The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

In my review of The Way of Kings, I compared that novel to the Hobbit. Saying how they’re both dragged out fantasy novels that I don’t tend to like. That is completely true. However, the one thing that is better about the Hobbit is that we only follow one character, Bilbo Baggins. That makes it a lot easier to understand and follow, despite all the boring character development, metaphors, setting description, and just overall dragged out everything. 

I almost feel bad saying I don’t like this book because I know a lot of people love Tolkien’s work and think he is a fabulous storyteller, which I do agree with. It is so cool that he comes up with all these new languages and names and he has so much creativity that I feel bad criticizing his work. But I don’t like when things are dragged out like that and there isn’t much happening the majority of the time. 

I’m not even sure where to start with summarizing this story, but basically he “goes on an adventure” to find the long forgotten gold, which is told by the song Misty Mountains, which I do actually happen to like as a song. 

Reading this book, I had to drag myself through it, and I honestly didn’t enjoy it. Tolkien spends two pages describing appearances of leaves, and goes way too into depth on things not necessary to move the story along. While impressive, I just don’t really care that much, and would rather get down into the action. The movies, while also dragged out, I think are a better alternative to the book, if you want to know the general idea of the story without dragging yourself through a book. Although I couldn’t really stand the movies that much either.

I tried to like the franchise, but at this point in time it just isn’t for me, and maybe I’ll go back to it in a few years and have more appreciation for it. But as of now, I don’t like the novel and probably won’t read it again for a long time.