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howlinglibraries 's review for:
The Hobbit: or There and Back Again
by J.R.R. Tolkien
This is a tough review to write. Let me go ahead and get this out there: I hate reading classics. I used to be really afraid to admit that, but I've accepted the inevitable judgment and have to be honest about it now. With very few exceptions, I do not enjoy them, and I find them to be boring and hard to trudge through.
Tolkien, however, was a writer who I have said many times I consider to be one of the single most influential and imaginative artists in all of literary history. He created a world that was so fleshed out, and impacted the world so strongly, I am truly convinced that the fantasy books we read today would be vastly different without his efforts having paved the way for so many creators. For that aspect alone, this book is worth 5 beaming, shining, solid stars.
On the other hand, it took me five tries to finish this damn book. I have been trying to read it my entire adult and teen life, and honestly thought I would DNF it again this time. While it's a gorgeous world full of lovable, interesting characters and creatures, it's an absolute chore to get through. If this were a story that had been published within the last decade or two, and hadn't been so damn creative for its time, this would probably be a 2-star review for how utterly bored I was during most of it.
All of that said and done, I have to acknowledge the previous gushing I offered up on Tolkien as a creator, as well as the fact that I already know I hate reading classics, and my boredom was just as much my own fault as anyone else's... so, I'm going to set this at 4 stars. I know my rating system for this review may not make a lot of sense to some of my friends and followers, but after a few days of deliberating, it's the decision I felt most comfortable with.
You can find this review and more on my blog, or you can follow me on twitter, bookstagram, or facebook!
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Original pre-review:
This will be my fifth time starting this book, and I am determined to finally finish it, with the help of my amazing buddy reading partner, Terry!
Tolkien, however, was a writer who I have said many times I consider to be one of the single most influential and imaginative artists in all of literary history. He created a world that was so fleshed out, and impacted the world so strongly, I am truly convinced that the fantasy books we read today would be vastly different without his efforts having paved the way for so many creators. For that aspect alone, this book is worth 5 beaming, shining, solid stars.
On the other hand, it took me five tries to finish this damn book. I have been trying to read it my entire adult and teen life, and honestly thought I would DNF it again this time. While it's a gorgeous world full of lovable, interesting characters and creatures, it's an absolute chore to get through. If this were a story that had been published within the last decade or two, and hadn't been so damn creative for its time, this would probably be a 2-star review for how utterly bored I was during most of it.
All of that said and done, I have to acknowledge the previous gushing I offered up on Tolkien as a creator, as well as the fact that I already know I hate reading classics, and my boredom was just as much my own fault as anyone else's... so, I'm going to set this at 4 stars. I know my rating system for this review may not make a lot of sense to some of my friends and followers, but after a few days of deliberating, it's the decision I felt most comfortable with.
You can find this review and more on my blog, or you can follow me on twitter, bookstagram, or facebook!
---
Original pre-review:
This will be my fifth time starting this book, and I am determined to finally finish it, with the help of my amazing buddy reading partner, Terry!