Rating: 
Summary: not just for children
Review: This book, though written well enough to be digested by kids, is certainly a sophisticated and thought-provoking classic of western literature. Many very "adult" and timeless themes run through the book, highlighting the best and worst of humanity. It's a frightening tale when taken in light of the allegorical nature of Tolkien's work. Evil lurks everywhere, not only in the hearts of goblins, trolls, or giant spiders. Some of the themes:The greed of the Dwarves. They weren't out to liberate Lake Town from the big, bad dragon Smaug, they were there for revenge and riches, plain and simple. Their actions lead to much destruction and war. The Dwarves' lust for wealth is also touched upon in the latter Trilogy. The racism of the Elves. Sure, they're "good" folk, but they are so aloof, mistrustful and arrogant, as well. Anyone who isn't an Elf is a lesser form of creature to them, and it usually leads to ill feelings at best, war at worst. Tolkien used the word "estrangement" to describe the gulf between men and elves; we might use the word "bigotry" today. Bibo's job title. THIEF. It's why the Dwarves needed another person on their journey, and how Bilbo gets drafted. Sure, he stinks at it at first, but with a little practice (and some help from the evil ring) he becomes much better at it. Witness his transformation during the course of his journey; he isn't quite so merry and carefree when it is over. His attitude towards the thrush is very enlightening in this regard, as is his behaviour once returning home. Granted, he was forced to steal from Thranduil to survive, but what NEED did he have of the Arkenstone? (Gollum attests to Bilbo's calling at the mouth of the cave: "Thief! Baggins! We hates it forever!!!") War. What is it good for? Well, obviously it's the only way to get satisfaction sometimes. Every character in the book seems intent on getting into a fight except Bilbo, and he's ridiculed and shamed for being a peacemaker -- by his own friends. Loneliness. Bilbo experiences a very solitary existence in the middle of his travels. Even when in company of the dwarves, he is still an outsider and is far away from his comfortable home in the Shire. Everyone is bigger, fiercer, and stronger than him, but he manages to make out fine overall. So many dark and disturbing things about our existence are laid bare in this book, but they are not without hope. There is deliverance for Bilbo, and there is reconciliation, honor, and true friendship which springs from the worst of circumstances. Again, a very thought-provoking text that will be enjoyed by adults and children, for very different reasons.
Rating: 
Summary: The Hobbit
Review: "The Hobbit" takes place before the Lord of the Rings series. It is centered on a Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, who is the Uncle of the Hero in the Lord of the Rings, Frodo. "The Hobbit" is about a group of traveling dwarves, the leader of which goes by the name of Thorin. Him and his band of 12 Dwarfs are on a quest to get back the treasure that belongs to them. Thorin's ansester by the name of Thror was known as the king of the mountains because him and his people discovered a great whealth in a mountain range that was thought unexplorable. One day an evil dragon by the name of Smaug came to Thror's kingdom and recklessly destroys all of Thror's people and steals the treasures that he worked so hard to obtain. Thorin and his men are looking for a Hobbit to join them on their quest to use him as a burglar since he has "Took" blood in him. (The Tooks were notoriously known for their spirit of adventure that most Hobbits lacked.) After some convincing from the Dwarves and his Wizzard friend Gandalf, he accepts the invitation. He must endure many hardships as he travles the monster infested land, fight off massive spiders, escape a 500 year old Hobbit that is deformed by the power of the "Ring", and slay an ancient Dragon that not a kingdom of men were powerless to stop!
"The Hobbit" by J.R.R Tolkien is a national classic and a book that has inspired all of those who read it. It is a book that combines the excitment of a fantasy adventure with a massive amount of suspending events to keep one occupied. Add the touch of comedy and you get one of the finest books ever written.
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Summary: Timeless
Review: I was introduced to the world of Tolkien by the 1978 film "the Hobbitt," while i was still only 8 years old. I began reading the Hobbitt and the Trilogy later, when i was around 14, and even today i get different things out of each reading. Although the book appeals to children, it is not simply a children's story and the information contained inside is essential to understanding the Trilogy, both the books and recent films. Beware: this is no frolic in the woods with friends. The subject matter is violent, frightening, and even sinister. I'm not just talking about the encounters with giant spiders and cruel goblins. Here are some of the themes: The greed of the Dwarfs. If you think they came to kill Smaug so that Lake Town could be free from tyranny, think again. They were there to get revenge and riches, pure and simple, and it led to much more violence. Bilbo's job title. He's called a what? THIEF. He is brought along because these dwarves need an experienced burglar to help them procure necessities on their journey. Bilbo is far from it when he leaves the Shire, but becomes much better at it along the way -- aided by the ring, of course. The shrieking cries of Gollum attest to that when Bilbo escapes the mountains ("Thief! Baggins! We hates it forever!"). Once endowed with the ring, which we later discover is pure evil, his thievery increases exponentially. Of course, he steals from the Elves to feed himself, but what *need* did he have of the Arkenstone? The twisted evil of Gollum. Here's a character whose full villainy can't even be extracted from "The Hobbitt." Taken in context with his role in the Trilogy, he is a demented and pitiful being who is murderous, treacherous, and mono-maniacal. We've all met Gollum face to face in our lives. The arrogance of the Elves. Yes, they're beautiful people, and yes, they are "good," but their high-mindedness and bigotry towards dwarves and men is rampant through all four books. They're holed-up in their forest hideout because they are so mistrustful of everyone else. They are isolationists without repentance, because they only see themselves as good, and all others as inferior. The spectre of life's Orcs, Trolls, and Spiders. The world is, and has always been, full of dangers. These are presented plainly in the "bad" characters, but also more subtly in those characters deemed "good." Bilbo experiences the worst behaviour from nearly everyone he encounters, except Gandalf, who only abandons him to look after greater matters. Even Beorn, who houses the company and delivers victory in battle, is deadly and fearful. Bilbo is ridiculed for being a peacemaker, driven away in anger by his "friends" the dwarves, considered useless by men and elves, is seen merely as food for Gollum, the Trolls, and the Spiders, and faces death numerous times. His travels, like our own lives, are full of peril and rife with unpleasantness, even from those we love or admire. Bilbo's journey is not a happy one. Through it all, he remains mostly his cheery self, though he becomes tinged with cynicism from his experience (note his response to the thrush). In other words, he grows up. We can all relate to what he goes through. It's a much more sophisticated and complex book than most people will give credit for, yet is so well-written and timeless as to have the broadest appeal. There is no "type" to which this book would appeal, if read with discerning and open minds. One of the BEST pieces of fictional literature EVER. Pure Gold.
Rating:
Summary: Great!!!
Review: When I read this book for the first time, I didn't get it. But the second time, I loved it. It is the best beginning for the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Bilbo is just the hobbit next door until he meets a wizard named gandalf and goes on an adventure (for the first time) and helps slay a dragon. Think of it this way: This book is awesome! That's the gist of it.
Rating:
Summary: THe Hobbit/ There And Back Again
Review: This book deserves 5 stars for many reasons. The first reason is the plot. The second reason is the characters.
The plot is good beacuse it has many parts, it has it's ups and downs but it's plot is special because some parts are sad someparts are exciting and some parts are just kind of regular.
The characters are also very special. One he describes them so well that you can picture them in you're mind. He also makes their emotion seem very real and like you fell sad when they are sad and you feel happy when they are happy.
That is why i give this book a 5 star rating for anyone who likes fantasy or action.
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Summary: Classic Adventures
Review: This book is absolutely incredible. Tolkien truly is a spectacular storyteller. Blibo Baggins is a lovable character that most people can feel for. When you read The Hobbit, you feel like you are going on an adventure right along with Blibo and his companions. It really takes you into a whole, new world. This book is a must read for all ages.
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Summary: The Hobbit
Review: The Hobbit is a very good book. Tolkien takes ideas of great creatures including dwarves, hobbits, and other living things to create a great plot. The book, although fiction, can really make you seem like it is real. You just forget what is going on around you and you think that you are in the story. The Hobbit is a wonderful book and is one of the best fiction books that i have ever read, besides The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
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Summary: See how it all began
Review: It may be years since you've read "The Hobbit", but now is the time to rediscover it (I hear talk that Peter Jackson is doing this movie next). "The Hobbit" is the prequel to Lord of the Rings. We meet Frodo's uncle Biblo Baggins, a hobbit that likes to always be full, smoke his pipe by a fire, and drink his beer. He hates visitors (he's afraid they'll eat all his food), but loves Gandalf the Grey. But when Bilbo opens to door to Gandalf one day, he unwillingly becomes host to several dwarves that quickly deplete him of his rations. Gandalf and the dwarves sweep Biblo away on an adventure to reclaim the dwarves lost treasure from their home. Along the way, they are bombarded with obstacles such as wolves and goblins- one incident happens when Bilbo is lost in a cave, which is where we are first introduced to Gollum. Even before I saw LOTR, Gollum was very easy to picture due to Tolkien's master storytelling. I got chills everytime he called the ring "preciousssss!" Though initially, Bilbo drags his feet along the journey, he quickly discovers that even the most sendentary hobbit can be drawn to the addiction of adventure. Although the reader can thoroughly enjoy LOTR without first reading "The Hobbit", much that happens in the later novels is foreshadowed here and lends greater understanding to the later stories. This is a story that used to be required reading in many middle grade schools. Perhaps, with the wildly popular success of LOTR, it will be again.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptionally Written
Review: The Hobbit, by J.R.R.Tolkien, is an excellent book. Taking place in a mystical land of the past, it feels as if the reader is along with the characters the whole way. Bilbo Baggins, the main character, along with 12 dwarves and Gandalf, a powerful wizard, as his companions must make the dangerous and peril filled journey to the lair of Smaug, the terror of an entire countryside!
This book is a must read for anyone with a love for exceptionally written literature. Tolkiens descriptive language makes you feel that if you could meet the characters, you would be able to sit and talk as if you knew them. The book makes the reader feel as if he was with them every step of the way. There's never a dull moment, it grabs your attention from the beginning and doesn't let go. You'll have more people telling you that your heads stuck in a book than ever before!
J.R.R. Tolkien was an amazing author. Some may say he had an entire other world in his head. Born in 1892, he wrote many pieces during his life, which ended in 1973. Although his life has ended, his legacy has not. The Hobbit, along with the three-part novel, The Lord of the Rings, been made into award winning movies. Also, please note that his name is spelled Tolkien, there is no Tolkein. This book is a book written by a great author and is a must read for anyone with a lust for a great book.
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Summary: Evelyn [reviews] "The Hobbit"
Review: Bilbo Baggins of The Shire is a hobbit. Hobbit are very small people that look very similar to us except they have large feet. Bilbo considers himself a treasure seeker and this is how he got hooked up with Gandalf the Gray and a group of 13 dwarves. The dwarves needed a fourteenth person for their journey and Gandalf recommended Bilbo. Gandalf the Gray is a very old traveling wizard that is known by many people. Gandalf was friends with several of Bilbo's ancestors and Bilbo was very familiar with him. The dwarves work endlessly underground looking for treasures in the Misty Mountains. The dwarves needed to get rid of a dragon and Bilbo and Gandalf were going to help. The book describes the events before The Fellowship of the Ring,so, the most exciting part to me was the capturing or the Ring from Gollum. The story concluds with Bilbo being rich in gold and being admired by other hobbits for his great adventure.
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