“In a hole in the ground 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.”
The Hobbit, J. R. R. Tolkien, 1937
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The Hobbit has long been one of my favorite books, and it was an absolute pleasure to have it warmly received by my daughters. When we would read a single chapter before bed they always asked for “just a few more pages.”
Tolkien’s straightforward storytelling is very approachable, and Bilbo is as relatable as I remembered. One thing I didn’t notice when I was younger was just how effective the buildup was before actually meeting Smaug — the legends of the dragon were always lurking on the edges of the characters’ dialogue, so that when he finally showed up he was truly imposing.
5/5 stars, will read again 🐉