2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This month we will be reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

This book was nominated by Bernadette for our monthly theme Perseverance.

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.
Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when it was first published in 1937. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent.

Now I'm sad I have already read this one this year. I hope you all enjoy it!

For those who are considering the audiobook, Audible has a version read by Andy Serkis who played Gollum in the recent film versions of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. He does an excellent job, especially with the voices of the various characters (not so great on the singing parts though I must admit) and I really enjoyed it. Just a suggestion for those of you who are considering jumping in for this group read, especially if you've already read the book before.

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "For those who are considering the audiobook, Audible has a version read by Andy Serkis who played Gollum in the recent film versions of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. He does an excellent job, e..."

I finished an audio last week that was read by Rob Inglis. In case that's the only version you see when looking, he does an excellent job as well. This book was so outside my wheelhouse that I knew it would be better for me to listen to it than read it myself. This was much more enjoyable than I thought it would be!

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "For those who are considering the audiobook, Audible has a version read by Andy Serkis who played Gollum in the recent film versions of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. He does an excellent job, e..."

I love Andy Serkis's The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. I was going to suggest the same thing, especially for people who have already read the book and/or are fans of the movies.

I won't be reading along this month as I did just listen to it again a few months ago. Enjoy!

Thank you for suggesting the audible version. I love rob inglis’s audio version and of course the print book, but I will enjoy this group read I’m sure.

I was always interested in reading this book but never got around to it! Excited to read this with you all in September and appreciate the needed motivation to finally pick it up :)

I would never read this book on my own (not huge into fantasy), but this is good motivation as Mikaela said. I’ll give it a go!

Thanks for the audiobook recs. That may be the way to go for me.

I enjoyed this one as a teenager, when I actually had time to read books. I think I have listened to it twice as an adult, although I do not remember the narrator. It is possible I have listened to a couple different versions.

Anyway, whether your read or listen, I hope you enjoy this one!

In conjunction with Randy's recommendation of the Andy Serkis audiobook, I just wanted to link the live reading he did back in 2020:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flpxd...

The audio is, however, kind of low volume, so I recommend headphones and you'd still need to turn it all the way up, because even then, it's not extraordinarily loud.

And, for anyone interested in the genius that is Andy Serkis as a voice-actor, below is a short interview of him talking with Stephen Colbert about recording The Hobbit for Audible:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7XMG...

Just ordered the audio version from the library. They did not have the version you suggest but I can get the one read by (John Ronald Reuel),

Lisa wrote: "In conjunction with Randy's recommendation of the Andy Serkis audiobook, I just wanted to link the live reading he did back in 2020:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flpxd...

The audio is, howev..."

Thanks for this...I will look at the youtube interview.

Here's a little lengthier one (15 minutes).
This time for HarperCollins, where he talks more in general about the enduring popularity of The Hobbit, as well as the experience of recording the audiobook vs. the movie. Among other things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mcy8...

I read this in highschool, and I wasn't planning on re-reading it, but all this talk of Andy Serkis might've changed my mind 😀

It occurred to me that if you have a smart TV, that can access Youtube, you'd be able to follow along on the live reading that way (link in previous comment above).

That's what I plan on doing anyways - with some popcorn/snacks and wine, it'll be like a movie night :D

As a big Tolkien nut, I have read the Hobbit many times, the first time I was 6, the last time I was well into my 30s, and I think I didn't properly appreciate the book until I was well into my 20s and deep into Tolkien and could appreciate how it fits within his world-building. But even on its own it is a delightful little tale and I hope you all enjoy it.

Finally started reading this book. It's been on my 'Want to Read' list for a while. I'm grateful that this book was chosen for this month; it's providing much-needed motivation! Thank you.

It's been a long time since I read The Hobbit; I think the last time I was in middle school and now I'm a full-fledged adult who's been meaning to pick this up! I hope I am able to pick up more details than I did as a kid.

Happy reading :)

I dislike how the book's series displays as "Lord of the Rings #0". Although it technically makes sense, it feels like a disservice to The Hobbit to call it zero in any way. It's not like some, I dunno, urban fantasy prequel. It's the OG! Why isn't Fellowship of the Ring "The Hobbit #2"?

Just a little rant, thank you.