The Hobbit Book Review: A Cosy, Comforting Adventure That Easily Hooks You In
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien is a classic fantasy that surprised me. Honestly, it wasn’t at all what I expected. I kept my distance from this book for a long time, thinking it would feel like a heavy, historical kind of fantasy. However, one day, after seeing a lot of The Lord of the Rings mentions, I decided to finally give this one a try. And I’m glad I did.
I loved the vibe. The Hobbit book is nothing like the historical fantasy I assumed it to be. It turned out to be a cosy, comforting adventure that easily hooks you in. And it made me feel like being a kid on an adventure. I was so dumb to avoid this book all these years.
My Rating:
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
“A cosy, comforting adventure that easily hooks you in.”
What is The Hobbit Mainly About?
The Hobbit is about Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving hobbit who prefers staying at home, getting regular meals, over anything remotely adventurous. His life takes an unexpected turn when wizard Gandalf shows up with a group of dwarves and pulls him into a quest. A quest to reclaim their treasure from the dragon Smaug, with Bilbo acting as their “burglar.”
The story moves forward as Bilbo is on a journey across the land, facing trolls, goblins, wolves and other dangers. Although he often finds himself in situations he didn’t sign for, he thinks of a solution to get past those. Just like a sneaky burglar.
How Many Books are There of The Hobbit?
There’s just one book – The Hobbit. It’s a complete story on its own, so you don’t need to commit to a series to enjoy it. That said, it’s followed by The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which continues the larger story set in the same world.
In What Order Should I Read The Hobbit?
The Hobbit is just one book, a light, adventurous fantasy story about Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who is pulled into a quest to reclaim a dragon-guarded treasure.
It’s followed by The Lord of the Rings, an epic, high fantasy series of three novels, which are to be read in the following order:
- The Fellowship of the Ring
- The Two Towers
- The Return of the King
Is The Hobbit a Difficult Book to Read?
Not at all. The Hobbit is written in a simple, storybook style (it was originally meant for children), so it’s very easy to get into even if you’re new to fantasy. Even if the book is considered high fantasy, the world-building never feels overwhelming.
What Works?
I loved how easy this book is to get into. The writing has a warm feel to it, like a teacher reading to kids (or in this case, Tolkien reading to his kids). The book is playful throughout, with light moments of tension... as it should be for a hobbit who loves his home and his breakfast and his tea.
The book also had songs and riddles; yes, fun nursery-rhymes-like, some of which were genuinely laugh-out-loud funny.
I loved Mr. Bilbo Baggins especially in the Hobbit. Even though he came off a bit eccentric in the beginning, he turned out to be a lovable character. I loved how he used his luck and wit to get on with the quest.
And even with all the world-building in the story, the book was surprisingly easygoing. Although I had to skip some parts (where descriptions were a little too much to handle), the story remained an engaging adventure.
What Falls Short?
There isn’t much to complain about. Yeah, some parts dragged here and there, and some scenes didn’t have the same charming, whimsical tone as most of the book. The Hobbit, however, is going to remain a memorable book to me.
Ah, yes, those songs were quite an annoyance after some time. And I also skipped much of the big war. Because there were way too many characters too follow. Maybe just me.
Is The Hobbit Worth Reading as a Standalone?
Yes, The Hobbit is a complete book on its own, and it’s worth reading. This is a great pick if you’re new to fantasy. Even if you don’t plan to read The Lord of the Rings (because it’s a heavy read), you can read and enjoy The Hobbit comfortably. It’s an enjoyable read for both adults and children.
Final Thoughts
The Hobbit, at its core, is a cute, kid-friendly story. A lighthearted, fast-paced adventure story about unexpected journeys and friendships. Yeah, friendships, too. It’s something I know I would’ve loved as a kid, and I liked it now just as much as an adult.
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