‘The Hobbit’, by J.R.R. Tolkien, is a critically acclaimed novel that shows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins as he travels with the company of dwarves to help them reclaim their homeland of Erebor from the great dragon Smaug. The single book provides a deeper perception of Tolkien’s Middle Earth than that of its movie counterpart. Without a shadow of a doubt, the book exceeds the expectations that one would have for a close to the 100-year-old novel.

The story was a lot more detailed than its movie trilogy counterpart, although that was to be expected. What surprised me, however, was the number of songs or rhythms within the story. Within the movie, we don’t see a lot of the songs sung by the people of Middle Earth, but in the novel we do. It seemed like every ten pages a new song would be sung. Now, don’t get me wrong, the songs did add to the story, and further along the plotline, but after a while it got repetitive. I found myself skipping these parts so I could get back to the action of the story.

With that being said, Tolkien does a great job in helping the reader visualize the story and the trip in which the Company is making. I could feel myself getting tense during fight scenes, and the way in which it was written (more like that of the 1800s) drew in my interest even more. I especially loved to see the differences between that of the different races on Middle Earth (dwarves, hobbits, etc.) I felt that the way each character was given an agenda and a motivation to be quite believable. I loved to see more of Beorn in the novel than we did in the movies,  and I found the way in which his farm was described to be my favorite part. Bard, the heir of Girion, was written quite differently, to my surprise and delight, and I found myself liking the way he was portrayed and his protection of the town Esgaroth from the great dragon Smaug quite a bit better in the books than in the movie. I felt it made more sense.

The way in which the company traveled felt more realistic within the storyline, and the trolls, William, Bert, and Tom were given more reason to be in the plot than the movie portrayed. In fact, each obstacle that the company faces, from the trolls to the goblin king, to the Elvenking of Mirkwood seemed to have more of a reason to further Bilbo Baggins’ character development. There wasn’t a moment within the novel that I felt bored, or less intrigued than when I first read it.

If you are a person who likes, fantasy, adventure, and a large quest, then this the story for you. There is honestly something in this story for everyone. Whether the elves are your favorite and you want to read about Rivendell and the Last Homely Home while brushing up on your Quenya and Sindarin, or if you are inclined to visit The Shire, and Bag-End along with the hobbits within it, you will be enthralled with this story much like I was. Make sure to brush up on your history with The One Ring, and ‘Sting’, when reading this story if you intend upon reading “The Lord of the Rings’, as I plan to. Follow in the antics that the company gets into, and decide for yourself whether the Elves of Mirkwood and Humans of Esgaroth deserve their part of the treasure of Erebor, and watch with interest about what happens to the Arkenstone.

If there is one story that can both latch onto you and keep you entertained, then ‘The Hobbit’ would be that story. I would say with utmost certainty that this is the one book to rule them all. (Anyone see what I did there?)

Meneg Suilaid

(Thousand Greetings)