The Hobbit

[SpaceShip]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

My one caution about The Hobbit to anyone coming to it as an adult is that it really was written down to children in its tone. This can be seen as Bilbo's own approach, as opposed to the more serious approach Frodo would take when doing his work on "The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings and the Return of the King", if one likes, and that may make it a little easier to take. I personally have great affection for the book, but I've known many to whom this authorial tone was more than a bit off-putting. I'd say to forgive the tone and let the story take over; and if you can do this, there are not onloy several scenes, but some excellent writing (some surprisingly dark) here and there through the book. Enjoy!

I didn't read The Hobbit as a child but loved it as an adult. I think it was one of the first books I read that led me into the realms of fantasy and I haven't looked back since. As j.d. says it does have its darker side, but I think children would miss this. It's a good read for all generations alike.

[geordie bob]

I read the hobbit when i was a kid and loved it,reread it again a while back nothings changed,great stuff

[Sibeling]

It was my favourite book when I was a child. I took it in a library so often my parents decided to buy me my own copy I loved the book then, and I still love it, not only because of the sentimental value but also because it is still entertaining and funny, even though it has some dark aspects.
And LOTR is my favourite book now.

[Kitera]

I've just started reading the first chapter yesterday and was very surprised on how quickly I got into it. Loved the first chapter and its really witty and amusing.

[Annie]

I just finished reading The Hobbit and I loved it so much. My son is reading it too.

[pyan]

Good, good! Catch 'em young, that's what I say!

[Sathai]

I loved The Hobbit when I was a kid. I re-read it every now and then.

[MorvaShepley]

My son loved the hobbit in a statistical sort of way. His reports on the progress of the adventurers went something like "Mum, there's 13 dwarves and one wizard, and they've had 23 adventures in 19 chapters, if you count Bombur falling into the river ..."

I'm not good with numbers so I have mis-remembered them here, but you get the idea.

[jneni]

I read The Hobbit as an adult too ^^ I enjoyed it thoroughly. It's really much light-hearted compared to LOTR. I love the conversation between Bilbo and Smaug - it was so funny and witty of Bilbo!

[bookaholic]

i read it ages ago and its been one of favourite books ever since.

[pyan]

I'm reading THE HISTORY OF THE HOBBIT: Mr Baggins by John D. Rateliff at the moment, and while it's not as convoluted as the writing of The Lord Of The Rings, there's still a lot of interesting story behind the final published edition.

[knitteratheart]

I'm one of those "weird" people that read the hobbit first.
I loved it and was slightly dissapointed when the LOTR was not written in the same flowing amusing style.

[areader]

Nope, did not like the hobbit as a kid...but I read it recently and it gave me a different perspective on things.

[Arien]

I´ve read the hobbit after the Silmarillion ^^
it was very strange... because the silmarillion was very difficuld to read and the hobbit so... simple ^_____^ it was strange at first (I don´t know why o_O) but then it was beautyful xD I love this book. It´s ingenious ^^
Now I read it once again. And I like it more than the first time I read it ^^