Recently, I've been reading The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
It is the prelude to The Lord of the Rings.
"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 or or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort."
- An extract from the book.
The Hobbit is the story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected...
Bilbo Baggins, a simple Hobbit, never asked for adventure. It literally came knocking on his door -- 13 dwarves and Gandalf the wizard show up to tea to hire Bilbo as a thief in their quest to reclaim a hoard of treasure. It's stashed far away and guarded by a fierce dragon, Smaug. Bilbo will have to cross the Misty Mountains -- troll and goblin country -- and the untamed wilds of Mirkwood, where straying from the path can be deadly. In exchange, he gets an even share of the treasure and quite a story to tell. But is one little hobbit really up for such a big adventure?
This is truly one of the best books I have ever read and would recommend it to everyone, especially to kids 9 and over, as it is a must-read. There are a few words more richly imagined than J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth. Readers would get caught up just in his exquisitely imaginative details if it weren't for the nonstop adventure; it's a perfect balance. Add to that a wonderful main character -- the hairy-footed little hobbit who truly triumphs -- and you have the perfect fantasy adventure.
Personally, I give this book a rating of 5/5.
'A flawless masterpiece.' - The Times.
