Lord of the Readalong 2020 discussion

You're doing awesome!

How are you liking this read? Is it better, worse or as expected for you? If it's a reread have you discovered anything different from the last time around? What is standing out to you?

So far, so good! Definitely going better than I feared. I love the narrator of the audiobook I'm listening to (Rob Inglis), so I'm considering listening to all three LOTR books with him, as well.

Jennifer wrote: "So far, so good! Definitely going better than I feared. I love the narrator of the audiobook I'm listening to (Rob Inglis), so I'm considering listening to all three LOTR books with him, as well."

I'm listening to that version too. He's so expressive. And if I'm remembering correctly, I think he actually sounds a bit like Tolkien. (I heard a recording of him reading.)

I like the book but i get bored at times it's just not a genre nor a writing style that i like

I am enjoying the book. This would make such a great read-aloud for a family. My kids and I read lots of books together when they were younger, I was telling my daughter, now 30, that I was reading the Hobbit and was sorry I had not read it to her and her brother when they were younger. She remembers reading The Hobbit in middle school herself and enjoying it. The book lends itself to reading out loud with the pacing of each chapter being a good starting off point on a new part of Bilbo's journey!

Angi wrote: "I like the book but i get bored at times it's just not a genre nor a writing style that i like"

Maybe try the audiobook? I wonder if that would help you enjoy it a bit more.

Loving the book, but a shame I have seen the movie already! Story is somewhat different like at lake town. But still like the read!

Lisa wrote: "Loving the book, but a shame I have seen the movie already! Story is somewhat different like at lake town. But still like the read!"

I like both the movies and the books, but I find the changes between the two can be a bit jarring at times.

I'm a little behind due to busyness and having to finish a book I had on reserve from the library. I'm just now starting chapter 7 and catching up to 8-12. There was so much I have forgotten but then it has been over 40 years since I read this.
I'm remembering why I love Tolkien. He was such a special writer, so much imagination. He set the bar for so much fantasy that followed.

I'm still loving this book! Made it to ch 15 but realized I never commented after ch 12.

Oh boy the spiders. Ewww. I was very creeped out by that scene, as is the point I suppose.

I had totally forgotten about the wood elves and the barrel escape from previous readings. So that was a fun section to read.

I love how Bilbo is again and again the one to rescue the dwarves. They still love to complain a ton, but have so much more respect for him than they did at the beginning.

The moments of humor make this book extra special for me.

I read "The Hobbit" back in 5th grade and I forgot so much, it's like reading a brand new story.

I don't think I appreciated the humor or the beauty in the poems or songs that crop up from time to time. I'm glad I re-read this.

Truthfully, I relate to Bilbo Baggins so much in his wanting the little comforts of life, like a good hot cup of tea and a warm comfortable bed, oh and a good hot meal. let's not forget that!

I am really enjoying this book. It is my first of this kind. I see what I have been missing. I have not seen the movies at all. Didn’t think I would have an interest in them. Now I would love to see the movie. To see if my imagination is as vivid as the screen artist. On to the next chapter.

It's good to see Bilbo grow a pair of b***s and stand up for himself. He's really come into his own and proved his usefulness these past 4 chapters. The Dwarves are too quick to pin blame on him but without him they'd never have made it to the mountain. His talk of food makes me hungry a lot, though. Being on a week off from work means it's tempting to just gorge on food and he is REALLY making my stomach grumble at times lol.

This is my first time reading THE HOBBIT, and it is much more enjoyable than I anticipated. I am loving the vivid descriptions in this section, especially the encounter with spiders and Bilbo's meeting with Smaug. I like the way that even the bad/evil characters are complex and some are even endearing, like Smaug.

Bilbo rocks in these chapters. I've actually finished the book at this point but I am pretty sure it was chapter 12 that introduced the Arkenstone. You can see the mental development of Tolkein between the Hobbit (1937) and the Lord of the Rings (50's) in how the Arkenstone here hints at what the Ring will be in that trilogy. I won't say more than that because... spoilers.

I actually read these chapters in one sitting, which wasn't something that I thought I would do. I think it's easier to read this time and the chapters were really fast-paced. Bilbo's grows a lot as a character in this part of the book. Excited to finish this book because I can't remember how it endad when I last read it.

Krista wrote: "I'm still loving this book! Made it to ch 15 but realized I never commented after ch 12.

Oh boy the spiders. Ewww. I was very creeped out by that scene, as is the point I suppose.

I had totally..."


Yeah, the spiders are horrifying.

Also, I find it really funny how when the book starts, Bilbo's being dragged along by the dwarves, and by the time they get out of Mirkwood, he's almost turned into a mother hen/bodyguard for them.

kami wrote: "I read this book with a student, and I found reading it aloud to be tricky. It was a great exercise in reading the words on the page as written rather than reading for reading’s sake (as I often do..."

That's a good point about the different groups having different speaking patterns. I'm really noticing this time around how appealing Tolkien's writing rhythm is, but I don't think I caught that nuance.

Kate wrote: "This is my first time reading THE HOBBIT, and it is much more enjoyable than I anticipated. I am loving the vivid descriptions in this section, especially the encounter with spiders and Bilbo's mee..."

The Smaug vs. Bilbo scene is amazing! Such a great example of a battle of wills!