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Mar 20, 2021
The Hobbit is a truly entertaining book. It’s a classic for a reason. Being Tolkien’s first famous work, it quickly gained popularity worldwide. Full of interesting worldbuilding, gripping scenarios and fun characters, The Hobbit is the gold standard of fantasy literature. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit, a race of people with big appetites, short statures, and large, hairy feet. Like most of his kind, he lives a peaceful, idyllic life in a little hole. He never strays far from his home, and he has never taken many risks in his life. All of that soon changes when an adventuring party consisting of the wizard Gandalf and twelve dwarves barges into his hobbit-hole, making a mess and continuously testing Bilbo’s patience. After settling down a bit, the party tells Bilbo why they need him. They need a burglar, for spying and gathering information. A hobbit like Bilbo is small and stealthy, just what is needed. The dwarves then tell Bilbo their plan, stating that their treasure is being held by a colossal, vicious dragon who goes by the name of Smaug. He drove the dwarves out, incinerated nearby settlements, and claimed their gold all to himself. This tale sparks something in Bilbo. Despite his initial reluctance, he eventually realizes that he wants to go on the adventure. Encounters with all sorts of allies and enemies occur from there, from trolls, to goblins, to elves, to giant spiders, to a shapeshifter, a human town, and finally the great wyrm that dwells under the mountain. Hazards like dark forests and several mysterious caves appear. The story doesn’t end there, however. What was originally intended to be the end of the plan has plenty of unforeseen consequences, and now Bilbo and company must face the results of their actions. This story also has amazing worldbuilding, Tolkien having clearly put a lot of effort and love in the creation of the book’s world. There are many locations, magical beasts, races and backstories, many drawn from real-world lore, making the entire book in itself truly intriguing. A brilliant story, if not a bit boring to read. 4.5/5 stars.