Books2Movies Club discussion

'All I remember about the start of The Hobbit is sitting correcting School Certificate papers in the everlasting weariness of the annual task forced on impecunious academics with children. On a blank leaf I scrawled, "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." I did and do not know why.'

This remembrance of the beginning of what would become the most famous fantasy series of all times, is written in one of numerous 's Letters of J R R Tolkien.

A fantasy book for children, The Hobbit, at first, wasn't supposed to be a prequel -- at the time of writing, J.R.R. Tolkien had no real clue what adventure it will turn out to be, due to the publishers who wanted to sell more stories about those strange creatures called Hobbits. After he wrote The Lord of the Rings, he made slight alterations to the novel so as to be more tied to this new one, mainly concerning the story of the Ring and Gollum. However, in 1966 he altered that one as well, better said, polished the narrative so to be more closer not only to The Lord of the Rings but to The Silmarillion as well, that he intended to publish soon. That third version is what we today read.

There were many reissues and more than 50 translations afterwards, each with beautiful covers, illustrations and maps made by Tolkien himself, and/or by his faithfull admirers, such as Alan Lee and John Howe.

Let's conclude introduction with this wiki quote:

The Hobbit has been called "the most popular of all twentieth-century fantasies written for children." Chance, however, considers the book to be a children's novel only in the sense that it appeals to the child in an adult reader. Sullivan credits the first publication of The Hobbit as an important step in the development of high fantasy, and further credits the 1960s paperback debuts of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as essential to the creation of a mass market for fiction of this kind as well the fantasy genre's current status.

A side note, however: Although this book discussion will always be open from now on, it will reemerge again on the front page next two Decembers too, to follow the subsequent theatrical releases of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit. The movies themselves, please comment in the movies thread.

I have to read this book for school. I would never have gotten this far without the movies. It like gave me sorta a bost. THANK YOU MOVIES!

Blueturtles wrote: "I have to read this book for school..."

I wish this was the book selected for obligate reading in our school. We had mostly some gloomy classics instead. Imagine that, in our 8th grade (that would be age 14), we had to read some short stories about WWI, that were truly gruesome and definitely not appealing, even to grown-ups. But hey, that was supposedly art...

I would LOVE to have read it for school, but I have a feeling many parents would object and feel it wasn't as beneficial as something like Madame Bovary (and really, WHAT educational value is Bovary providing, exactly?). I hate that modern school systems discount the fantasy genre entirely as if it has no value (aside from much older classic tales, such as the adventures of the Greek gods) although they seem to have no problem with science fiction, as long as it has some kind of moral message.

All that aside, though, I grew up with this book and LOVED it! It's such a delightful story, full of humor, action, honor and all the good mystical figures that we love. Can't wait to see the new films!

Alana wrote: "I would LOVE to have read it for school, but I have a feeling many parents would object and feel it wasn't as beneficial as something like Madame Bovary (and really, WHAT educational value is Bovar..."

I hate the school system too! It has not changed to fit with sosiety. And the stupid no child left behind is realy all children left behind!

It is amazing to me that The Hobbit was once considered a children's book. The genre of science fiction was believed to be rubbish and relegated to children's lit.
I had to read it in Honors English, 10th grade. I am grateful for that.

I read it few months ago and i like it. Of course my favorite character is Bilbo Baggins. At the beginning he is antihero (fearful, no confidence) but over time he discovers capabilities that had been unknown to him and becomes real hero. And for me this is the greatest value of this book.
Imaginary world is interesting, plot is interesting but activating inner strength and discovering unknown capabilities are amazing.

A while back I had attempted to read The Lord of the Rings, but I ended up giving up on it because I found I could not get into the books. I felt his characters were just kind of flat to me, and his writing I did not find engaging, so I have been on the fence about The Hobbit, which I already owned before I started reading LOTR.

I have to say that thus far I am liking it a lot better than I did LOTR. I haven't got that far yet, but I find it to be enjoyable, and entertaining.

Silver wrote: "A while back I had attempted to read The Lord of the Rings, but I ended up giving up on it because I found I found not get into the books. I felt his characters were just kind of flat to me, and hi..."

It's a very different book from LOTR. I love them and The Silmarillion, because they have so much depth and development and a rich writing style that just blows me away, but The Hobbit is a classic adventure story that just gets you into the tale and make you interested while hinting at things going on away in the world, though not directly related to the current story. It moves along, completes one adventure then starts another, but all along the way the characters are learning to appreciate one another, deal with the hardships they face and learn abilities and strengths they never knew they had. I know many adults that benefit from this, not just children.

Alana wrote: It's a very different book from LOTR. I love them and The Silmarillion, because they have so much depth and development and a rich writing style that just blows me away, but The Hobbit is a classic adventure story..."

One of the problems I had with LOTR is that because you had this group traveling together I never really got a good feeling for the individual personalities of each of the characters, none of them really popped out or felt distinguished, they all just blended together in this singular unit.

While in The Hobbit, at least at this point in the story I feel the each of the individual characters are more flushed out hand have more distinct personalities from each other. I can appreciate them more as individuals.

Does anybody else feel like this book drags on?

"The road goes ever on and on...."

Lol, no, I really enjoy it, but I grew up on it, so I'm sure I'm biased. It's like a set of interconnected adventures, mostly, which I'm sure is why they're making it stretch into three movies, which two would be more than suffient, imo.

No! I love that book. I thought LOTR dragged in some areas, but not this one. I don't understand how they are turning this book into three movies.

Joseph wrote: "No! I love that book. I thought LOTR dragged in some areas, but not this one. I don't understand how they are turning this book into three movies."

All of us who love this book know it should not be made onto 3 movies its the simplest book tolkien ever wrote. Its called hollywood greed. LOTR was popular enough where they will try milk the fans for every dollar they xan. In my opinion

Just started re reading this. I love this book. Am definitely surprised by its being made into 3 movies, but I guess I will reserve judgement til I have seen them, maybe 3 movies is the only way they can do them justice?

I've just started reading the book - first chapter, and I was already chuckling merrily :)

One tiny example... it was hard not to think of unique British politeness (no offense meant) when Bilbo wanted to get rid of Gandalf for good but invited him anyway to come to the tea next day :D

Ah, for a change some innocent laugh and entertainment!

I tried LOTR a long time and back and immediately gave up on it. I was in the HP frenzy and it felt too heavy somehow. And then some time ago I started with The Hobbit and loved it!! I finished the Fellowship too. But now stuck in The Two Towers. Its dragging... :(
But Hobbit was really nice and different from LOTR... Waiting to watch the movie now

I am not sure what the rules are about posting spoilers in discussion threads so

From Chapter 4


(view spoiler)[One thing that kind of bother's me is inconsistencies in the book. I have just read the part in which they are being chased by the goblins through the mountain and in one sentence it says that the sword Glamdring, which Gandolf has glows in a rage whenever goblins are near, but a couple paragraphs later and the goblins sneak up on them completely unnoticed, and I am just thinking to myself What happened to that magical glowing sword you had in your hand like 5 seconds ago? You are being chased by goblins but no one thought to check the sword once in a while for warning signs? (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[maybe it was in its sheath so he didn't notice it? But Gandalf also tends to do things so that his companions have to learn more about their own abilities, so sometimes he lets them get into a little bit of trouble. Who knows though, he's an interesting fellow (hide spoiler)]

Does anyone know of a free version on audio somewhere that is not dramatized? I have one from the library and it's a very good dramatization, but I'd like to listen to one that's a normal reading. I've read it a thousand times, so it's no big deal, but I would be kind of nice for a reread.

The Gandolf thing is something that I kind of have a problem with in the books, while on the one hand the book is fun and interesting to read, I do feel as if Tolkien kind of uses Gandolf as a sort of cop out, it is like a sort of "Gandolf works in mysterious ways" type of situation. He comes around to make sure the main, important characters don't get killed off, but than he seems to just vanish conveniently at times long enough to allow the characters to get into some kind of trouble or other.

In which on the one hand if he just used magic all the time than there would not be much need for actual adventure, but on the other hand you do get a lot of little contradictions and inconsistencies that don't make a great deal of actual sense and kind of nag at me at times, because there are moments when Gondolf will come and save everyone and it is just like.....ummm....if you could do that why didn't you just do it a long time ago instead of waiting until everyone was on the brink of death.

Well, that's why his character works a lot better in LOTR because you actually see his flaws and the extent of his powers. In The Hobbit, he's more like a parent slowly pushing his kids out of the nest to learn to do things on their own, only stepping in when they are in real danger that they probably couldn't make it out of themselves, much like allowing a child to burn the end of their finger on the stove after being told repeatedly that it's hot, but watching and making sure that they don't pull down a hot pan on themselves.

I am now on chapter six, and I noticed same what you did, how Gandalf is a bit different here than in LotR. You have perfectly said it, Alana, here he was more like a parent. Also, more like any ordinary wizard. Story does not hint at all who he is really and what he really can do. I think that his real name and origins are explained more specifically only in appendices of LotR. Not sure though -- I've read LotR long time ago (but plan to read it soon after Hobbit ;)

We only get a taste of Gandalf in this book. I think Tolkein morphed his character into something grander as he got into LOTR. He might have been portrayed differently in The Hobbit if Tolkein had known at the time what he was really going to do with the character. But I think it works well for the kind of story he's telling here. He's not going for epic; he's going for fun adventurous fairy tale.

Alana wrote: "He's not going for epic; he's going for fun adventurous fairy tale."

Absolutely. I had to keep reminding myself this book is for a younger audience, one that doesn't care about character backstory or development. The Hobbit is plot-driven and filled with silliness and adventure--exactly what (most) kids like (and me too sometimes :)

I have never read any of the Lord of the Rings books before but I loved the movies. Because of that I have wanted to read, not only those books, but The Hobbit as well. I bought this book a couple days ago an started reading it yesterday, because, well, I have to read the book before I see the movie. It's a rule I now have. I am about half way through and I absolutely love it. I can't wait to see the movie.

I don't know if this link is going to work or not, but someone posted this on facebook and I thought it was hilarious (and very appropriate to our topic).

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbi...

So far I have to say that Queer Lodgings is my favorite chapter. I am loving Beorn and even if he is in it for only a short time he may be my favorite character within the book.

I am enjoying the humorous encounter with Gandalf as he explains his adventures and the cleaver way I which in introduces the rest of his party to try and keep Beorn from becoming agitated.

Silver wrote: "So far I have to say that Queer Lodgings is my favorite chapter. I am loving Beorn and even if he is in it for only a short time he may be my favorite character within the book."

Yes, I've just read that chapter - love it too! Beorn is really cool character!

Alana wrote: "I don't know if this link is going to work or not, but someone posted this on facebook and I thought it was hilarious (and very appropriate to our topic).

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbi......"

HILARIOUS! Thanks for posting :D

I think that link was almost more confusing than the descriptions, though... lol! Even with foreknowledge of who they are in general I have a feeling I'll have a hard time keeping track of them when watching the movie. As long as you know Bombur and Thorin, though, you're probably all right.

Has anyone reading this for the first time had trouble keeping the dwarves straight, or do you feel that it's not so much keeping track of them as individuals but appreciating them as a diverse group that works together?

Alana wrote: "Has anyone reading this for the first time had trouble keeping the dwarves straight, or do you feel that it's not so much keeping track of them as individuals but appreciating them as a diverse group that works together? .."

I cannot say I found it any great difficulty, and I will agree that the way in which the story is told it does not seem as if it is particularly important to keep them all straight individually, but even so it seems most of the time the books does refer to each of them by their names so you know who it is being referred to.

So much of Tolkien is kind of heavy reading that the simplicity of the Hobbit is what makes it so great. Although for a children's book it does seem quite violent at times especially some of the goblins songs

The Book of Lost Tales, Part OneThe Book of Lost Tales, Part Two these two books explain the origin of the swords as well as the creation of all the treasure the dwarves journey after. The reading is a little complex though

Travis of NNY wrote: "The Book of Lost Tales, Part OneThe Book of Lost Tales, Part Two these two books explain the origin of the swords as well as the creation of all the treasure the dwarves journey after. The reading ..."

I've always wanted to read that as well as the others in the story collection, but I've never gotten around to it. I know, I know, and I call myself a Tolkien fan.....

I think its gonna take me 3-5 years to read through the 12 book history. I own the first five and have read the first two but I have to take a break after each one the language is just a little tricky for me but they are interesting to see how complex.tolkiens world was he really was a genius

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I think it's a fun read (LOTR does drag on at times, but I don't feel like this does), and am currently reading it to my kids. Though I had to take the voices down a notch. I've been reading it before bed and when I got to the Great Goblin, I think I scared them a bit (even though they're 5 and 10 :) ).

Lol, I can just picture your kids, Jim, the wide eyes and deeply involved expressions. You must be reading it right, so they feel like they're right there with the characters.

I've been listening to the BBC dramatization and really enjoying it. It's my "going to bed" book so I have to keep rewinding it after I fall asleep, but it's so much fun to hear that story read aloud or retold.

Alana wrote: "Lol, I can just picture your kids, Jim, the wide eyes and deeply involved expressions. You must be reading it right, so they feel like they're right there with the characters.

I've been listening ..."

I like it like that to but my player broke.:(

"WHO ARE THESE MISERABLE PERSONS?!?"

Jim wrote: ""WHO ARE THESE MISERABLE PERSONS?!?""

hmm?...

Just finished the book this afternoon. Interesting thought... Is Gandalf based on Prospero from Shakespeare's The Tempest? It seems that both characters have a lot in common... using magic to incite events [pretty much] for the sake of personal enjoyment. If that's the case, is Gandalf a metaphor for Tokien,the writer? Since Prospero is a direct metaphor for Shakespeare, I was wondering if the same can be said for Tolkien... Gandalf, the conjurer of adventures/Tokien, the conjurer of stories. Interesting thought...

Jacob wrote: "Just finished the book this afternoon. Interesting thought... Is Gandalf based on Prospero from Shakespeare's The Tempest? It seems that both characters have a lot in common... using magic to incit..."

That is an interesting thought, I rather like the idea of Gandolf being symbolic for Tolkien and I think if that were the case it would make some aspects of Gandolf's character make more sense to me. I can certainly see how that may be the case.

Jacob wrote: "Just finished the book this afternoon. Interesting thought... Is Gandalf based on Prospero from Shakespeare's The Tempest? It seems that both characters have a lot in common... using magic to incit..."

Interesting idea, certainly. I don't know that I can go with the Prospero inspiration, because his character is very different as you go on through the Lord of the Rings, etc, but it is that type of character in The Hobbit. He certainly could be representative of Tolkien though. I'm sure he wanted to give humanity a little push in his way of thinking and the Gandalf character allows him to do that.

Will someone plz help me!? I think I like this book but I can't get into it once I stop reading it. Know what I mean? It is also for school so I really need to finish it in about two weeks. Plz help!

If you're having trouble with it, just do a chapter a day. They are each kind of their own little mini adventure anyway.

I try but the problem is I can't get myself to read it.

In college, we had to read a lot of "terrible" books--some of them over a thousand pages. The best advice I can give: make a cup of coffee, find a comfortable place, turn off all electronic devices, and read. Take a break every couple hours for no more than twenty minutes.

Some of my friends liked listening to audio versions of books while they ran or drove or surfed the internet. You can find audio files for most books on YouTube.

If you crank it out, it shouldn't take more than an afternoon or two to finish The Hobbit. It flies when you get into the goblins and Mirkwood.

Jim wrote: ""WHO ARE THESE MISERABLE PERSONS?!?""

Haha I bet they were scared out of their wits when they heard you impersonating Great Goblin :D

Not many dads would do the reading for their children! Really really nice way to spend memorable evenings with them. Thumbs up!

I am currently at the chapter 12. Now I have clearer picture of why Peter Jackson wanted to split the book in three parts, at least I guess, haven't seen the movie yet -(view spoiler)[(First part would tackle Misty Mountains, second Mirkwood and third The Lonely Mountain - my guess!) (hide spoiler)]- because there are some parts left unexplained, like Gandalf's wanderings.

Finished it! And loved every word. I honestly needed a bit of escapism this offered, although with bits of wisdom about human (er, dwarvish, elvish?) weaknesses and real values worth living and fighting for.

I think the dwarves and elves represent different characteristics of humans as well, so yes, "human weaknesses and values" is accurate :)

You guys wouldn't belive what my cosin said today!
She was like, "The movie, The Hobbit, reminds me of something like The Lord of the Rings."
And I was like, "Wow, Kaylie, wow."