An amazing story that starts with a disturbance in the life of a homely Hobbit. The unpleasantness leads on to an adventure that spans the known worldAn amazing story that starts with a disturbance in the life of a homely Hobbit. The unpleasantness leads on to an adventure that spans the known world of Middle Earth and sets the stage for the final battle with the Dark Lord, Sauron of Mordor.
Written in a much more simple and easy to read form than "Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit" has a charm that is often lacking in the great epic that follows it. Many either prefer "The Hobbit" or "The Lord of the Rings" but rarely do readers favor both, even though they are part of the same story. Those who like lighter tales of adventure as opposed to more meaty epics will find "The Hobbit" a very enjoyable read.
"The Hobbit" is also interesting from the point of view of a study of Middle Earth. In this part of the story, Tolkien's vast and detailed world is much more raw and less developed. There are many more allusions to contemporary myths than in the broader Lord of the Rings. And the concept of elves is less realized or revealed.
For my part, this was the book that started it all for me. Prior to The Hobbit, I had little interest in reading at all. So here's to Tolkien, grandfather of fantasy!
