The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien

★★★★★

A timeless classic fantasy full of charm, adventure, and wit. The first book to make me homesick for a place that does not exist.

Narrative Voice: 3rd person omniscient
Cussing/profanity: 0/5
Drug/alcohol use: 1/5
Kissing: 0/5
Sex/nudity: 0/5
Violence/gore: 1/5

First off, I just love Bilbo so much. The Britishness in Tolkien’s writing is always a joy and a laugh to read as an American. It’s nostalgic for me in an odd way. I wish more people wrote and spoke with such simple elegance and wit. The dialogue is a delight to the ears, especially with Andy Serkis as the narrator! It has been many years since I’ve last read the book—I think it was before the movies were announced—and I’ve grown even fonder of this beloved book, its world building, and its characters. The way this book can be called both a children’s story and a classic for adults is a testament to Tolkien’s impact on the literary world.

Now, do I still like the movies? Yes. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to find many of the things that I thought Jackson made up actually were in the book. So there’s that. Is the book better? It captures a whimsy and coziness I think the films lost as they went on, so yes. But honestly, I like the expansion of the dwarves’ characters better in the films, that is to say, they were a bit more personified beyond the rhythmic list of names.

5/5 stars would recommend to anyone

*an elf guard gets “quite merry” on wine