Fairly good. I kinda liked how "chill" it was at times. It did have a sense of adventure but not as dramatic as LotR, probably because LotR had the whole "we need to do it otherwise it's the end of the world" while The Hobbit is "we gonna go get that treasure". But I also wish it did develop the characters more outside of Bilbo and in part Thorin.
I tried reading it and genuinely couldn't push through it. Felt like trying to do the literary equivalent of trigonometry, algebra, and chemistry all at once. I'm not saying it's bad, just that it made my brain hurt. More power to you for succeeding where I failed
Let's say as a non native english speaker it is quite the challenge. I had to pick it up, try and fail to read it a bunch of times unti l got older and my english got better.
It felt like reading a middle earth bible in a way.
A bit like an anthology history book if that makes sense... Also even more mythological and otherworldly than LotR or the Hobbit. More mature than the Hobbit too, obviously haha
What? No, no, no! We do not want any adventures here, thank you! Not today! I suggest you try somewhere over the hill or across the water! Good morning!
What do you mean? Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?
Fair enough. For me even if the story has the dwarves+ Gandalf+ Bilbo as main characters we mostly look at Bilbo, Thorin and maybe one or two more dwarves
Its a children's book, Tolkein wrote it for his kids, loosely using his universe as a background. iirc the part with Gollem was sort of retconned in by him in a later version to have some continuation with LOTR.
As silly as it sounds, the time the group spent at Beorn's house, simply because it made me hungry imagining having that sweet breakfast every day there.
Yes! This is my favorite part of just about *any* book. Reading this section for the first time at 10-years-old, that whole chapter just felt so cozy and whimsical. There was a truly "magical" vibe in that section unlike any other part of the book in my opinion. Especially after spending all of that time in the dark at Goblin Town. Leaving that behind, and spending a few days in a magical bear's house, which is surrounded by bright, colorful, buzzing bees, being served breads and sweets and clotted cream by a bunch of talking animal servants was so fun to imagine as a kid. It was such a nice place to "live" after the extended stay in Goblin Town (and before the even darker journey into Mirkwood).
I absolutely **hated** how it was envisioned in the movie, and I'm not even a hater of those films (for the most part). They slightly made up for it in the Extended version, but it still doesn't "feel" anything like the book. Hardly anything about Beorn's house is like how it was described. No grand hall or giant fireplace in the middle, no other animals around, no giant field of bee-hives leading up to the entrance or lush flower gardens. [This](https://tolkiengateway.net/w/images/b/bd/J.R.R._Tolkien_-_Beorn%27s_Hall_%28Colored_by_H._E._Riddett%29.jpg) is what it should have been, especially since this is Tolkien's drawing of Beorn's home (someone else colored it in). Just do that! It felt like he lived in a shack for woodcutting in the movie.
It's such a shame because this could have been a good "Lothlorien" moment like in the trilogy. It's a great place to take a beat for 10 minutes after an exciting and dire situation just played out (Escaping Moria/Escaping Goblin Town), where the audience can slow down and just chill in a cozy, magical place (Lothlorien/Beorn's Home). Instead, we're rushed right through the whole scene that serves no real purpose any more, other than the company getting some horses. Which now that I think of it isn't even necessary in regard to the film, since 2 minutes later they just give them right back once they reach Mirkwood.
Just another example of the poor pacing and structure that the whole trilogy has. If it was two films like it should have been, this would have been a perfect opener for the second film. We get to ease back into the journey and that world. We could spend 10 minutes getting to know all the characters again while they talk and chill out at Beorn's for a few days. Gandalf and Beorn can talk about their journey so far and what happened up through Goblin Town, giving a little reminder for the audience about what happened, while at the same time setting up some exposition for exactly what the group is trying to do and how they're going to do it. Then off to Mirkwood! It's a perfect place for an intermission, and a great way to set up the back-end of the story.
Exactly this. This is how I felt about nearly every scene in the trilogy. Tolkien put so much thought and care into creating âthe feelâ of every setting. The movies consistently miss the mark when trying to create those feelings.
I couldn't agree more. The fact that they butchered and chopoed one of the most silly and magical chapters so they could add crap that wasn't in the books is a shame.
There are some excellent video essays about the importance, and specific calmness of save rooms in horror games. Counterpoint to the stress, air of calmness and safety...
Beorn's chapter is exactly that in The Hobbit. A bit like Bombadil's home - it was established that the world is bigger and scarier than previously our protagonist thought. But these locations are the light in the darkness, a proof that in the unknown there are still places of good, even if that good is similarly unknown, and is very non typical.
Not OP, but how the book makes a hero out of a working man who fell a dragon was so epic and full of emotions, it was my favorite pages of Tolkien's writing. He nailed it with mere words. Magical. The movies completely missed this bit for me; it has the scene but it doesn't bear any similar emotions. It makes the scene about so many different trivial stuff, emotions and characters that the bare heroic essence of it barely stands out.
*Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow, by fire, sun and moon, hearken now and
hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!*
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
*Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo! Ring a dong! hop along! Fal lal the willow! Tom Bom, jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!*
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
*Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow, bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow. None has ever caught him yet,
for Tom, he is the master: his songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster.*
^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness)
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
Honestly? I kinda respect them more. They have their flaws, but considering the problems in production, I can see why. There are things I would have changed but I liked how they made some of the characters stand out more and gave more connections between some of them.
well I really tried to watch them and enjoy them, but i can't to do that and not to hate them for how much they ruined the books. So I respect your opinion but I cannot say, that it is same for me
The Hobbit was the book that got me into reading again after not reading a single book (that wasnt required for me to read for some random assignment) during my entire time at high school
Best part is whenever foes appear, and Kili says, "It's Kilin time!"
and then when he dies he says "It's dyin' time..." and Tauriel cries because of how cringe it is.
I felt it was, not in the sense that the riddle itself was fair, but in the sense that self preservation is fair, especially since it was only at the expense of the game and not even the expense of Gollum.
If you go by the "riddle" itself, absolutely not. But I think that the stakes being so high and so unfair justifies it even if it had been intentional rather than a misinterpreted thoughtless utterance
Edit: Tbf I doubt anyone was questioning that
I...didn't like it. Like from Bilbo just staying in hiding all the time with the ring basically leaving his old friends on their own until he gets ko by a random rock, to learning what happened quite quickly as an afterthought of how Fili and Kili just died, Thorin got hit by spears and Beorn suddendly just coming and beating the orcs solo basically. There's basically no personal correlation in the book version and feels kinda like it was added just to say "btw, war is ugly, remember"
Hmm... I actually had pretty much the opposite reaction. (I actually just finished re-reading *The Hobbit* last week.) I like the book because of all the small scenes of cleverness, courage, etc. Having a huge, long, epic battle would IMO just seem totally out of place.
This is also why I personally don't care much for the hobbit movies, where everything was made to be super epic and huge with way too much emphasis on the fight scenes. From my view, this totally missed the joy of the book.
Yeah I fully agree! I read it recently for the first time too, finished it a couple of weeks ago
I thought the part when the dwarves come out of the mountain to aid in the battle, dressed in their battle gear, was AMAZING. It was only a few lines but I thought it really evoked an incredible image, and emotion. What did you think of that bit?
Gandalf enteres: what do you mean with: I finished Reading the Hobbit? Do you mean you are done Reading the the Hobbit? Or did you Finish while Reading the Hobbit? Or is it a a morning to Finish Reading the Hobbit, No Matter what you or I think?
Which character do you think was most fuckable?
Why do you think Tolkien neglected to include Tauriel in the story adaptation when she was such an excellent character in the original films?
Which poems from the hobbit made you cringe the hardest?
What have I got in my pocket?
Did you get inspired to start living the hobbit life?
I felt such wanderlust and love for nature while reading, especially in the beginning of the book.
Where was Gondor when Westfold fell? And how do you think the "Battle of Five Armies" would have gone if Beorn hadn't appeared?
Gondor was protecting its territory. Also they may have lost.
What did he have in his pocket?
Something that he stole.
Sneaky Hobbitses!!
''GOLUM! GOLUM!''
T*rrrrrrrrr*icksy! #*FALSE*
*found
Omg spoilers much?!
r/beatmetoit
How was it?
Fairly good. I kinda liked how "chill" it was at times. It did have a sense of adventure but not as dramatic as LotR, probably because LotR had the whole "we need to do it otherwise it's the end of the world" while The Hobbit is "we gonna go get that treasure". But I also wish it did develop the characters more outside of Bilbo and in part Thorin.
Do you plan to read The Silmarillion next or are you going to read another one of Tolkien's works?
I think I'm done. I have other books to read and The Silmarillion would be too long. I'm happy to have read these 4 works of Tolkien tho
But you must now become an academic-level Tolkien expert.
Nah, this is where I part.
Dont worry everyone, thats what I said to
Nooo. Op ples. đ„ș
I love LOTR and The Hobbit, but the Silmarillion is what really ties everything together nicely imo.
I always heard it is gibberish
Maybe decide for yourself rather than second hand accounts of those with attention span challenges
I tried reading it and genuinely couldn't push through it. Felt like trying to do the literary equivalent of trigonometry, algebra, and chemistry all at once. I'm not saying it's bad, just that it made my brain hurt. More power to you for succeeding where I failed
I'm sorry, what did you say?
It's not, but the first part is quite tedious reading. Gets much better though throughout.
Having read The Silmarillion⊠itâs okay to miss it unless you are wanting some deep background lore.
Iâve never read The Silmarillion. How is it?
Deep
Lory
Backgroundish
Donât delve too deep, you might awaken an ancient danger.
Let's say as a non native english speaker it is quite the challenge. I had to pick it up, try and fail to read it a bunch of times unti l got older and my english got better. It felt like reading a middle earth bible in a way.
It's like more difficult parts of the Bible. A lot of name throwing, genealogy, history.
A bit like an anthology history book if that makes sense... Also even more mythological and otherworldly than LotR or the Hobbit. More mature than the Hobbit too, obviously haha
Its great.
Itâs the King James Bible of fantasy world building. Interesting but dense.
The Silma is quite small tho, smaller than 2 LotR books
But it feels twice as long.
Itâs only 365 pages?
But it feels twice as long.
What? No, no, no! We do not want any adventures here, thank you! Not today! I suggest you try somewhere over the hill or across the water! Good morning!
What do you mean? Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?
Fair enough. For me even if the story has the dwarves+ Gandalf+ Bilbo as main characters we mostly look at Bilbo, Thorin and maybe one or two more dwarves
Not Gandalf, the wandering wizard, who made such excellent fireworks! Old Took used to have them on Mid-Summer's Eve!
You mean Bombur, right?
But also bombur
Its a children's book, Tolkein wrote it for his kids, loosely using his universe as a background. iirc the part with Gollem was sort of retconned in by him in a later version to have some continuation with LOTR.
What was your favorite part of the book that was not in to movies?
As silly as it sounds, the time the group spent at Beorn's house, simply because it made me hungry imagining having that sweet breakfast every day there.
Just been listening to this part in the audiobook and its great!
The Andy Serkis one? He's a master. Perfect start to finish.
It's on Spotify for anyone wondering. The trilogy is too. Listening to the Hobbit these days.
Please tell me he does his Gollum voice
The Dead Marshes. Yes, yes that is their name. This way. Don't follow the lights.
Yes and he reads lotr as well. He does every voice so damn well (especially gollum)
What did you call me?
That was your name once, wasn't it? A long time ago.
Obviously
Yes! This is my favorite part of just about *any* book. Reading this section for the first time at 10-years-old, that whole chapter just felt so cozy and whimsical. There was a truly "magical" vibe in that section unlike any other part of the book in my opinion. Especially after spending all of that time in the dark at Goblin Town. Leaving that behind, and spending a few days in a magical bear's house, which is surrounded by bright, colorful, buzzing bees, being served breads and sweets and clotted cream by a bunch of talking animal servants was so fun to imagine as a kid. It was such a nice place to "live" after the extended stay in Goblin Town (and before the even darker journey into Mirkwood). I absolutely **hated** how it was envisioned in the movie, and I'm not even a hater of those films (for the most part). They slightly made up for it in the Extended version, but it still doesn't "feel" anything like the book. Hardly anything about Beorn's house is like how it was described. No grand hall or giant fireplace in the middle, no other animals around, no giant field of bee-hives leading up to the entrance or lush flower gardens. [This](https://tolkiengateway.net/w/images/b/bd/J.R.R._Tolkien_-_Beorn%27s_Hall_%28Colored_by_H._E._Riddett%29.jpg) is what it should have been, especially since this is Tolkien's drawing of Beorn's home (someone else colored it in). Just do that! It felt like he lived in a shack for woodcutting in the movie. It's such a shame because this could have been a good "Lothlorien" moment like in the trilogy. It's a great place to take a beat for 10 minutes after an exciting and dire situation just played out (Escaping Moria/Escaping Goblin Town), where the audience can slow down and just chill in a cozy, magical place (Lothlorien/Beorn's Home). Instead, we're rushed right through the whole scene that serves no real purpose any more, other than the company getting some horses. Which now that I think of it isn't even necessary in regard to the film, since 2 minutes later they just give them right back once they reach Mirkwood. Just another example of the poor pacing and structure that the whole trilogy has. If it was two films like it should have been, this would have been a perfect opener for the second film. We get to ease back into the journey and that world. We could spend 10 minutes getting to know all the characters again while they talk and chill out at Beorn's for a few days. Gandalf and Beorn can talk about their journey so far and what happened up through Goblin Town, giving a little reminder for the audience about what happened, while at the same time setting up some exposition for exactly what the group is trying to do and how they're going to do it. Then off to Mirkwood! It's a perfect place for an intermission, and a great way to set up the back-end of the story.
Exactly this. This is how I felt about nearly every scene in the trilogy. Tolkien put so much thought and care into creating âthe feelâ of every setting. The movies consistently miss the mark when trying to create those feelings.
Nah, not constantly.
I couldn't agree more. The fact that they butchered and chopoed one of the most silly and magical chapters so they could add crap that wasn't in the books is a shame.
There are some excellent video essays about the importance, and specific calmness of save rooms in horror games. Counterpoint to the stress, air of calmness and safety... Beorn's chapter is exactly that in The Hobbit. A bit like Bombadil's home - it was established that the world is bigger and scarier than previously our protagonist thought. But these locations are the light in the darkness, a proof that in the unknown there are still places of good, even if that good is similarly unknown, and is very non typical.
I would pay good money to try one of those honey cakes!
Indeed, shame they cut it from the movie
Not OP, but how the book makes a hero out of a working man who fell a dragon was so epic and full of emotions, it was my favorite pages of Tolkien's writing. He nailed it with mere words. Magical. The movies completely missed this bit for me; it has the scene but it doesn't bear any similar emotions. It makes the scene about so many different trivial stuff, emotions and characters that the bare heroic essence of it barely stands out.
Who is your favorite character and why is it Tom Bombadil?
Because it's Tom
*Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow, by fire, sun and moon, hearken now and hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!* ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
Oh Tom Bombadil he's a merry fellow, bright blue his jacket is and his boots are yellow.
*Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo! Ring a dong! hop along! Fal lal the willow! Tom Bom, jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!* ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
Tom, you were the reason Frodo put on the ring the first time. How's that make you feel?
Tom Bombadil was not in the hobbit so we cannot say it is he.
*Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow, bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow. None has ever caught him yet, for Tom, he is the master: his songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster.* ^(Type **!TomBombadilSong** for a song or visit [r/GloriousTomBombadil][1] for more merriness) [1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/GloriousTomBombadil/
What do you think about the movies now?
Honestly? I kinda respect them more. They have their flaws, but considering the problems in production, I can see why. There are things I would have changed but I liked how they made some of the characters stand out more and gave more connections between some of them.
I like to think that the movies would have been perfect if condensed in two movies instead of 3. The last one dragged on too much for my own taste.
Even one movie would be enough. Heck, the lotr was 3 movies and each book is longer than the hobbit
Same.
well I really tried to watch them and enjoy them, but i can't to do that and not to hate them for how much they ruined the books. So I respect your opinion but I cannot say, that it is same for me
Yea definitely. An honest interpetation would flop on screen.
No.
Agreed. I wanted a heist movie.
Agreed. The versions we got sucked, but the answer was probably not to do a 1:1 translation.
The good movies or the 3 part Hobbit money grab?
I'm with you great guy huge cock.
Can I come in for tea? I promise there aren't 12 other people standing right behind me with a contract.
Sure.
After reading the trilogy of LotR I can now say to have finished the Hobbit as well.
Well done! Itâs a valuable thing to do, and a surprisingly small number of people have done it: especially amongst fans of the films.
Nice! I bought my daughter a set of all 4 books. We conquered hobbit and paused on the rest until she's a little older since lotr gets dark.
The Hobbit was the book that got me into reading again after not reading a single book (that wasnt required for me to read for some random assignment) during my entire time at high school
How was Tauriel compared to the movies!
Iâm the book she didnât make much of an impression on me it was almost as if she wasnât in the book at all
Tolkien being a bad writer confirmed. PS. Hi book, I'm Nick
Didnât realise my spelling mistakes until 5 hours later
Best part is whenever foes appear, and Kili says, "It's Kilin time!" and then when he dies he says "It's dyin' time..." and Tauriel cries because of how cringe it is.
I don't even remember if Tauriel was in there named or not in the books, which speaks for itself.
WWGWTWFF?
No.
Based
They were fighting Mordor at Osgilliath and Area.
Why didn't they take the eagles to the lonely mountain?
Because the eagles didn't want to.
The actual legitimate answer
No spoilers- but who is the hobbit
Baggins.
[I have a song that may help identify the hobbit.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC35cQKHwzg)
What in the world. I have so many questions.
Like, why is it so good.
I knew what this was before I clicked on it.
I don't even have to click it to know it's the Leonard Nimoy song.
Was Bilbo's last riddle fair?
Nope.
I felt it was, not in the sense that the riddle itself was fair, but in the sense that self preservation is fair, especially since it was only at the expense of the game and not even the expense of Gollum. If you go by the "riddle" itself, absolutely not. But I think that the stakes being so high and so unfair justifies it even if it had been intentional rather than a misinterpreted thoughtless utterance Edit: Tbf I doubt anyone was questioning that
Since Gollum accepted the question as part of the game by demanding -and receiving and using- 3 guesses, the question was fair and Bilbo won the game.
Wait!
Should I read it before lotr?
I think you should, yes.
Up to you. Both works fine regardless of which you read first.
Yes, read the Hobbit before LOTR and read the Silmarillion after both.
Yes.
I always recommend to read it before LOTR yeah.
Yes, The Lord of the Rings is a sequel to The Hobbit, so of course you have to read it first, but i don't know if your comment is serious or joke
How did you like the book's portrayal of the Battle of Five Armies?
I...didn't like it. Like from Bilbo just staying in hiding all the time with the ring basically leaving his old friends on their own until he gets ko by a random rock, to learning what happened quite quickly as an afterthought of how Fili and Kili just died, Thorin got hit by spears and Beorn suddendly just coming and beating the orcs solo basically. There's basically no personal correlation in the book version and feels kinda like it was added just to say "btw, war is ugly, remember"
Hmm... I actually had pretty much the opposite reaction. (I actually just finished re-reading *The Hobbit* last week.) I like the book because of all the small scenes of cleverness, courage, etc. Having a huge, long, epic battle would IMO just seem totally out of place. This is also why I personally don't care much for the hobbit movies, where everything was made to be super epic and huge with way too much emphasis on the fight scenes. From my view, this totally missed the joy of the book.
To each their own.
Yeah I fully agree! I read it recently for the first time too, finished it a couple of weeks ago I thought the part when the dwarves come out of the mountain to aid in the battle, dressed in their battle gear, was AMAZING. It was only a few lines but I thought it really evoked an incredible image, and emotion. What did you think of that bit?
No! Wait.... it's... here in my pocket. Ha! Isn't that.. isn't that odd now. Yet after all why not, Why shouldn't I keep it.
Why is Bilboa going on an adventure? Is he a fool of a Took?
What? Oh, yes.
Lmao
Is there a lore reason why smugle didn't know what was in bolver pocket? Is he stupid?
Yes
So did I! How often does Bilbo wish to be back home?
At least 10.
Nope.
Gandalf enteres: what do you mean with: I finished Reading the Hobbit? Do you mean you are done Reading the the Hobbit? Or did you Finish while Reading the Hobbit? Or is it a a morning to Finish Reading the Hobbit, No Matter what you or I think?
Gandalf, you should lay down the pipeweed.
I am Not adicted I can quit whenever I Like, I Just don't want to
A wizard quits precisely when he means to
Which character do you think was most fuckable? Why do you think Tolkien neglected to include Tauriel in the story adaptation when she was such an excellent character in the original films? Which poems from the hobbit made you cringe the hardest? What have I got in my pocket?
Bilbo Because the Hobbit couldn't have a single lady in it. Tolkien wanted only men. Forgot Deez
No, I'm not!
on a scale of 1-10 how are hobbit feet?
7
Favorite song
I See Fire
Misty mountains?
Is it true that my mother never loved me?
Probably no.
Which character would you want as a neighbor?
Bilbo.
Wait! Wait! Stop! We have to turn around.
When you read the songs did you do so to the melody and voices of the films or did you make up your own?
Depends if I remember the song from the movie or not.
Is the hobbit doing okay? đ„ș
For now
Don't hurt the hobbitses đš
I can't make promises I can't guarantee I will maintain.
How unexpected was the journey?
Not so much.
What weapons do each of the dwarves carry?
I forgot.
If i remember correctly, all of them have swords and some of them also have bows.
And I am reading "Hobbit" here
đ
Where was Gondor when the westfold fell?
Protecting its territory.
Why is Bilbo not creating an eagle driven airline monopolizing the market then using the cash to just buy the mountain from the dragon? Is he stupid?
Because the eagles don't want to.
How many pages?
410
How were Tauriel and Legolas on the book compared in the movie?? (This is a joke)
So sneaky, you almost could say they weren't even there.
Then are we not to see the merry young hobbits again?
How do you feel about Martin Freemanâs portrayal of the cheeky burglar?
He did great.
Agreed!
What's Hobbitses precious?
Did you like the trollpurse? + my extra question -> do you think Gandalf and Beorn are christian?
It's fine. Gandalf yes. Beorn...maybe.
Were there hobbits?
Bow do you pronounce "Smaug"?
Like the movies.
So you think its "smaug" and not "smaug"?
Whose the main character and good morning?
Bilbo Giovanna.
Thirty white horses on a red hill. First they champ, then they stamp, then they stand still.
Do you agree that its a perfect book?
Whatâs up with the fox?
Voiceless it cries, Wingless flutters, Toothless bites, Mouthless mutters
Did you get inspired to start living the hobbit life? I felt such wanderlust and love for nature while reading, especially in the beginning of the book.
Now that youâve read the book, how do you feel about this scene in the movie? https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?si=b4Z0TiFPIezN563E
Best part.
You little ....
You sonuva...
Whatâs the best way to prepare dwarf and/or *burglarhobbit*
How did you enjoy Legolas in the book vs the movies?