Reviews

Bilbo Baggins is an ordinary hobbit, living in an ordinary hobbit-hole, leading an ordinary hobbit life. Yet, one day, his life is turned upside down by a wizard and thirteen adventurous dwarves...and nothing will ever be ordinary again.

What I'm about to say is near-sacrilege in most literary communities: I did not like this book. Was it well written? Yes. Was there incredible world-building? Absolutely. Did I actually enjoy sitting down and reading the story? Not even a little bit.

The book got off to a great start. The description of Bilbo's life in the Shire was an easy and pleasant read, and the introduction of Gandalf and the dwarves was quite entertaining. Yet, when I got about a third of the way into the book, their adventure began, and my pleasure in the story plummeted.

I generally like fantasy books, but in this case, the world-building element was almost too much for me. For the middle third of the book, it seems as though there's a new character, animal, or location -- or all three -- in every. single. chapter. It was not until our merry band of dwarves has reached the Wood King's palace that I really felt I had a full grasp of who everyone was again. In part, I have myself to blame for this. By reading the book over a long period of time, I think I forgot who certain characters were long before they disappeared for good. Unfortunately, the story did not hold my attention enough to read it in one sitting.

Additionally, the end of the story was rather anticlimactic. Rather than the fight we've been anticipating throughout the entire book (dwarves vs. Smaug), it's almost as if that struggle were pushed aside for the Battle of the Five Armies. While I understand that this fight is more important for [b:The Lord of the Rings|33|The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings, #1-3)|J.R.R. Tolkien|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347257199s/33.jpg|3462456], it almost feels like a cheap trick to pull such a switch at the end of the book.

One day, I will try again. One day, I may even like this book. But that day is not today.