Book Review - The Hobbit
I'm starting out with a book that I know well (because, yikes, it's my first review! *insert panic here*) I've loved Tolkien's works ever since my mom read the Hobbit out loud to us when we were about nine or ten. I then had the chance to watch a theatre production of the Hobbit, which was the best way ever to study the characters! (Sidenote: I will not be mentioning the movies and their flaws. It'd take too long.) The best facet of Tolkien's work, in my opinion, is his talent for bringing characters and settings to vivid life. The Hobbit is a classic example of the "untalented" character having a lot more to him than is first evident. Bilbo Baggins is not a strong, perfect hero, but he is a realistic, relatable person (fine, hobbit.) Gandalf is the wise shepherd who occasionally just can't stand the dwarves one moment longer. And the dwarves? They seem a little bit like a very large homeschooling family. . ....