was just gone for most of the book, needing to do a different task that I thought was a little more interesting than the journey to the Lonely Mountain lol.
World Building: 2* - To be honest, the world building wasn't really that noticeable in this book. Even the magic system, which, I guess because this is a children book, there is normally never a need to go in depth for that stuff. So just expect a lot of just go with it and coincidental conveniences throughout the story.
Story: 3* - The story, I think, is an ok yet simple, fun and exciting adventure children story. Bilbo was having an ordinary, quiet life in Bag Ends, and his life is suddenly interrupted by Gandalf and 12 or 13 dwarves, needing him to go with them and steal some stuff that is being guarded by a massive dragon. There is quite a bit of coincidental conveniences made by Gandalf with his, "A wizard did it!" moments lol, and just go with it moments when it comes to Bilbo being on his own when he is separated from the group. Just suspend your disbelief when reading this story and you may actually enjoy it, unless you want something more in depth and expansive, then this story may not be for you.
Audio Book: 3* - The narrator for this book wasn't bad. He attempted a variety of voices for different characters and creatures, but I suppose my problem was struggling to pay attention. The only times I listened was when I was showering and pumping breast milk, however when I was pumping I was trying to follow along with the physical book in front of me because why not lol.
Over All: 3* - I give The Hobbit 3 stars. I thought this story was a simple but fun and exciting adventure children story where I must suspend my disbelief and just go with whatever is happening. This book was written with kids in mind so if you are looking for something on the same level as The Lord of the Rings, A Song of Ice and Fire, Mistborn trilogy, etc. I may ask you to look elsewhere. I'm not sure if I would recommend this book to first time fantasy readers as it is a very simple adventure story for kids, but if you want to give it a shot anyway then I say go for it. You may have fun reading it, especially if you are reading it to your kids.