The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien

I read this as a child and have gobbled it up again. Tolkien’s incredible scenery descriptions leave distinct impressions in one’s mind without being drawn out or boring. I was struck by the number of smooth-talking trickeries there are – people tangling others up in their words. Is that an admirable trait if one uses it for good? It’s definitely not when it’s used for ill.

The many characters and places are fun to think back on, each as unlikely as the next, yet all fitting comfortably within the story. Hague's illustrations were a delightful inclusion.

I must admit that it was less than I remembered it being as a child – less suspense, less hunger, less time and travel and want and waste (I think this is due to me reading it more slowly as a child, and thus drawing out each situation in a more realistic time frame) – and yet the adventure was as great. I must admit I was disappointed in Thorin’s inflexibility at the end. Truly he did not owe the people for damages caused by the dragon – the dragon was not his responsibility. It seems Thorin’s character held tightly to the stereotypes dwarfs are set with (greed over friendship, unfortunately), and could not see the forest for the trees. While he was tasked with the almost impossible job of protecting the treasure (formerly protected by a dragon, and he had only a dozen dwarfs!), he also could have handled it better.

From my reading as a child I remembered the goblins, good elves, dragon, and dwarf’s cave. I had forgotten the great bear, spiders, Elves of the Wood, and the people of the lake-town of Esgaroth. The clever escape from the Elves of the Wood was my favorite portion of the book, made all the better (in my view) by Bilbo’s forgetting to plan a way to save himself!

It was interesting to watch Bilbo grow and become so much more than what he had been, then on the return journey within sight of his home, Gandalf says “Something is the matter with you! You are not the hobbit that you were,” making it sound as if the changes were not for the better. (Wink, wink.) And of course, “He had lost his reputation,” for no decent hobbit goes on adventures. And so we see that in becoming well traveled, versed in many other cultures, and having solved problems of every sort, he has become less of a person in his home town.  His adventures lead to the adventures of his nephew, Frodo, in which the entire Shire (hobbit-land) is saved; thus Frodo “looses” his reputation also. 

Who can see with true vision? He is despised, tho he saveth us all.