The Hobbit Read-Along discussion

This week we're reading chapters 1 and 2, and (spoilers ahead!) covered a fair bit of information. Anything related to these chapters can be discussed on this thread, but some questions/ideas to consider are:

"An Unexpected Party" is Tolkien's earliest opportunity to introduce hobbits to the world. What do you think of his portrayal/explanation of hobbits (either on their own, or in comparison to the dwarves, or even the way hobbits are described later in Lord of the Rings.) What do you think of the way Tolkien writes about ADVENTURES? How does Gandalf fit into this story? If you've read LotR, what do you think about the way trolls are portrayed in The Hobbit as opposed to Tolkien's later stories?

And we already see Bilbo's Baggins vs Took conflict in these early chapters (but remember there's a whole separate thread for that discussion, if you want.)

I love how Tolkien describes Hobbits in this book, even if there isn't a whole introduction like in LOTR, you can still picture a Hobbit in your mind. Gandalf is really mysterious along the story, but I loved the mention of Dol Guldur and how he found Thrain, I totally forgot where that part was (I thought it was in The Unfinished Tales!).

When I first read The Hobbit, I was eight years old and technically my Grampa was the one reading it to me. The way Tolkien started the book, "In a hole in the ground..." and the following descriptions of Hobbits and the Shire completely drew my wee eight year old self right into the book. I could completely envision this cute halfing, all fat and caramel-coloured with brown flyaway corkscrew curls. I especially loved their furry feet.

One thing I didn't like (and this is probably aka is totally because I'm a girl), but I hated that Belladonna had no more adventures after marrying Bungo. I mean, I understand the time Tolkien was living in, but MAN! Why can't wives have kick-butt adventures? Can you imagine Belladonna taking baby!Bilbo on an adventure in the Blue Mountains with grumpy!Bungo griping about every single step they take? And then baby!Bilbo accidentally bumps into Thorin and Dwalin? Ha!

#teamtook #samisalo

Dani wrote: "When I first read The Hobbit, I was eight years old and technically my Grampa was the one reading it to me. The way Tolkien started the book, "In a hole in the ground..." and the following descript..."

I would 100% love to read about Belladonna taking her boys on adventures. "I told you, if you want more of that tea, Bungo, we have to go quite a long ways to fetch some. No, no. Trolls are no bother-- of course it's perfectly safe for Bilbo."

I like to believe that the Narrator is actually an older Bilbo and refers to himself as though he were a separate person. Which in a way he is, so much younger. It also make the jabs the Narrator takes at Bilbo all the funnier. My point being, Bilbo might not have known about Belladonna's adventures after her marriage and assumed she found a better one in marrying Bungo.