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Book Review: The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien

In a hole in the gound there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare,sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort (Tolkien, 3: 1937).

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R Tolkien although originally released back in 1937. Is hitting the big screen December 2012 and is set to be one of this years biggest blockbusters.

Last year saw a new revised pocket hardback version to commemorate the 75th year anniversary of this magnificent children’s book.

The story tells the tale of a Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, un-ambitious way of life. That is until the wizard Gandalf tricks poor Bilbo into going on an adventure with himself and in the company of thirteen dwarves led by their leader Thorin Oakenshield. They set off from Bilbo’s hole in the ground on their expedition and along the way meet some dangerous folk. Trolls, goblins, wargs, giant-spiders and Gollum. Gandalf is at hand to get the group to safety until Bilbo proves himself after he comes across a mysterious ring with the power to turn the owner invisible.

Along the way, the company also meet friendly folk in Elrond, Lord of Rivendell and Beorn, the shape-shifter from Mirkwood. Alongside the heroic Eagles they all help Bilbo, Gandalf and the thirteen dwarves during their quest.

Our heroes travel into the wild, through the Misty Mountains of Mirkwood and to Lake-town where they finally reach the Lonely Mountain. There, treasure belonging to the Dwarves has been seized for many years by the dragon Smaug. Bilbo finds the trap door into the mountain but upon stealing an item of treasure, Smaug is alerted and flies to Lake-town to seek revenge upon the men of Lake-town who he believes has stolen from him. Smaug is defeated by Bard the Bowman but the town is destroyed. The Dwarves presume that they have won their rightful treasure back once and for all but little be-known to them, the men of Lake-town and the Wood-Elves have other ideas.

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R Tolkien is a brilliant fantasy novel. An extraordinary world is created with Runes, languages, extraordinary creatures and fabulous settings. Tolkien’s writing style is so compelling it’s a real classic and to this day, still worth a read.

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