Should I read the Hobbit? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Anunia · 08-01-2002, 12:59 PM

OK... You know what's this about... I'm a great fan of ME, but I know this book was written especially for children, so I'm afraid I'll get bored or somthing like that... Please, advise me.

Aldagrim Proudfoot · 08-01-2002, 01:03 PM

Ok, you should read the Hobbit. Not only does it give backqround into the War of the Ring (how Bilbo found it), but it's also exciting. There are good songs and some good battles. It's not exactly the same style as LOTR, being more toward children, but it's still great. The words boring and Tolkien shouldn't be in the same sentance together, unless the word "not" is in there.

Anunia · 08-01-2002, 01:17 PM

Thanks, Aldagrim Proudfoot. I guess I'll read it. It's about ME, it's written by Tolkien, so... it must have good (if not excellent) things in it.

[ August 01, 2002: Message edited by: Anunia ]

Ithaeliel · 08-01-2002, 01:46 PM

Oh no no no Anunia! It is not a question whether you should read it or not! Trust me, it's a very valuable prerequisite to the Lord of the Rings. It is also a great read, very fun. Enjoy it and muse over it, for it is a very good book to muse over at times.

Galorme · 08-01-2002, 01:58 PM

It gives you great insight into Bilbo, who is sort of skipped over in LoTR. It does this is two ways. Firstly it is about him, and secondly it was written by him. By reading it after you have read LoTR you see the lighter side of the hobbits, as Bilbo concentrates more on the lighter side of the Third Age, and Bagginsafies the Dwarfs, Men and Elves wonderfully. It is also the only book except the Lost Tales that shows Elves being happy and silly like they should be when they are not plagued by the horrors of War and Sorrow and the like.

Note that the Elves of Rivendel are happy and playful, but the Elves of Mirkwood, being at War, are serious and "YOU SHALT DIE DWARF" style types.

Susan Delgado · 08-01-2002, 04:33 PM

Quote:

it must have good (if not excellent) things in it.

Even aside from the fact that The Hobbit is not exactly a pure children's book, why do you think that it wouldn't be excellent? There are many excellent children's books out there and your prejudice is not fair to them (or The Hobbit).

Ruthwen · 08-01-2002, 04:37 PM

My brainless comment for the day:

How can it be bad? Elves get drunk!

*Coughs* I only read it after Lord of the Rings, and I didn't like it as much, but it does have more humour in it. And sometimes it's nice to read a book aimed at children.

Nevfeniel · 08-01-2002, 08:04 PM

Why shouldn't you read The Hobbit? The only person I know who read it and didn't like it was my dad, but he doesn't seem to like the entire fantasy genre (except for Harry Potter).

Lothiriel Silmarien · 08-01-2002, 08:09 PM

Yeah, The Hobbit's a great book! Maybe not as good as LotR but it's reeally good! I loved it. That's my opinion, but I really think you should read it. You'll probably love it!

Iargwath · 08-01-2002, 10:26 PM

The Hobbit is a fantastic piece of literature. So why not read it. It was one of my faves b4 LotR but i still reccomend the book to u.

Estel the Descender · 08-01-2002, 11:40 PM

Anyone who wants to be immersed into the world of Middle-Earth should read The Hobbit. I also believe that just because The Hobbit is not as long or as complex as the LotR it is more 'for children' than the latter. The chapter 'Riddles in the Dark' gives a very good foreshadow of the events in the LotR and could probably appeal more to adults than to children. And the battles described are just as good as the ones in The Silmarillion and the LotR. The Battle of the Five Armies is one splendid account. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Anunia · 08-02-2002, 02:08 AM

Thank you all. You convinced me! I'll read The Hobbit and enjoy every part of Middle-Earth I find in the libraries...

[img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img]

Dimaldaeon · 08-02-2002, 12:16 PM

Nobody should ever dismiss the Hobbit as being too childish. Its lighter tone makes it more amusing than LOTR. Books aimed at children should never be overlooked. "Artemis Fowl" and "Under The Hawthorn Tree" are great reads even though they were written for ten year olds.

08-01-2002, 12:59 PM	#1
Anunia Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rivendell Posts: 60	Should I read the Hobbit? OK... You know what's this about... I'm a great fan of ME, but I know this book was written especially for children, so I'm afraid I'll get bored or somthing like that... Please, advise me. __________________ Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths. Dream the impossible, because dreams do come true.

08-01-2002, 01:03 PM	#2
Aldagrim Proudfoot Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hobbiton Posts: 328	Ok, you should read the Hobbit. Not only does it give backqround into the War of the Ring (how Bilbo found it), but it's also exciting. There are good songs and some good battles. It's not exactly the same style as LOTR, being more toward children, but it's still great. The words boring and Tolkien shouldn't be in the same sentance together, unless the word "not" is in there. __________________ I do not suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it!

08-01-2002, 01:17 PM	#3
Anunia Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rivendell Posts: 60	Thanks, Aldagrim Proudfoot. I guess I'll read it. It's about ME, it's written by Tolkien, so... it must have good (if not excellent) things in it. [ August 01, 2002: Message edited by: Anunia ] __________________ Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths. Dream the impossible, because dreams do come true.

08-01-2002, 01:46 PM	#4
Ithaeliel Cornus Caliga Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Five-hundred-twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes from here Posts: 710	Oh no no no Anunia! It is not a question whether you should read it or not! Trust me, it's a very valuable prerequisite to the Lord of the Rings. It is also a great read, very fun. Enjoy it and muse over it, for it is a very good book to muse over at times. __________________ That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. .................William Wordsworth

08-01-2002, 01:58 PM	#5
Galorme Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: London Posts: 337	It gives you great insight into Bilbo, who is sort of skipped over in LoTR. It does this is two ways. Firstly it is about him, and secondly it was written by him. By reading it after you have read LoTR you see the lighter side of the hobbits, as Bilbo concentrates more on the lighter side of the Third Age, and Bagginsafies the Dwarfs, Men and Elves wonderfully. It is also the only book except the Lost Tales that shows Elves being happy and silly like they should be when they are not plagued by the horrors of War and Sorrow and the like. Note that the Elves of Rivendel are happy and playful, but the Elves of Mirkwood, being at War, are serious and "YOU SHALT DIE DWARF" style types. __________________ Utúlie'n aurë! Aiya Eldalië ar Atanatári, utúlie'n aurë! The day has come! Behold people of the Eldar and Fathers of Men, the day has come!

08-01-2002, 04:37 PM	#7
Ruthwen Animated Skeleton Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: England Posts: 40	My brainless comment for the day: How can it be bad? Elves get drunk! Coughs I only read it after Lord of the Rings, and I didn't like it as much, but it does have more humour in it. And sometimes it's nice to read a book aimed at children. __________________ "Her name was Nenlauriel, but they called her Rûthwen, because her anger seemed ever constant and ever flowing from her grey eyes."

08-01-2002, 08:04 PM	#8
Nevfeniel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mithlond Posts: 783	Why shouldn't you read The Hobbit? The only person I know who read it and didn't like it was my dad, but he doesn't seem to like the entire fantasy genre (except for Harry Potter). __________________ Consider the purr a variety of audible tranquilizer. [. . .] For a few of us, there is one more purr, a secret purr. When we combine our secret purrs, we produce the Purr of Power. And that is simply the amplified amity we feel as furred and purred beings.

08-01-2002, 08:09 PM	#9
Lothiriel Silmarien Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New York Posts: 829	Yeah, The Hobbit's a great book! Maybe not as good as LotR but it's reeally good! I loved it. That's my opinion, but I really think you should read it. You'll probably love it! __________________ Si vanwa na Romello vanwa Valimar!~~ ~~Now lost, lost to those from the East is Valimar! My LotR page

08-01-2002, 10:26 PM	#10
Iargwath Wight Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 236	The Hobbit is a fantastic piece of literature. So why not read it. It was one of my faves b4 LotR but i still reccomend the book to u. __________________ 'I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry'-Psalm 40 My M-e Forum

08-01-2002, 11:40 PM	#11
Estel the Descender Haunting Spirit Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 55	Anyone who wants to be immersed into the world of Middle-Earth should read The Hobbit. I also believe that just because The Hobbit is not as long or as complex as the LotR it is more 'for children' than the latter. The chapter 'Riddles in the Dark' gives a very good foreshadow of the events in the LotR and could probably appeal more to adults than to children. And the battles described are just as good as the ones in The Silmarillion and the LotR. The Battle of the Five Armies is one splendid account. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] __________________ Qui desiderat pacem, præparet bellum. E i anîra hîdh, tangado an auth.

08-02-2002, 02:08 AM	#12
Anunia Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rivendell Posts: 60	Thank you all. You convinced me! I'll read The Hobbit and enjoy every part of Middle-Earth I find in the libraries... [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img] __________________ Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths. Dream the impossible, because dreams do come true.

08-02-2002, 12:16 PM	#13
Dimaldaeon Wight Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ireland & damn proud of it. Posts: 125	Nobody should ever dismiss the Hobbit as being too childish. Its lighter tone makes it more amusing than LOTR. Books aimed at children should never be overlooked. "Artemis Fowl" and "Under The Hawthorn Tree" are great reads even though they were written for ten year olds. __________________ Dear Saddam, Do not disunderestimate me.Yours G.W.Bush You're not drunk if you can still hold onto a blade of grass to stop yourself from falling off the face of the Earth