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“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him…”
…AND it does not do to leave The Hobbit out of your list of fantasy must-reads.
Bilbo Baggins is a typical comfort-loving hobbit. Happily settled in the pastoral land of The Shire, life is a relaxed cycle of smoking tobacco, guzzling ale, attending parties and having innumerable (and delicious) meals all day long. But Bilbo also has Took blood running through his veins. The Took family members were famous for disappearing on mysterious adventures. Bilbo however, is content to suppress the thrill-seeking side of his nature and curl up happily in his Hobbit-Hole.
But then the powerful wizard, Gandalf (making his first stalwart appearance) asks…infact…informs Bilbo that he needs the hobbit for an adventure. Bilbo promptly declines but soon finds a motley crew of dwarves descending upon his home. Gandalf and the dwarves are headed east, n a perilous mission to the Lonely Mountain. They intend to recover their ancestors’ treasure from the clutches of a fiendish dragon called Smaug. Initial reluctance gives way to the thirst for adventure and thus begins a quest that transforms a cushy, quivering jellyfish of a hobbit into a legendary hero.
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The Hobbit is a delightful prelude to the magnum opus - The Lord of The Rings. It introduces us to the house-proud Bilbo Baggins who gets dragged along on a magnificent adventure fraught with danger, deceit, wit, bravery, unlikely enemies, friendly foes and mythical creatures galore. J.R.R.Tolkien’s language is rich and deliciously ancient. He makes you feel like snuggling up for buttery scones and a pot of tea at Bilbo’s hobbit hole…and then…..just as easily makes a shiver go down your spine as you venture into the unknown and perilous dangers of Mirkwood.
All of us have the spirit of adventure lurking within us. While some leap in with both feet, others hem and haw and dawdle incessantly. Bilbo belongs to the latter group. But when good ol’Gandalf pushes the wary hobbit into action, he rises admirably to the task. The book is a winner all the way. From odd named creatures to near-fatal encounters to dastardly villains to enticing obstacles, The Hobbit keeps you hooked.











