Sign in with Facebook
Anne's Reviews > The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
by
by
Anne's review
bookshelves: fantasy, classics, audio, read-in-2023, hoopla
Sep 11, 2023
bookshelves: fantasy, classics, audio, read-in-2023, hoopla
Read 2 times. Last read August 27, 2023 to September 11, 2023.
It's a beloved children's book and it's a classic.
But a word of advice from someone who went down this dark path?
Know thyself, Random Goodreader.
I read books from the 1930s all the time but there is just something about the way Tolkien writes that kills me slowly inside. I knew this going into it, but I really wanted to like one of his books.
In my defense, my goal was to finish what I started with the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
And I really tried to cling to what was happening but I just kept zoning out because there was nothing here for a reader like myself to hang onto. I want to understand the appeal of Tolkien in the modern-day sense because there are people who swear to have recently read and loved his books! The fault lies not with Tolkien, but with me in trying to read Tolkien.
So, it's not you, Bilbo. It's me.
And it's all the fucking songs in this thing.
I've come to the conclusion that I should have read this when I was younger. Because the older I get the less patience I have.
For the parents of annoying children in restaurants, for the people who tell me that my opinions are wrong, and for the books that drag ass. If I had read this when I was a kid, I'm pretty sure I would have the nostalgia glasses needed to say that this book shaped my childhood and whatnot. As it is, I got nothing.
I'm not saying The Hobbit is terrible, but it's the wrong kind of story for a grumpy fart like myself who doesn't enjoy dry questing and a bunch of shitty songs in their reading material.
And this thing is filled to the brim with both. It felt like I was swimming through jello to get to the end.
I will say there was more humor in this than there was in the LotR books, so that was cool. But as far as plot goes, I just didn't care about any of it.
What are they even after? Some leftover dwarf treasure?
Dammit.
I wanted to be in your club. I wanted to get invited to all the larping parties. I wanted to learn how to throw down cool elvish gang signs. I wanted to wear pointy ears & play a flute off-key at my daughter's wedding.
You Tolkienites are a great bunch of people and I'm just sorry I couldn't like the books the way they deserve to be liked.
But a word of advice from someone who went down this dark path?
Know thyself, Random Goodreader.
I read books from the 1930s all the time but there is just something about the way Tolkien writes that kills me slowly inside. I knew this going into it, but I really wanted to like one of his books.
In my defense, my goal was to finish what I started with the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
And I really tried to cling to what was happening but I just kept zoning out because there was nothing here for a reader like myself to hang onto. I want to understand the appeal of Tolkien in the modern-day sense because there are people who swear to have recently read and loved his books! The fault lies not with Tolkien, but with me in trying to read Tolkien.
So, it's not you, Bilbo. It's me.
And it's all the fucking songs in this thing.
I've come to the conclusion that I should have read this when I was younger. Because the older I get the less patience I have.
For the parents of annoying children in restaurants, for the people who tell me that my opinions are wrong, and for the books that drag ass. If I had read this when I was a kid, I'm pretty sure I would have the nostalgia glasses needed to say that this book shaped my childhood and whatnot. As it is, I got nothing.
I'm not saying The Hobbit is terrible, but it's the wrong kind of story for a grumpy fart like myself who doesn't enjoy dry questing and a bunch of shitty songs in their reading material.
And this thing is filled to the brim with both. It felt like I was swimming through jello to get to the end.
I will say there was more humor in this than there was in the LotR books, so that was cool. But as far as plot goes, I just didn't care about any of it.
What are they even after? Some leftover dwarf treasure?
Dammit.
I wanted to be in your club. I wanted to get invited to all the larping parties. I wanted to learn how to throw down cool elvish gang signs. I wanted to wear pointy ears & play a flute off-key at my daughter's wedding.
You Tolkienites are a great bunch of people and I'm just sorry I couldn't like the books the way they deserve to be liked.
Sign into ŷ to see if any of your friends have read
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
February 26, 2009
– Shelved
August 27, 2023
–
Started Reading
September 11, 2023
–
Finished Reading
September 12, 2023
–
Started Reading
(Audio CD Edition)
September 12, 2023
– Shelved
(Audio CD Edition)
September 12, 2023
–
Finished Reading
(Audio CD Edition)
Comments Showing 1-50 of 161 (161 new)
message 1:
by
Robert
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
Apr 22, 2015 08:00PM
Read it to your kids - I read it to my kid brother back in the day, definitely a cherished memory of mine (and hopefully his) to this day.
reply
|
flag
Well, my son has already read it, and he's pushing me to get on this one.
Anne wrote: "Well, my son has already read it, and he's pushing me to get on this one."Ahhh, haha, looks like your the one doing catch up, then ;) It's a good one for a wintery weekend or evening, in my view. Enjoy!
Tolkien is an…accrued taste. I’m 100% on the nostalgia rose colored glasses on this one. I’m afraid to re-read it as an adult now tbh. Also, I’ll let you in on a secret, even as a kid I skipped all of the singing and poetry and stuff. I HATE poetry, lol. Excellent, honest review Anne, thank you. 🙂
He is! I truly wish I'd found him when I was in middle school or high school. I'd have those rose colored glasses myself!
I hear ya I often feel the same when I read Stephen King....the only that grabbed me thus far was IT...the rest range from 1 to 3 stars...mind you I have only read five or six of them...
😂 I'm now wondering if I should listen to this to also complete my latest encounter with Tolkien, despite having already read the Hobbit twice. I'm just scared that if I try to read this and complete it, I'm going to be like "ah. That wasn't so bad. Let's read more Tolkien" and continue the time of suffering forevermore. (I truly finished the trilogy solely to watch the movies for Orlando bloom. I, uhm, need to stop convincing myself to read the book before watching a movie, esp if it's literally for orlando Bloom and not because I particularly care for the story.) (Did I hate the lotr. No. But it's not my cup of tea.) (Tho I accept my nerd badge for referring to myself as a hobbit on the way to mordor vs a hobbit in the shire to how much I can eat for lunch whilst at work.)
![[Name Redacted]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1347082397p1/287915.jpg)
I suppose Stephen King is the best comparison for me too. He feels too "try-hard," too inauthentic. Everything human is grimy and slimy in his works, but it feels like it's that way more to make him & his readers feel better about themselves & their inadequacies, rather than to reflect any greater truths about human nature. But given by how much money he makes and how many of my friends and colleagues over the years have raved about his work... Ain't no accountin' for taste, I suppose.
"I'm not saying The Hobbit is terrible, but it's the wrong kind of story for a grumpy fart like myself who doesn't enjoy dry questing and a bunch of shitty songs in their reading material."Just so you know, this has saved you from being challenged to a duel to defend the honour of Hobbitses! 😄
Seriously, I always appreciate your honesty, Anne. Yes, even a Hobbit can see this isn't for everyone, and that's fine.
I always skip over the songs and poetry in these older books. I do want to try the audio narration by Andy Serkis, though.
Fantasy is my undisputed favourite genre and I've been scared to read LOTR trilogy for years since I've read the Hobbit multiple times including age 12, and still can't say I'm a huge fan of J.R's writing
😂🤣😂 if it makes you feel any better I tried to read it when I was about twelve ( the larp parties!!) and my thoughts were more or less the same. I dnfed though so kudos for finishing!
Oddly enough, I have read them all after watching the Rings of Power series, with some sort of perverse satisfaction. I knew the story from the movies, but I dreaded reading the books, fearing they might be outdated. How wrong I was! I started with the Hobbit, which was an instant love, nothing like you described. Written for children? Maybe, but I also love, as an adult, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, A series of unfortunate events and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. But i digress. I thought i knew the story, but i did not. The books felt new and enriched the broad strokes I got from the movies. It's not just the plot, but the worldbuilding, the ethos of the characters, and the sense of longing after finishing them. I feel like i've been missing out on so much all these years I have ignored the books. So my advice to older readers: dive into Tolkien with an open heart.
Jaidee wrote: "I hear ya I often feel the same when I read Stephen King....the only that grabbed me thus far was IT...the rest range from 1 to 3 stars...mind you I have only read five or six of them..."STEPHEN KING! Yes, he's one that I have to prepare myself for, too. If I want to read one of his books, it takes a lot of deep breathing.
Rea wrote: "😂 I'm now wondering if I should listen to this to also complete my latest encounter with Tolkien, despite having already read the Hobbit twice. I'm just scared that if I try to read this and comple..."I feel like I can't claim that badge, Rea. I've done it. I've read them all, but it left a stain on my soul when I didn't enjoy them.
[Name Redacted] wrote: "I suppose Stephen King is the best comparison for me too. He feels too "try-hard," too inauthentic. Everything human is grimy and slimy in his works, but it feels like it's that way more to make hi..."I think coked-up short story King is probably my favorite. But I'm happy he's sober!
Marquise wrote: "Just so you know, this has saved you from being challenged to a duel to defend the honour of Hobbitses! 😄Seriously, I always appreciate your honesty, Anne. Yes, even a Hobbit can see this isn't for everyone, and that's fine."
I was a little scared to hit post - not gonna lie.
Audrey wrote: "I always skip over the songs and poetry in these older books. I do want to try the audio narration by Andy Serkis, though."I think you'd love that audiobook, Audrey. I'm listening to a full cast dramatization of it right now in the hopes that it gives me new insight into the mind of the Hobbit.
Benji wrote: "Fantasy is my undisputed favourite genre and I've been scared to read LOTR trilogy for years since I've read the Hobbit multiple times including age 12, and still can't say I'm a huge fan of J.R's ..."Older fantasy is hit or miss with me.
But I'm completely enjoying The Chronicles of Prydain! Now I know those were written in the 60s, so Tolkien's stuff is quite a bit older. Still. I can relate to those characters and that writing style so much easier.
Dab wrote: "😂🤣😂 if it makes you feel any better I tried to read it when I was about twelve ( the larp parties!!) and my thoughts were more or less the same. I dnfed though so kudos for finishing!"You made me feel 100xs better about myself. Thank you, Dab.
Florian wrote: "Oddly enough, I have read them all after watching the Rings of Power series, with some sort of perverse satisfaction. I knew the story from the movies, but I dreaded reading the books, fearing they..."I'm so glad you loved it!
Sorry you didn't like it. I read the paperback in 69, and it got me to read the LOTR trilogy. I should stopped at the Hobbit because the trilogy seemed to take forever to read. I can see where the audiobook could be a turn off.Regarding Stephen King, I read a couple of his books in the early 80s. They were OK until I got to Christine, which was the last one I read. He was probably really into the drugs at that time.
I had several problems with King's longer work back in the day, but I don't know if I've ever read Christine.
Oh, Anne--don't ever change.
Sean wrote: "Oh, Anne--don't ever change."I know, it's sad. This was my last desperate grasp at being one of the gang. Now my dreams are just floating down a river in a barrel, not unlike those poor dwarves Bliblo rescued.
Anne wrote: "Sean wrote: "Oh, Anne--don't ever change."I know, it's sad. This was my last desperate grasp at being one of the gang. Now my dreams are just floating down a river in a barrel, not unlike those p..."
Your dreams are probably more dressed than those dwarves, though.
Oh, I love Prydain. I got to see the author in college; I was surrounded by little kids, so it was kind of awkward.You can still cosplay for Hobbit/LOTR. I have a Hobbit costume because I am short with curly hair and a middle-aged figure.
I like the stories of old-school (20th century) fantasy but often have a hard time with the writing.
I have only read three King books: 11/22/63, Christine, and Joyland.
Though you wound me mortally Anne in your riposte of my St. Tolkien, I would throw myself on the flames of an attempted book burning to defend your right to say it. /scene :*
Audrey wrote: "Oh, I love Prydain. I got to see the author in college; I was surrounded by little kids, so it was kind of awkward.You can still cosplay for Hobbit/LOTR. I have a Hobbit costume because I am shor..."
That's still cool that you got to see Lloyd! Who cares if you had to push some kids out of the way to do it?
I'm going to ask you to borrow that costume one day, Audrey. lol
I've read several King books but he's just never going to be a favorite of mine. Different authors hit different readers.
Jonathan wrote: "Though you wound me mortally Anne in your riposte of my St. Tolkien, I would throw myself on the flames of an attempted book burning to defend your right to say it. /scene :*"Thank you, Jonathan! And he really is St. Tolkien. Patron saint of all high fantasy!
The guy was a genius, no doubt. And I've listened to the foreword that he wrote - very humble and self-effacing. He knew that these books weren't going to be for everyone. They aren't supposed to be. He has his audience and he has his place in history.
I tip my hat to him.
Come to think of it, I did read Tolkien books as a child aged 10 and just never stopped. Ive been reading The Hobbit + LoTR once every decade because of wanting to relive pleasant childhood memories but I can see now how as an adult, if I had never before read Tolkien that I would also be a grump.
I read all the Narnia books and A Wrinkle in Time when I was a kid, and I think it’s why I can still get excited about both of those. I’m really not kidding about wishing I had read this 35 years ago!
What is dry questing?
Also, I forgive you for not liking the books the way they deserved to be liked. 😏
Every time I think we're completely simpatico with books, you do something like this. BTW, I skip the singing as well. Songs always get skipped when I'm reading. They serve zero purpose. Go watch the Rankin/Bass cartoons for the singing. Really, you should. I still find myself singing songs from the cartoons from watching them when I was a kid. It's a completely different experience and a minimal commitment. Ooh, it's on Max. I may watch it tonight.
Anne wrote: "I read all the Narnia books and A Wrinkle in Time when I was a kid, and I think it’s why I can still get excited about both of those. I’m really not kidding about wishing I had read this 35 years ago!"I have re-read those books more than any other. I think I got to 15 times for A Wrinkle in Time and about 12 for the Narnia books.
I never read the Narnia books. I couldn't get the kids to read them, so I didn't try. More books to be added to the tbr shelve.Stephen King's Christine was a car with an evil personality. It was tough to finish that one. I prefer the hobbits, ents, and orcs over an evil car, but everyone has different reading preferences.
Anne wrote: “…there is just something about the way Tolkien writes that kills me slowly inside.�
*laughing on the outside…crying on the inside*
Grumpy Anne giving Saint Tolkien a piece of her mind (and hand):
Thank you…and George @#$&%! Lucas…for destroying my childhood one sweet memory after another.
Have you thought about eviscerating Island of the Blue Dolphins or Witch of Blackbird Pond or Johnny Tremain or Call It Courage or Call of the Wild? Or…heaven forbid�Sounder? (That last stoopid book had my 11-year old self crying for days.)
Anne wrote: “I wanted to be in your club.�
The version of the “club� you describe…and speaking @#$&%! Klingon in public…is a more recent phenomenon. In the 80s, that club was called “Hide Your “Fantasy� Books So You Don’t Get Them Taken by Classmates or Your Teacher and Get the Poop Beat Out of You�.
ܳ�
You tried.
And you actually finished despite the personal painful boredom.
Thank you.
Dawn take you all, and be stone to you.
Chad wrote: "Go watch the Rankin/Bass cartoons for the singing. Really, you should."
Amen.
I tried to encourage Anne to listen to a 10-hour loop of ‘Where There’s a Whip (There’s a Way)� from Rankin Bass� adaptation of Return of the King. I think she listened to Devo’s ‘Whip It!� or some teen singing something about a “whip� and a “nae nae�. (You’d have to ask her.)
Rankin Bass� animated Hobbit has not held up so well (I loved it as a child), but remains infinitely better than Jackson’s bloated trilogy.
Every time I hear the voice of Angelica’s dad, I think “Gandalf.�
And the theme song over the closing credits…’The Greatest Adventure’…classic American 70s folk warbling. I love it. In fact, just like the TV special led me to read The Hobbit and forever defined my taste in reading, that song is why I later liked the 80s throwback stuff to the 60s (R.E.M. and the Smiths) vs the more prevalent synthesizer dance music.
Rankin Bass� Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer remains my favourite Christmas show. Required watching if my sons want anything for Christmas.
I just read Bridge to Terabithia -- not a fan. I re-read Island of the Blue Dolphins last year ("Maybe I was too harsh on it as a kid!") and ... still boring.Now I've got those songs from the animated Hobbit in my head.
Audrey wrote: "� still boring."
And I absolutely adore Island of the Blue Dolphins.
I completely agree that the book is not edge-of-your-seat exhilarating, but I don’t necessarily demand that of my books.
I last read Island of the Blue Dolphins with my Wife (her first time) about five years ago. I don’t recall what She thought about the book. She was probably humouring me.
I struggle with the use of “boring� as a criticism.
As I often tell my 16 year old about church (and his older brother before him), “boring� belongs to him not the speakers.
And that doesn’t mean he is wrong. To him, the speakers were boring. But not to everybody.
Certain things call to us and when they do…when we feel passionate about a subject or a motif…very difficult to label those things as “boring”…even with a monotone vocal delivery or archaic and ponderous style of writing.
One of my all time favouritest non-fiction books is Richard Rhodes� The Making of the Atomic Bomb.
It is a tome. Huge.
And deals in minutiae. I love the minutiae.
There is very little suspense in the book and everyone knows the “end of the story� (but few know how we got to the end).
Still, I find it fascinating because the subject matter interests me; and Rhodes� research is impeccable even if his writing could be considered sub-standard.
A very “boring� book. But not to me.
In Anne’s term of “dry questing�, The Making of the Atomic Bomb would make The Hobbit look like a tropical rainforest.
“Boring� is very personal. I thought the Book of Genesis was incredibly boring, but I sat mesmerised listening to 24 hours of lectures on the book because the professor was passionate about his topic. One of the learning highlights of my year (although I still find Genesis “bǰԲ�.)
Colin wrote: "What is dry questing?"Colin wrote: "Also, I forgive you for not liking the books the way they deserved to be liked. 😏"
Hahaha! You know, when the questing isn't very exciting - it's dry.
Chad wrote: "Every time I think we're completely simpatico with books, you do something like this. BTW, I skip the singing as well. Songs always get skipped when I'm reading. They serve zero purpose. Go watch..."
If we were twins on everything our friendship wouldn't be as spicy. Dave is always trying to get me to watch the cartoon Hobbit, too. There must be something special about it!
Audrey wrote: "I have re-read those books more than any other. I think I got to 15 times for A Wrinkle in Time and about 12 for the Narnia books."I must have read those books 100 times when I was younger. Into my early 20's, at least.
I re-read A Wrinkle in Time recently and I know that if it hadn't been my favorite book as a kid, there is no way I'd find it tolerable now. But nostalgia! I still loved it.
I'm afraid for the Narnia books, but I'm planning to re-read them all next year.
Gary wrote: "I never read the Narnia books. I couldn't get the kids to read them, so I didn't try. More books to be added to the tbr shelve.Stephen King's Christine was a car with an evil personality. It was ..."
I think if you liked this you would definitely have liked the Narnia books. As a kid anyway. My kids wouldn't read them, either.
Now, my youngest son really LOVED The Hobbit, so he was part of the reason that I tried to read this one. But he (wisely) told me that he doubted I'd like it. He read it when he was in middle school or early high school, I think.
Dave wrote: "Audrey wrote: "� still boring."And I absolutely adore Island of the Blue Dolphins.
I completely agree that the book is not edge-of-your-seat exhilarating, but I don’t necessarily demand that of ..."
On boring, I think you're right. What one person is bored by, another is completely caught up in. Totally subjective.
The world is filled with people who find reading books boring. I find baseball boring.
But at least now I know the story of the Hobbit.
This is funny, because I have the same complaint about the LoTR books :D but for some reason, it didn't bother me in Hobbit. Although perhaps that's because I first read the Hobbit when I was a little child, it became my favorite thing ever, then I forgot what it was (was a library book) and could never find it before I was maybe 20. Then I did and it was the biggest miracle ever, and then I tried LoTR and I was "lol what's up with ALL THESE SONGS omg" xD
I LOVE The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, but I am WITH YOU on the songs and the poems and the lays. And I didn't even read these as a kid, though I have been reading them for 20 years, so now I feel old, so thanks for that! :P I will say that Andy Serkis reading these for the audio versions is wonderful, and I will endure the songs (and poems and lays) for that. I skim the FUCK out of those sections when I read these with my eyeballs though. For sanity.
