The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (July 2006)

[MarkLee]

With so many different versions of The Hobbit floating around, it will be tricky getting everyone on the same page (pun intended!). Therefore, we'll break it down into chapters. My copy of the book is in storage at the moment, so I don't have any point of reference as of yet.

All that to say, if you've got a jump start on the book, post your comments here. I'll figure out the breakdown and get back to you...

[rock_the_light]

I read the part last night somewhere in the first chapter where it talks about the invention of Golf (page 18 for me). Talking about Bullroarer Took: "Old Took's great-grand-uncle Bullroarer, who was so huge (for a Hobbit) that he could ride a horse. He chargeed the ranks of the goblins of Mount Gram in the Battle of the Green Fields, and knocked their king Golfinmbul's head clean off with a wooden club. It sailed a hundred yards throught the air and went down a rabbit-hole, and in this way the battle was won and the game of Golf invented at the same moment."

Gross, I know, but I had to wonder... what was Tolkien thinking?!?!:p

[terri.demumbrum]

Hey, ya'll

Has anyone started reading The Hobbit yet? I haven't had much time to read lately, but I'm really loving it. Here are my thoughts on the 1st chapter:

Bilbo Baggins is very comfortable and content with his little life. Then all of a sudden...here comes the wizard Gandalf (ha) to offer him the adventure of a lifetime. While Bilbo has an adventurous side deep within, he isn't so sure he wants to leave the comforts of his hobbit hole. It made me think about how many of us are content with our daily lives, not realizing that God has an adventure planned just for us. What could be more exciting than a "mission" from our Lord?! Yet, we choose to ignore the calling because we don't want to upset the "perfect" balance of our lives. If we only listen...and OBEY, we can have an adventure beyond our wildest dreams. Why am I humming "The Great Adventure" by Steven Curtis Chapman? ha ha ha

Take care!

[WiredforShure]

Okay...either I am looking in the wrong place, or the "review" has not started yet. That would be good, since I have only managed to read the first chapter. I have never been a member of one of these things, so if there HAVE been some reviews and I am just not looking in the right place, please let me know! Otherwise, I will keep reading the book, and check back later. I thought I read somewhere that we would start the review on July 10th, but I am old and senile, so I may have dreamed that. Ha! This is a learning experience for me on more than one level! I am probably doing this totally wrong! Time will tell....

[terri.demumbrum]

Hi! I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels a little lost. This is the first time I have been on a message board - ever! ha I don't think I even know how to start a message 'thread'. ha ha :eek: Last week, I thought I would post my thoughts of Chapter 1, but I put it on the very first message from Mark Lee. I needed to get my thoughts down before I forgot what I wanted to say. We will just learn together! I've had a lot of fun reading the boards. Hope I don't forget to "work" while I'm at work. ha ha

Take care

[wannabaRSgirl]

Terri, there are some rules posted about this forum but I don't think you broke them. One of them is that Mark I think is supposed to start the threads. I do think plenty of time has passed to start discussing chapter 1.
So you did a great job! I appreciated you bringing out that symbolism. I am not that great at pulling stuff like that out. So if anyone else has something different, I'd love to hear it.

[terri.demumbrum]

Thanks so much for setting me straight! ;) I'm really new to all of this, but I'm learning quickly.

[SirMax]

Hey, ya'll

Has anyone started reading The Hobbit yet? I haven't had much time to read lately, but I'm really loving it. Here are my thoughts on the 1st chapter:

Bilbo Baggins is very comfortable and content with his little life. Then all of a sudden...here comes the wizard Gandalf (ha) to offer him the adventure of a lifetime. While Bilbo has an adventurous side deep within, he isn't so sure he wants to leave the comforts of his hobbit hole. It made me think about how many of us are content with our daily lives, not realizing that God has an adventure planned just for us. What could be more exciting than a "mission" from our Lord?! Yet, we choose to ignore the calling because we don't want to upset the "perfect" balance of our lives. If we only listen...and OBEY, we can have an adventure beyond our wildest dreams. Why am I humming "The Great Adventure" by Steven Curtis Chapman? ha ha ha

Take care!

Good point. Now I'm just looking for my Gandalf (and not Brian from the message boards!:p )

I love how Bilbo says that adventures make you late for dinner. That makes me smile. I used to LOVE to be outside all day long playing and my mom would just about have to drag me inside by my hair to make me eat.

Why did Gandalf pick Bilbo? What did he see in Bilbo that Bilbo didn't even see in himself? (wait am I allowed to ask question or only Mark????:p ;) )

[googledoll]

Remember, Bilbo was part Took. The Tooks had an adventurous side not often found in Hobbits. Bilbo wondered at what might lie outside the shire.

[wannabaRSgirl]

Remember, Bilbo was part Took. The Tooks had an adventurous side not often found in Hobbits. Bilbo wondered at what might lie outside the shire.

See, I could have answered that one. You "Took" my answer.

[Yippy]

Okay...either I am looking in the wrong place, or the "review" has not started yet.
This is the right place for posting about Part I.:) This is not where we talk about getting the book or where to get the book or someday I'll get the book. You can find those comments here: http://www.thirdday.com/boards/showthread.php?t=89066 This is where you can talk about Part I of the book...:D

Carry on Hobbit fans...:)

[kiwisongbird]

Although the dwarfs kind of barged in to Bilbo's home, they were really helpful - you know with the cleaning up, I love how they hassle Bilbo though with their song "Chip the Glasses, Crack the Plates"...

Although I've read The Hobbit before I forgot that the dwarfs had all different coloured beards - you usually think of only brown, black or white, not yellow and blue!

And... I used to be able to imagine Gandalf, now I can only see Ian McLelland's rendition of Gandalf, mind you, he does it super well... :)

[steffen]

And... I used to be able to imagine Gandalf, now I can only see Ian McLelland's rendition of Gandalf, mind you, he does it super well... :)
That's what's so sad about movies and illustrations...

The version of the Narnia-septiology that I read had some really lousy illustrations and it took awat something from reading the book (as a 10-year-old)

[DrummerGirl5]

I finished the whole book a week ago but I've been away. Here goes (I'm just commenting on the first part).

One thing I love about Tolkien's work is his poetry. I like that the dwarves' song makes Bilbo dream and evokes the Tookish part of him.

It's also really funny that he runs out without preparations ("not even a pocket handkerchief") and has to depend on others, giving up everything to travel and do good.

[MarkLee]

That's what's so sad about movies and illustrations...

The version of the Narnia-septiology that I read had some really lousy illustrations and it took awat something from reading the book (as a 10-year-old)

One thing that amazed me when the LOTR movies first came out was how they looked almost exactly how I imagined them. Then I found out that Peter Jackson based much of the visuals in the movies on earlier movies and illustrations. He even employed some of the original illustrators from the '70's books and movies for the project.

That just furthers your point: my "imagination" had been dictated by the earlier films and illustrations. At least in this case they were good.

[MarkLee]

This is the fourth or fifth time I've read this, and it's amazing how I get something different out of it each time. The common thread is that I always enjoy it.

The last time I read The Hobbit back in '02, I had just finished Lord of the Rings and was struck by how much more The Hobbit is catered to children. While it didn't seem quite so much this time, elements such as the "Not for the last time!" comments are definitely geared towards the 12 and under crowd. It's part of the charm - I can almost picture a group of kids listening intently as an old uncle recites a story from memory. C.S. Lewis also uses this sort of tone with good results.

Also of note for me was the foreshadowing of the Dwarves' role in LOTR with so many references to Moria and "things under the mountain, much older than goblins". And of course, the story of Bilbo's ring, which Tolkien went back and revised after writing LOTR.

For all The Hobbit's charm, there's a sophistication in Tolkien's writing and Middle Earth in general which has yet to develop. Orcs are goblins and Sauron is now simply called "The Necromancer". But it's simply amazing how much depth is already there in this early work of Tolkien's, and how much of Middle Earth he's already thought up. It's like he's painting with broad strokes here, and then gets into more detail in later works.

One question which has stayed with me as I've read this first section: why did Gandalf choose Bilbo? Many parallels could be made with our lives as Christians. We are like Hobbits in that we want to take the easy way out and avoid a complicated life at all costs. Yet God sees our potential and calls us to greater things which we would never see ourselves doing.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

[SirMax]

One question which has stayed with me as I've read this first section: why did Gandalf choose Bilbo? Many parallels could be made with our lives as Christians. We are like Hobbits in that we want to take the easy way out and avoid a complicated life at all costs. Yet God sees our potential and calls us to greater things which we would never see ourselves doing.

Anyone else have any thoughts?


Wow...great minds think alike ;) ....I asked the same question!!!!

I believe Gandalf could see past what Bilbo thought he was and knew he would succeed. God sees that same. He knows what Wendy is capable of doing better than Wendy does (yes I'm speaking in the 3rd person on purpose). I like my comfy box I live in but God wants more from me. Not to make this into a Wendy thread but I am going on a mission trip next week to Sri Lanka. I can promise everyone of you that I DID NOT choose this trip for myself. When God came knocking on my door for this one I acted like Bilbo and kinda just knew God was there but really didn't care to know what He was saying to me. Just as Bilbo kindly tries to tell Gandalf he is not interested in anything Gandalf has to say, I tried to tell God the same thing. Then He kept bringing people into my life (much like the dwarves) that would point me to this trip. Only God knows what I will accomplish while I'm over there. Man I feel like Bilbo:p .

Let me go finish reading now...

[cknell]

I've been thinking the same thing about how we need to get out of our comfort zones to be able to truely enjoy life. But, when we do, it isn't always glamorous. When trouble comes along, we tend to wish for better days when things were comfortable. The trick is to continue on with the faith that there is a reason why we need to go throught the struggles.

I think that that is where the hobbit is at this stage of the story.

Btw, this is my 1st time reading this book. I'm not much of a literary person and didn't even know that this was linked to LOTR (I haven't read or seen these books/movies either). So, just diving into these books is something I probably wouldn't be doing without being nudged into it.

[MarkLee]

Whereas the first section of the book found me wondering why Gandalf chose Bilbo, my question during this section was "What exactly caused Bilbo to come into his own?" It seemed like several small things worked together to make this happen. The most obvious answer is that Bilbo found the ring. I think he also gained confidence when he fended off the first spider by himself. And, simply being placed in situations where he was the only one who could do anything about it (the spiders, the Wood Elves' dungeon).

But one thing above all stuck out for me, and it was kind of subtle. I think the fact that Gandalf told Bilbo and the others that he would soon prove his worth was the main factor in Bilbo's stepping up. I recently read Andy Stanley's "Visioneering", and one of my favorite chapters was the one entitled "The Power of Vision". In this chapter Stanley explains the huge impact our words can have on others, particularly in the area of vision. By his encouraging words, Gandalf was able to cultivate in Bilbo the self confidence to thrive in difficult situations and to become essentially the leader of the party in Gandalf's absence.

I've got to say, I've probably gotten the most out of "The Hobbit" this time around. Good selection, everyone!

Anyone else?

[MarkLee]

Here's the final "Hobbit" thread for discussion purposes.

I actually just finished the book last night. There are some great character developments in this final section with Thorin's greed kicking in when they get the treasure. Notice his skewed view of riches versus Bilbo's and especially Gandalf's (upon recovering the troll's loot). Money is a tool for a lot of things, but when the quest for money overtakes relationships, you'll soon create a situation like Thorin's. Remember, the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

Bard was also interesting. I kind of pictured him as a Winston Churchill or Abraham Lincoln who stepped up and showed his true character in the middle of the most difficult of circumstances. Over course, killing a dragon always helps. Contrast Bard with the Master of the Lake-town, who was popular because he brought prosperity to the town, but couldn't step up and lead in a crisis.

It was also very intriguing to see the interplay of the different "races" in the story. Bilbo's role takes a back seat for a time, but you can't overestimate how huge it was that he delivered the Arkenstone to Bard. Shows how even though you might not feel all that important in the grand scheme of things (Bilbo was unconscious during most of the battle), everyone has a part to play, and everything is connected.

And it must've been a great feeling for Bilbo to come home and find his belongings being auctioned off :D

[BJ]

When Bilbo met up with the dwarves & was telling them how he got by their lookout (can't remember which dwarf it was right now), & how he escaped from the goblins caves & the riddles with Gollum... Gandalf gave Bilbo a "suspicious" look. In all Gandalf's knowledge & wisdom of things of Middle Earth, I am guessing he knew of Gollum & the ring & so suspected that Bilbo had aquired it, used it, & would also continue to use it as necessary on the journey. Even in the beginning though, when Bilbo was chosen to go along by Gandalf, do you suppose Gandalf knew then that Bilbo would find the ring? Gandalf seemed to have a great deal of confidence himself that Bilbo would prove himself to be the right choice & gain the respect of the dwarves. Yes, I do believe his words also helped to build Bilbo up as well as Bilbo's "luck" in becoming the owner of such a useful gift (was it luck... or was it that he was SUPPOSED to find the ring?).

After guiding & helping the party get through the beginning of the journey, & now observing how they were all becoming "toughened" & Bilbo's stepping up to the plate, it seems this is when Gandalf feels confident that he can let them continue on without him for the time being. Even though we readers are told that Gandalf has no intention of leaving them permanently, Bilbo & the dwarves don't know that. This is also when I believe they all know they have to have confidence in themselves as well as in Bilbo & must respect his advice even though they don't always like it (specifically, grumbling about the escape in the barrels).

It's like that with God & us, too. God knows all about us & our abilities & talents & how much we're capable of in the whole big scheme of things (even if it seems small to us). We lack the confidence & importance of our "missions" or "adventures" until we hear God's voice & really listen to Him cheering us on & building us up. Still there are many times along the way when things become difficult, especially when God seems silent & we believe He has left us permanently, that we doubt & wish we were comfortable back in our own "hobbit-holes". It's the pressing on through many plights & adversities that also continue to build us up & aid in the development of our confidence & self worth (as it did Bilbo).

[MarkLee]

Great points. It's kind of tough to speculate about Gandalf's true intentions as Tolkien had yet to write LOTR at this point. If you get a chance, check out the Appendices to LOTR. There is a detailed description of what was going on during this time. Gandalf and others suspected that the "Necromancer" mentioned a couple of times in the Hobbit might be Sauron and that his true intention was to find the One Ring and regain his power through it. Tolkien leaves us at the end of the Hobbit thinking that everything's going to be OK and falls just short of saying goblins were never seen in those parts again. Most of the action in LOTR takes place well south of Mirkwood and the Lonely Mountains, but Moria with its hordes of orcs/goblins was a hotbed of activity.

Sorry - had to get my geek on there for a second :D

Whatever the case, it's obvious that Gandalf saw that Bilbo had a role to play. I loved Gandalf's quote in the first Peter Jackson movie about the "pity of Bilbo". The fact that he didn't kill Gollum when he had the chance was huge.

I could do this all day ;)

[jabob]

I don't have the books in front of me, but if I remember correctly, Gandalf did not realize that Bilbo's ring was the one ring of power until after Bilbo left the Shire. This study is the same time he discovered Gollum had been tortured and given up the name Baggins. So I don't think he knew this ring was the one. There were many magic rings in middle earth.

[Aussie3rddayfan]

When Bilbo met up with the dwarves & was telling them how he got by their lookout (can't remember which dwarf it was right now), & how he escaped from the goblins caves & the riddles with Gollum... Gandalf gave Bilbo a "suspicious" look. In all Gandalf's knowledge & wisdom of things of Middle Earth, I am guessing he knew of Gollum & the ring & so suspected that Bilbo had aquired it, used it, & would also continue to use it as necessary on the journey. Even in the beginning though, when Bilbo was chosen to go along by Gandalf, do you suppose Gandalf knew then that Bilbo would find the ring? Gandalf seemed to have a great deal of confidence himself that Bilbo would prove himself to be the right choice & gain the respect of the dwarves. Yes, I do believe his words also helped to build Bilbo up as well as Bilbo's "luck" in becoming the owner of such a useful gift (was it luck... or was it that he was SUPPOSED to find the ring?).

I think Bilbo - and of course Frodo - was meant to find the ring. That said, I cannot remember whether Tolkien points this out in the book. It is clear however, that Gandalf did not KNOW that Bilbo's ring was the fabled Ring of Power. If he did, Frodo would never have been left alone with it while Gandalf went off searching for its true identity and then went to hunt down Gollum. Looking at the appendecies for LOTR, the events of the LOTR begin in 3001 (Bilbo's party) and Gandalf pays Frodo sparodic visits to him until 3008 when his last visit takes place. In 3009 Gandalf and Aragorn search for Gollum but it is not until 3018 that Frodo and the Hobbits leave the Shire. Gandalf knew Biblo had a magic ring, and that it made him invisible but he did not know its true origin in 3018. That's 77 years after the events of the Hobbit. Gandalf was always suspicious of Bilbo's story which was why he gave him a 'knowing look' in the Hobbit. If I remember correctly, that is why Gandalf went in search of Gollum; to discover the true story and to apprehend him. I could be wrong though. I think this is detailed in the FOTR chapter on the Council of Elrond.

It's like that with God & us, too. God knows all about us & our abilities & talents & how much we're capable of in the whole big scheme of things (even if it seems small to us). We lack the confidence & importance of our "missions" or "adventures" until we hear God's voice & really listen to Him cheering us on & building us up. Still there are many times along the way when things become difficult, especially when God seems silent & we believe He has left us permanently, that we doubt & wish we were comfortable back in our own "hobbit-holes". It's the pressing on through many plights & adversities that also continue to build us up & aid in the development of our confidence & self worth (as it did Bilbo).

Nicely put!

Great points. It's kind of tough to speculate about Gandalf's true intentions as Tolkien had yet to write LOTR at this point. If you get a chance, check out the Appendices to LOTR. There is a detailed description of what was going on during this time. Gandalf and others suspected that the "Necromancer" mentioned a couple of times in the Hobbit might be Sauron and that his true intention was to find the One Ring and regain his power through it. Tolkien leaves us at the end of the Hobbit thinking that everything's going to be OK and falls just short of saying goblins were never seen in those parts again. Most of the action in LOTR takes place well south of Mirkwood and the Lonely Mountains, but Moria with its hordes of orcs/goblins was a hotbed of activity.

The chronological events in the LOTR appendices are amzingly detailed. How can one man be so darn creative!? As you mention Mark, Sauron was driven out of his fortress in the South-West of Mirkwood (Dol Guldur) when he was discovered by Gandalf during his imprisonment there. It was during this imprisonment that Gandalf found Thrain. Before dying, Thrain gave Gandalf the key and map which feature in the events of 'The Hobbit'. After being driven out he resettled in Mordor and openly declared himself. The reason for the attack, according to the appendices, is that the White Council was aware that Sauron's servants where searching the Anduin (having learned of Isildur's end) and desired to stop him.

Anyway, there is a very nice website on the web which I have visited a couple of times that goes into far more detail than the appendices:

http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/

Hoipe this helps! :D

[BJ]

...

How can one man be so darn creative!? ...

His creativity seems to know no bounds. Tolkien also illustrated his works. I first read "The Hobbit" & LOTR in the 11th grade in 1972 (English assignment & one I LOVED for a change!) & have ALWAYS been amazed at the details of the worlds & languages, descriptions, characters, etc. I still have my original books from then & a calendar from 1974 that I kept for the artwork (all done by Tolkien).

This is Bilbo's conversation with Smaug... I guess the little shadowy Bilbo in the white cloud is the way Tolkien had to show him since he was actually invisible during this.

[BJ]

This is more of a sketch... The Death of Smaug. You can see where Tolkien has written in the smoke and there are also lots of little notes he's written all around the edges. Being an artist myself, I love seeing this creative side of Tolkien, too.

[rock_the_light]

wow, those are amazing pics! I had no idea that Tolkien was such a great artist! I have just gotten to the part with the dwarves getting out of the Mirkwood kings castle. I am amazed at how the perfect elves would be wary of strangers. They really should welcome the dwarves if they were perfect.

It's also interesting to think that the Mirkwood King just happens to be Legolas's dad. Did you all know that? I am a huge LotR know-it-all and I recently found that out! Hmmmm...

So, the elves were make perfect, not unlike how Adam and Eve were made, perfect and without sin, and immortal.

It's also interesting to read there when the dwarves had just gotten taken captive by the elves that it talks about how the Elf-king had a lust for gold and jewels. No perfect person lusts for anything... especially jewels!

Interesting thoughts....

[Aussie3rddayfan]

wow, those are amazing pics! I had no idea that Tolkien was such a great artist! I have just gotten to the part with the dwarves getting out of the Mirkwood kings castle. I am amazed at how the perfect elves would be wary of strangers. They really should welcome the dwarves if they were perfect.

It's also interesting to think that the Mirkwood King just happens to be Legolas's dad. Did you all know that? I am a huge LotR know-it-all and I recently found that out! Hmmmm...

So, the elves were make perfect, not unlike how Adam and Eve were made, perfect and without sin, and immortal.

It's also interesting to read there when the dwarves had just gotten taken captive by the elves that it talks about how the Elf-king had a lust for gold and jewels. No perfect person lusts for anything... especially jewels!

Interesting thoughts....

Yep, Legolas Son of Thranduil. Chances are Mr Legolas fought int the Battle for Five Armies. It is not mentioned in Tolkien's work anywore but it seems likely to me. I would not be surprised if our elf friend made a cameo in the Hobbit movie when it comes out...

[BJ]

I loved Gandalf's remark after Bilbo gave the Arkenstone to Bard... "Well done, Mr. Baggins... There is always more about you than one expects".
Then, on the journey home after Bilbo makes up a poem about his adventure upon spying his own hill in the distance, Gandalf tells him he's not the hobbit he once was. Bilbo's change from the beginning to the end is quite a contrast. It definitely shows how the struggles in our lives can make us grow into better people if we choose to let them (as we discussed in the previous chapters). Getting out of his comfortable little hole & teaming up with many "rescuers" along the way also made him realize the importance of what was truly important... relationships, not things.

Since it has been sooo many years since reading this the first time, I had forgotten a lot & one big thing was Thorin's change & his refusal to offer anything to Bard. Killing Smaug was a HUGE favor that ONLY benefited Thorin & yet his greed overshadowed everything that had been done for him to even get to the mountain in the first place. I can understand not feeling too warm & fuzzy towards the Elf-King since he had been a prisoner there, but to choose to make enemies of his neighbors just because of his treasures was not what I remembered or expected. His deathbed apology & amends to Bilbo was a nice touch, though, & brought the reader back to believing he was a great King afterall.

It was truly a delight to rediscover the adventure of the Hobbit again.

The first time I read it in 11th grade, I was so taken with the book & so inspired that I carved the troll, Bill Huggins, out of rock as an art project (since that is what he returned to after Gandalf kept him & the others up until dawn arguing). So, here you have the troll William Huggins, 34 years later... unable to ever speak again.

[jabob]

Yep, Legolas Son of Thranduil. Chances are Mr Legolas fought int the Battle for Five Armies. It is not mentioned in Tolkien's work anywore but it seems likely to me. I would not be surprised if our elf friend made a cameo in the Hobbit movie when it comes out...

And since Gimli is Gloin's son, I wouldn't be surprised if John Rhys Davies actually played Gloin. Also, with Aragorn's age, he could show up anywhere as a cameo (including the Battle of the Five Armies) in The Hobbit movie. It would easily be possible to have the actors from LOTR play their own Hobbit ancestors in cameos. Heck, the elves could simply play themselves.

[rock_the_light]

Are they really comming out with the Hobbit movie? I've signed a petition, but I never thought that it would happen!

It would be neat to have old actors in there for the Hobbit!

But the books are cool, because you can use your imagination for the characters!

[Aussie3rddayfan]

And since Gimli is Gloin's son, I wouldn't be surprised if John Rhys Davies actually played Gloin. Also, with Aragorn's age, he could show up anywhere as a cameo (including the Battle of the Five Armies) in The Hobbit movie. It would easily be possible to have the actors from LOTR play their own Hobbit ancestors in cameos. Heck, the elves could simply play themselves.

Gloin was in the FOTR movie. He was the old dwarf who apeared for a few seconds during the scene where the fellowship arrives in Rivendell. It 's the scene where Boromir appears, then Legolas and finally Gimli. He can also be seen in the Council scene. I believe he has a white beard. I say this because he was featured in this scence in the book. It would therefore be logical to assume then that he is the one in the movie. I might check the credits to make sure...

http://www.theargonath.cc/characters/gloin/gloin1.jpg

As for Aragorn, he probably won't be in the movie I would suggest. He has no link to these events so I doubt it. He COULD play Bard but people might see that as a bit of a gimmick.

[Aussie3rddayfan]

Are they really comming out with the Hobbit movie? I've signed a petition, but I never thought that it would happen!

It would be neat to have old actors in there for the Hobbit!

But the books are cool, because you can use your imagination for the characters!

Well....................t here has been no confirmation BUT if you were Peter Jackson would you make 'The Hobbit' given the success of the LOTR?


They would be silly not to make the movie. I would conjecture that we will be walking in to see the movie before 2010.....:D

[woman4life]

O.K. I finally just started reading "The Hobbit". I was 18 last time I read it, so I've forgotten much of it at this point in time. I have to agree about the parallels between our comfort zone and Bilbo's adventure and life in general.

I also got rather a kick out of Bilbo's attempts to be "savvy" and "cool" with the dwarves, and how that got him deeper into the adventure than he intended. There are probably some parallels there, as well. It could make for an interesting kick-off piece as a discussion on "societal" pressures. LOL

As for Jackson's characters mirroring previous artist's renditions, I have to say that Gollum comes in LOTR comes about as close to my imaginations of him as I could get. I don't recall seeing any earlier drawings to compare him to, and really could not imagine exactly how he would be protrayed in film.

I, too, see Gandalf a little like the Ian's character in the movies, but when I was reading the first few chapters it seemed there were a few things I noticed about him that were different. I had pretty much forgotten the tall blue hat. :) How wizardlike that description. :)

At any rate, I got the biggest kick out of the arguments between the trolls and Galdalf fueling them. Sometimes it reminds me of message boards. LOL ;)

[jesusnewspaper]

ive read the book before but am reading it agian because of my love for tolkien's work! the first chapter reminded me of our perfectly constructed (happy) little lives and how we dont want to go when god comes calling with the adventure of our lives! (and in the strangest ways)

[woman4life]

I finally finished reading "The Hobbit" -- a tad out of order, but I'm caught up now. I really enjoyed the book more the further I got into reading it.

In regard's to the ring I noticed that they never did actually say in the book that Bilbo ever told Gandalf about the ring, only that he relayed what happened. Gandalf is an interesting character as he almost seems to have the attributes of God, and even seems omniscient at times, but then he isn't (as when the Goblins attacked sooner than he expected.) I figured that he must have told him when relaying the tales, but it doesn't specifically say so.

I have read that Tolkein was not a fan of allegory (must have made for some interesting discussions between Lewis and Tolkein which would have been interesting to hear first hand.) However, he didn't really get away from it totally, even if it was unintentional.

I was really struck with the end of Chapter VII and Gandalf's admonitions to "stay on the path." It does so remind me of our Christian walk... we should stay on the path, but how often we stray from it... and the consequences we face (you would think we would learn a lot sooner,huh?)
And yet, in spite of everything, things worked out for the good of all overall.

--Melanie

[woman4life]

I just finished reading the book yesterday. A lot of things come to mind about the end. In spite of Tolkein's lack of direct and intentional allegory, there is so much there. I think in the story you definitely see the attributes that Tolkein found important and his view of the world.

Lust and greed led to great consequences, but in the end there were also instances of repentance. I noticed that repentance did not end all the consequences, but how much better things are as a result of it. There was a sense of peace about Thorin's final statements and the reconciliation before his death.

One can imagine from the description of the leader of the Lake men that Tolkein wasn't overly fond of politicians? :)

What struck me are the value that is placed in the story on friendship, loyalty, doing what is right, selflessness and charity. Another thing I found was that all things did work together for some good... there was a fabric to the story. I know not all people would see it this way, but it, to me, was not so unlike real life if you can look at the whole picture. Each event alone may have seen hopeless and without meaning, but as a whole, they all worked for some purpose.

Anyway, my thoughts were better connected yesterday, but I'm sure having read the story, y'all get the idea. LOL

[hochspeyer]

Joining very late, but I had to read The Hobbit after Mr. Gebauer asked "What is a hobbit?" as the extra credit question on a sophomore algebra quiz. I got the question wrong, then hunted down the book and read it.

The interresting thing about the selection of Bilbo is that of all the Hobbits available, Gandalf choose him. What's even more interesting is that the hobbits were the least of all the races.

[Cotton]

I read the Hobbit and it is my favorite book by J. R. R. Tolkein. It didn't seem as serious as the others.

[ninevolt]

The Hobbit is one of the best books ever (besides the Bible of course). Time to start reading it again.
Ninevolt