A review by theespressoedition
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Hobbit is such an interesting book. I read it for the first time when I was in high school, which was over ten years ago. I remember thinking it was incredibly slow and a little bit monotonous. As an adult, I think I still agree with that assessment. However, I also appreciate the different elements of Bilbo's adventures. I make that plural because while he technically went on one long adventure, he had so many "smaller" ones along the way. Some of them were fascinating and action-packed. Others were less interesting and I found my mind wandering. One thing I will say is that I believe I would've given this only three stars had I not listened to the audiobook narrated by Andy Serkis. There's nothing quite like listening to the book read by Gollum/Smeagol himself. That was a lot of fun!
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