Entry #2
Harry vs. Frodo
I finished The Hobbit today. I am trying to grapple with what to say. I can't say I totally enjoyed it, but it wasn't bad. Mainly, I was kind of disappointed that there wasn't more to it. It was an adventure tale, but that was it. It reminded me of stories I liked as a child where three brothers set off on a journey and one of them turns out to be the most clever (the youngest inevitably) and in the end it is a life lesson/morality tale. Yes, Bilbo changed as a person (a hobbit), and discovered he was more clever, lucky, and brave then he knew himself to be, but not by a lot, or enough to make it too powerful. Maybe I just don't know my hobbits. It was essentially a march across the Forest, encounters with various creatures, then a fight with a dragon, which they didn't even participate in. Then we did get a short lesson in greed, then it was back home for ol Bilbo.
I am not looking for life lessons in all of my books, but I guess because of the premise, I was expecting one. Here is the good thing: I talked to two friends of mine at work, (Richard and Don, my resident RCC book dude) both of whom have read both series. Neither had a real great opinion of The Hobbit, but both love the trilogy. So, they figure I was to read the Hobbit to become familiar with the world (or that was Sues plan) That's cool and well, the ring makes an appearance, I am sure it does more then make the wearer invisible, so that will be interesting to see. I am holding out hope that the other three have more "meat" to them and stronger story lines and what not.
My favorite part of the book and the one that held the most interest to me was the chapter where Bilbo discovers the ring is lost in the cave and we meet Gollum. The one of least interest was the warring at the end. I have a feeling that there is a fair amount of wars to come and I just hope they hold more interest to me then that one did. Another thing I enjoyed was Tolkien's writing style. I felt his sense of humor and care for his world very much and "voice" in novels is something I have always held in high esteem.
To sum up, I was not totally enamored with this book. I am going to have to say, I look forward to the other books, and have high hopes that they will bring a little more mutton to the table.
To read Sue's review of the first Harry Potter book, click here
18 comments:
I have always liked The Hobbit for its own sake, but agree that it was a little simple. However, I believe Tolkien wrote it primarily for children, and for that purpose it is certainly enjoyable. I remember my brother reading it to me when I was six -- I was completely enamored with it.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a whole different ball game. It's deeper, darker, richer, and infinitely better. I've never heard of Tolkien having a specific audience in mind, but I believe it reaches people on different levels depending on where they are in life. I read it for the first time in 3rd grade and really enjoyed it, but every time I've read it since then I've loved it more and gotten more out of it. (Don't I sound like I'm bearing my testimony of them...). Okay, enough, they just happen to be my very favorite books EVER!
Ami
Hmm, your testimony of them give me hope. I have decided to forget about the whole "fantasy" hang up I have and look at them as good literature.
Your writings on the Hobbit have also forced me to look at the book with a different eye. I suppose that is a great read for a six year old interested in a new and exciting world filled with dwarfs, giant spiders and dragons. But I also stand by my point of view as an adult reading it for the first time and going -eh!
My guess on which brother read you the book is John. Correct? I think it is cute he did that. (It would be cute if it was Dave, of course, either one.)
It was in fact John. Actually, it is one of the very few memories I have of him from my childhood.
On a slightly related note, when he was away at Harvard he bought my parents a really cool hardbound edition of LOTR. It was beautiful, all silver with red embossed elvish runes on the front and sides. He also had my parents names engraved on the fronts and wrote a note saying how great he thought the book was and that they should read them. Well, my parents never read them, but as is my wont, soon after my discovery of them I absconded with them to my room, and have them to this day. I have had to glue the cover back on Fellowship as I read it so many times it fell off. You know how some books are like old friends and you miss them if they are away somewhere else (I believe you feel this way about your marked copy of To Kill a Mockingbird which I had for a while...)? These are like that.
PS - One time I found a signed copy of To Kill a Mockingbird at one of the bookstores in Ithaca. It was gone the next time I went back, but I still feel bad I didn't just buy it for you on the spot!
PPS - Have you started Fellowship yet? I think I might try to read them with you... just for fun.
Ami
I totally remember those silver books, in fact those books in your room were my first exposure to the trilogy. I do have many books I have read so many times they are old friends and I like to just look at them once in a while. They soothe me (cheesey! But they are very comforting to look at!)
I was away all weekend in Wyoming, I found time to finish the last few chapters of The Hobbit while everyone was watching football, but didn't start The Fellowship, but will tonight! Sue, close your eyes - we were having WAY too much fun!)
You reading them with me, won't be "support" so much, but fun! I shall dub you an honorary member of Camp Fro Bags! (Camp Fro Bags is scant, and B and I need lots of support.)
Cool, so you got through The Hobbit. Your RCC friends are right. I wanted you to start with The Hobbit mainly so you could get the back story of the ring, Gollum, the dwarfs, spiders etc. And, I think it is a good way to get a feel for Tolkien's world and style, which you seem to understand.
The Hobbit is not my favorite, by a long shot. But I do believe Bilbo's story needs to be told, before you jump into the trilogy.
I really think you will like the trilogy. If you like good stories that have a great meaning, and you want to care about the characters etc, you will like the trilogy. Yes, there are more wars, but you will care about so many people who are actually fighting in the wars, that you won't be bored by it. And Tolkien really adds some pretty cool characters into the wars!
I like your friend Ami's comments. She had an older brother who introduce her to the trilogy, and so did I. I remember our brother Dave reading these books when I was a kid. I wanted Dave to like me so much that when I was in 7th grade, I read the Lord of the Rings, just because I thought he would think I was cool. It didn't work, but I realized I actually liked these books. Not because Dave liked them, but because I liked them. When Dave and I became closer as adults, it was something he and I talked about. Something he and I shared.
So, anyway, I'm glad you made it through The Hobbit. I know you will like the trilogy a lot more. I promise Frodo is much more likeable than Bilbo, you'll grow to love Gandolf as much as Dumbledore, and Merry and Pippin are just wonderful! (the actor who played Merry in the movies is Charlie in Lost. That was a main reason I started watching Lost.)
I think I will probably like them too. Like I said, I am going to get over my fantasy hang up and try to enjoy them for what they are (apparently good literature). I respect Sue's opinions about books and also Ami's (Sue, you know Ami (Ami Anderson) we have been best good friends since kindergarten).
Guess what I did? I checked out a book called, "The Fellowship of the Ring: A Visual Companion" It is essentially a guide of the book using pictures from the movie. I am a very visual person, so I thought this would help me visualize what these creatures are I read about and it has good maps (I like me some maps). So I plan to reference that book from time to time.
I am not going to do this half assed Sue! When I do something, I do it!
PS - I love me some Charlie too!
That visual guide sounds really cool! It will definitely help you get through it. The movies are just incredible. I kind of resisted them at first. I'm so stubborn about things like that. When movies come out about books I love so much, I usually avoid them, because they are mostly disappointing. I rented the Fellowship when it came out on DVD and was blown away! Peter Jackson and his wife did the most amazing job on them. Then I saw the other 2 in the theaters.
I like maps too. I've been looking for a few years for a nice poster of the map of middle earth. I would love for Travis to do a nice frame job and hang it in my guest room or something. I saw them at Mediaplay when the movies were out in the theaters, should have picked one up then.
Ok, I have a question:
Sue, you say they are making two movies out of The Hobbit? They didn't split the other books up into two, and this is the shortest and simplest story. What's the deal?
I had the same thoughts. But I know I heard they are splitting it up into 2 movies. I'm thinking if they are doing 2, they are just normal length movies. The other movies each could have easily been 2. The theater releases were 3 hours long, the extended versions are almost 4 hours long. And they still left a lot out!
But, if anyone can do it, it's team Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro!
They are splitting the last Harry Potter book into two movies I think I heard.
They are still making Harry Potter movies? Ugh. Aren't the actors who play the kids like in their 30's by now?
No, they are still in their teens and the books span 7 years of their lives and the first movie came out like 6 or 7 years ago, and I think they are working on the last one now, so humph!
Okay, Comic Book Guy! I just don't think they are still in their teens.
There is a slight flaw in your argument. From screenwriting to release, movies, like the Harry Potter ones, take at least a year to make. I went onto IMDB, and there have been 5 Harry Potter movies released, the first one in 2001. That means if there are 7 books and they are making 2 movies out of the 7th one, then there are 3 more Harry Potter movies yet to be released!
There is no way the actors are still teenagers. Besides, the actor who plays Harry Potter just did a play in England where there is a scene where he is totally nude (full frontal). I imagine England has some sort of law that says teenagers cannot appear nude. And in the play he is in love with a horse. And I mean in love! I would think England has some sort of law that looks down on teenager/horse love affairs. Hmph!
I can IMDB too, and I looked up Daniel Radcliffe's birthday and he was born in 1989, that makes him 19, take that sucka! The 6th movie is done and due to come out (it was this November, but got moved to next summer, I heard they didn't want to compete with Twilight) the other two are being filmed now or soon, so the actors may be 20 or so when done, but that is only a few years older then their characters and that is no big thing.
That play he was in was years ago and he was quite young, I would guess around 15, so you are giving England too much credit when it comes to teenage nudity laws. Humph!
Now if you don't mind, I will go back to my reading of The Fellowship of the Ring (said in sarcastic comic book guy voice).
Daniel Radcliffe was in Equus last year.
hee hee, I love giving you crap! 20 year olds can easily play teenagers. Weren't all the Beverly Hills 90210 actors all in their 40's or something when they were filming that show?
Grease too, haha! But they were really stretching it there.
I looked it up, and you are right, Equus was last year, it seems like it was a long time ago. But I have to add, he was still a teenager!
Not seeing a lot of action from you Wyoming people! I hope that means there is a lot of reading going on!
Haley, I expect a review of the first Harry Potter book soon....
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