The Annotated Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien

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Book Reviews of The Annotated Hobbit

Book Review: A classic
Summary: 5 Stars

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." That hobbit is the determinedly normal Bilbo Baggins, whose comfortably boring life is turned upside-down when the wise wizard Gandalf turns up with thirteen dwarves. But they're not there just to abuse Bilbo's hospitality -- they're there to recruit him as a burglar, so that they can sneak back to the old dwarf stronghold of Lonely Mountain and reclaim it from the dragon Smaug.

Before Bilbo knows what's happening, he's being whisked off with the dwarves and Gandalf across Middle-Earth. His odd journey rapidly turns dangerous when they are captured by goblins, he is forced to riddle with a withered creature, finds a golden Ring that will turn its wearer invisible, and they are nearly devoured by monstrous spiders. And he hasn't even gotten to the Mountain yet -- where the dragon is still sleeping.

I was seven years old when I first read "The Hobbit," which wasn't even the start of my appreciation for Tolkien. Now with the movie trilogy partly released, a new buzz of interest around anything and everything "Lord of the Rings"-related has brought "The Hobbit" back into bookstore displays. This is a less serious, dark book than the Rings trilogy, but the charming tone and delightful, unexpectedly brave unlikely hero Bilbo will delight both kids and adults. At a bookstore recently, I saw a teenage boy insisting that "Hobbit" was not a children's book, because he still read it. (The final chapters hint at the future epic battles of the "Rings" trilogy, and several plot threads are picked up in those books as well, so note the details...)

"The Annotated Hobbit" is a special treat for Tolkien fans, or just people who want to know more about this book and about Tolkien's Middle-Earth. Pictures (Tolkien's own) are included in the middle of it; Douglas Anderson includes plenty of careful footnoting, citing works of mythology, legend, and careful usage of other books by Tolkien to back up his commentary. (For example, one major question is answered: Do Elves have pointy ears? Answer: Yes, and check this book to see why) The binding is nice and tight, the cover is one of Tolkien's illustrations (Smaug on the dwarves' gold), the paper is smooth and very pale so that the words are always clearly visible.

Needless to say, if you liked the movies or the books, you'll adore "Hobbit." If you haven't read it, then do so. And then check out "Annotated Hobbit," with its extras and bonuses. Great read.

Summary of The Annotated Hobbit

Classics Books

• Books > Subjects > Literature & Fiction
• Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Epic