Review by EmilyamI:
The Hobbit - This book is a classic, and I can honestly say that I feel poorly for those who haven't read it. The book is a staple and a foundation for the fantasy genre, as is the author. Tolkien paints a beautiful, detailed picture of his world in language that places the reader in the story, rather than as an observer. The races and species in the book are amazingly defined and each has their own quirks and characteristics. Tolkien even developed an entire set of languages for his elves! If social or cultural aspects of life interest you, this is a definite read. You will encounter numerous peoples that I personally found fascinating.
Individual character development (especially among the dwarves) can prove to be rather lacking. We learn more about the main character, Bilbo Baggins, the character of the dragon Smog, and the character of Gandolf the wizard enough to make them believable and touchable, but the dwarves are treated more as a single entity which could be due to their strong bond and their culture, which seems to insinuate that all dwarves act fairly similarly, and these dwarves have a Musketeer-like outlook of All for one, and one for all.
The pacing of the book could prove troublesome to some readers. There are amazing, thrilling moments of action and suspense. There is, however, a distinct amount of simply walking. Chances are you will still be completely immersed in the story, but you may not find trudging through the countryside to be particularly exciting. I know numerous people who have put this book down because they couldn't read through all of the walking scenes. I urge you to persevere. It's well worth it to get the full experience of Tolkien's masterpiece.
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