The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)

The Hobbit is a familiar tale; Bilbo Baggins goes with dwarves and a wizard to re-take the Lonely Mountain and gold therein. Along the way, he finds a magic ring, etc. etc. Cool. I've read this multiple times and reviewed it before.

I bring it up here because:

1) I just finished reading it out loud to my son,

2) It was the pictured version, with original illustrations by the author, and

3) I think it was the first time I had read it since viewing The Hobbit trilogy of films.

So, how did these factors change my experience of the tale? Reading it out loud is nice, giving insights I lacked from prior readings. It was fun seeing the original illustrations by Tolkien—some were quite good—and how they inspired the films. Finally, what surprised me about reading this after the films is just how much the films omitted. Three films to do one book, and they left out or condensed things. That surprised and disappointed me (especially given how poorly the third film was done).

Rating: A

P.S. Two quotes near the end caught my eye and are worthy of committing to memory. Both have to do with friendship.

"This has been a bitter adventure . . . yet I am glad I have shared in your perils—that has been more than any Baggins deserves."

"The oftener you appear in my halls the better shall I be pleased!"