Rating: 
Summary: A good prequel, but little more...
Review: The Hobbit is a tale straight from the imagination of the #1 adventure story-teller of the 20th century, J.R.R. Tolkien. A young Hafling, name Biblo is drafted against his will into an adventure that forces him to face down trolls, goblins, and a horrible dragon. The Hobbit is a tale of magic and adventure that any Tolkien fan will enjoy reading, for the simple reason that it is a good example of his wild imagination.Readers above the age of 12, however, will find the book somewhat childish, as was Tolkien's intent. The story he wrote for his children, as is apparent in the ease of reading, and toned-down violence. If you do not plan to read The Lord of the Rings, I suggest you ignore this book. If you do, however, plan to read the best adventure story of all time, read the Hobbit only because it leads up the story about Bilbo's nephew, Frodo Baggins, and his adventure in The Lord of the Rings. You can finish it relatively quickly, and better enjoy the sequel trilogy. I read at only 350 words/minute, and I was able to finish this book in two nights (a total of maybe 6 hours). If, however, you would rather read a story to a young child, this book would serve as great entertainment. I further suggest that you be sure to purchase an illustrated version, as if your reason for purchase is thus, a child would enjoy to see Tolkien's monsters monsters come to life.
Rating: 
Summary: An exellent book
Review: Well, There isn't much to be added to the previous reviews. I want only to reiterate that this is a really great book, one that must be read by everybody considering himself a fantasy fan, since much of a genre was originated here.
Rating:
Summary: A new favorite of mine!
Review: When I saw this book listed on my required reading list, I wrote it off as just another boring required book. And considereing the other book was Gulliver's Travels (yuck) my fears were justified. But when I read this I was surprised to find a very entertaining tale filled with adventure, beautiful description, and colouful charecters. When Bilbo Baggins has a wizard come to his house for tea he never knew it would change his life. The next morning she gets 13 dwaves at his doorstep and soon he is setting out on an adverterous treasure hunt and wondering how he ever got roped into it. With each turn he takes he faces new challenges and forced to find a hidden bravery and confidence in his heart with a little magical help. But when he reaches the end of his journey, getting the treasure may be just as hard as the journey he had to take to get there. I found this book to be entertaining and thrilling. It's classical fantasy and now I see why everyone talks about it. So many people say this is "almost as good as Harry Potter" or "even Better than Harry Potter" but it's so differnt than the Potter books that it would be like comparing apples to oranges. But still if you like fantasy and adventures in strange lands, this book is for you. I think I'm also gonna read the three books that come after it, the famous Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I hope you enjoyed this book as much as I did!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent rendition
Review: This graphic comic book was released by Eclipse over a decade ago and re-released as an illustrated novel about five years ago. Anyone who does not know the story line is probably not interested so this reviewer will not repeat the often told and read tale of Bilbo. The book adheres to Tolkien's tale and is supplemented by beautiful illustrations (as expected with a comic book) that will blow away anyone who has not seen comic art in recent years. Though some readers will take exception to the visualization of heroes and villains not as expected in their mind's eye, most fans of the novels and fantasy in general will fully enjoy this edition that pays tribute to Tolkien and his classic work. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Enter Middle Earth Through it's Antechamber
Review: Tolkien is without a doubt the greatest literary genius of our times, whatever the naysayers among the "literati" say. Tolkien was the ultimate "philologist" in both a literal, academic sense and in a broader, more general sense. That is to say, he was a true "lover of words" and no writer has ever "sub-created" a magical world on the basis of a deeper knowledge of, and love of, words. What is more, as any true philologist, he saw very clearly the power of myth and how language and myth interweave. The longer trilogy with followed allowed him to unfold all these aspects of his writing in a fuller, deeper way...and yet there is still something about the Hobbit, the antechamber of Middle Earth that draws one back to it again and again. It is eminently readable and approachable, for one thing. One can easily plow though it for a light evening's reading. Designed as a "children's book" (so many great works of literature were) it is utterly enjoyable for even young children and yet an inexhaustable mine of meaning for adults.
Rating: 
Summary: Dumbing down the Hobbit
Review: Seeing the cover of this book, I assumed I was purchasing art. Serious misjudgment on my part. The comic strip format is clumsy and choppy. The editing is poor, cutting up this classic into sound bites fit only for Mad Magazine. What a huge disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy that is good literature
Review: I picked up the Hobbit and read it as an adult merely because I like another one of the Inklings (a group of writers who met at the Oxford Pub "the Eagle and the Child" which included C.S. Lewis). I read this "children's" fantasy as an adult and immediately fell in love with Tolkien's writing. This is fantasy that has depth to it. Yes, there are goblins, and elves, and dwarves in the book but it is not just a fantasy that just throws out shallow fantasy characters. Tolkien makes you understand the characters and makes you want to be a part of their lives. Even though they are creatures of fantasy you will begin to fel for them just like you would the characters of any great book. Though some call this is a "children's" book it was well worth my time and I will begin to read the "Lord of the Rings" series simply because of how good "the Hobbit" was.
Rating:
Summary: a classy classic
Review: this book is a must read for everyone 6 to 106, a true delight. i've read it over and over and always find something new and wonderful.
Rating:
Summary: A BOOK FOR THE AGES
Review: Truly a book for the ages. A wizard with words, JRR. Tolkien weaves an enchanting story of the quest undertaken by 13 dwarves led by Gandalf the Grey and a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. When we first start this tale, we see a hobbit outside of his hobbit hole, smoking his pipe, and blowing smoke rings. Gandalf the Wizard comes by asking if Bilbo was interested in a quest filled with intrigue and treasure. Being the respectable Hobbit he is, he declines and instead invites Gandalf to tea the next day. This is how the greatest fantasy book of all time starts. Not just a book for children, I myself am 14 currently, and have read this book 5 times. It is a tale that leads you through an exciting quest filled with adventure and mystery with the reward of insurmountable wealth at the end, if they complete the quest at all. If you are looking for a book that will keep you entwined for the rest of your life, pick up a copy of the Hobbit, or any of Tolkien's other books.
Rating:
Summary: The word in brackets says it all.
Review: [ABRIDGED]?? You can't abridge Tolkien, any more than you can abridge Dickens. And who in their right mind would want an abridged edition anyway? It's not as if _The Hobbit_ was a very long book. Even with _The Lord of the Rings_, which is far longer, all the people I know that liked it say it's not long enough.
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