The Best Audio Reading of the Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien discussion

The Hobbit > The Hobbit: Should I read information technology earlier LoTR?

Comments Showing one-50 of 50 (l new) post a annotate »

bulletin i: by Nelle (new)

Nelle (rhinoghost) Okay, then I'g planning on reading "The Lord of the rings" series. I have had it read information technology to me, I just don't call back information technology, well I recall a actually long epilouge, and long songs and poetry, I've decided to try to read the whole entire series, by starting over. I've been told sevral times to start with "The Hobbit", and I'k wondering why. Thanks then much for your help! :D

message two: by Michael (last edited Jan fifteen, 2012 08:00AM) (new)

Michael | 447 comments Mod
You tin can read J.R.R. Tolkien's LOTR without reading The Hobbit, merely I remember you would get more enjoyment if you exercise.

The Hobbit is a archetype in its ain right, as well as being an introduction to Middle-earth. You will larn more about the nature of Hobbits and dwarves, wizards and elves, you will understand more about Gollum and why Bilbo'south meeting with him was so important to the events of LOTR.

Nearly chiefly, you volition become to savor an incredibly good book. I'k jealous at the thought of you experiencing information technology for the first fourth dimension!

I beginning read The Hobbit nearly xl years ago when I was 8 and take read it dozens of times since, the terminal time just a couple of months ago. Each time it'south like a visit from an old friend, and I nevertheless find fiddling things that I hadn't noticed, or had forgotten.

Information technology's a relatively quick, and definitely rewarding, read. Exercise it, Nelle: y'all know information technology makes sense :-D


bulletin three: by [deleted user] (new)

Aye, Nelle, it would do well to read The Hobbit. Like Michael, I read it outset when I was quite young (most six years sometime, I think), and information technology is an extraordinarily complex and mature work of children's fiction, at least compared to nearly effectually these days. But not just the story and the fun of The Hobbit are worth exploring; the book comes out of a very different context from The Lord of the Rings, and the two are strikingly different. Tolkien was writing essentially a short novel in his own financial interests when he wrote The Hobbit; but by the time he was commissioned to write the sequel, his intentions and ideas had inverse substantially: The Lord of the Rings is a work of serious, mature epic prose that draws on all of Tolkien'southward mythology and language and personal themes and morals.

Not only is The Hobbit fun, but the difference and similarity between it and its sequel help one understand both Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings better.

I know I'g dragging on hither, just a good example of this is found in the character of Gollum. Tolkien's Gollum in The Hobbit was very different in the outset edition, and Tolkien inverse his motives and graphic symbol dramatically for the second edition afterwards he began writing The Lord of the Rings. If y'all can find a re-create of that scene (the affiliate 'Riddles in the Dark') from the starting time edition, I would encourage it. I once heard a Tolkien-scholar depict him while writing every bit 'flying blind': his ideas were so multitudinous and complex that he wasn't sure how to turn them into commercial fiction.

AND (ha ha!! lamentable for taking so much space) if y'all want to empathize The Hobbit a little better, read the novella Roverandom, a children's story about a toy dog his son had lost at the embankment. The Hobbit, I call up, is a very good median between the experience and aim of Roverandom, which was done essentially for the Hell of it (to be glib), and the very serious feel of The Lord of the Rings, by which time Tolkien realised that people wanted to meet and hear more than of his invented mythology and his vast fictional world.

OK, I'm done. Have fun with it!


bulletin 4: past Nelle (new)

Nelle (rhinoghost) Thank you Logan and Michael, the other people who told me to read "The Hobbit" beginning, gave no caption. Your opinions have helped alot. I volition showtime reading "The Hobbit" as soon as possible! (I have other reading projects I need to finish first). I will also check out the "Roverandom" book equally soon as possible! Thank you lot and then much for your help it is profoundly appreciated! :D

Michael | 447 comments Mod
Roverandom is a keen kids volume, but lots of humorous bits for adults to appreciate, too.

bulletin 6: by Sidhe (new)

Sidhe Prankster (sidheprankster) | 28 comments I may be a bot late to the party, simply I volition comment any way. :) The Lord of the Rings was originally supposed to be a sequel to the Hobbit, although it grew into an epic all its own. They substantially follow the aforementioned story, and that information technology 1 reason to read the Hobbit commencement. Another reason is because Tolkien wrote in a style that is a bit more formal and more intellectual than nigh modernistic fiction writers. If you do not often read historical or mythological works, yous may observe his elevated writing tone and primitive wording a picayune tough at first. Because the Hobbit was originally intended as a children'southward book, the fashion is a little more playful and less heightened. Therefore information technology may be better for some to read information technology showtime, and gradually conform to Tolkien'southward more than intellectual way. :) Besides, if you find yourself struggling with the Lord of the Rings, I urge yous to hire or stream the sound book while you read. I used that technique with my younger sister, and successfully turned her into an avid Ringer. ;)

bulletin 7: by [deleted user] (new)


message 8: by Nelle (new)

Nelle (rhinoghost) @ Sidhe. Thanks I'll try the sound book idea! I tried reading The Lord of the Rings first, and I had alot of problem keeping track, and so hopefully reading "The Hobbit" showtime volition aid. Thanks for your help!

Connor (connork) | 38 comments Besides, (nobody slap me please) if yous can't go through the prologue in LOTR, skip it. I've never read it. I've started it, but information technology is very........... not entertaining. ;)

Michael | 447 comments Mod
Connor wrote: "Also, (nobody slap me delight) if you can't get through the prologue in LOTR, skip it. I've never read it. I've started information technology, just it is very........... not entertaining. ;)"

Why, you little....! ;-)


message 11: by [deleted user] (new)

The prologue is largely superfluous to the plot, simply it does enhance the reality of Tolkien'southward world, which, of course, is essential to Fantasy (far more than it is in fiction that deals with the existent earth).

Connor (connork) | 38 comments Michael wrote: "Connor wrote: "Also, (nobody slap me please) if you lot can't get through the prologue in LOTR, skip it. I've never read it. I've started it, but information technology is very........... not entertaining. ;)"

Why, you 50..."

At least you didn't slap me. ;)


bulletin xiii: by Dena (new)

Dena (auntiedena72) True, you can read Lord of the Rings without reading The Hobbit. Lord of the Rings tin can stand alone. But when I read the serial, I decided to start with The Hobbit because the events in information technology takes place 60 years before the events in the Lord of the Rings. And at that place are a few referances to The Hobbit in the Lord of the Rings that yous would understand ameliorate if y'all read The Hobbit first.

Stefan Yates (stefan31) | 127 comments Modern

Amalie  | 24 comments I as well experience the same mode every bit Dena and Stefan above me. I read "The Hobbit" after reading "Lord of the Rings" and I had no trouble enjoying both to the fullest.

The finding the band is non really a major upshot in "The Hobbit" it'southward a subplot or something. Other than that it depends on the readers age. Equally others have explained hither.


Michael | 447 comments Mod
But A Long-Expected Party (kickoff affiliate of LoTR) is rather light-hearted and leads gently into the more serious tone of the longer work.

I would agree that it doesn't actually matter which you read outset, but if you haven't read either information technology'due south just kind of logical to start with the earlier of the two. Plus LoTR contains some "spoilers" for The Hobbit if you haven't read that already.

Suffice to say, you'll likely relish them both regardless of the order you read them in.


Stefan Yates (stefan31) | 127 comments Mod

L | 132 comments I did read 'the lord of the rings' long before the hobbit, hence i would recomend that you lot read the hobbit showtime as information technology does assist to set the scene, earlier i is introduced to Bilbo and Frodo. Knowing the history between Bilbo and Gandalf first is helpful and i retrieve that you would savour LOTR more if y'all read them in this club (not that there is a gear up society).

message nineteen: past Sean (new)

Sean (carcosa) | 16 comments Actually not only would I read the Hobbit first, merely I would as well read the Silmarillion and Lost Tales first to give you a feel for the history of Middle globe before you become into LOTR. Then again possibly you should simply save those before you reread LOTR similar I'thou doing now.

Definitely read the Hobbit get-go though.


Danielle Marks I read LotR before The Hobbit and I didn't feel information technology fabricated whatsoever divergence in my eventual enjoyment of the latter (I sandwiched The Silmarillion betwixt the two). I'd say go with whatever seems more interesting offset, though if y'all plan on see The Hobbit movie in Dec, you might desire to get that one finished, first and LotR is decidedly more fourth dimension consuming.

Helena Greenfield | 3 comments I read The Hobbit first, but I think it doesn't brand that much of a difference which i you read offset or second. I'd personally read Hobbit outset, but eitherway round is fine.

message 22: by John (new)

John Karr (karr) | 4 comments The Hobbit should definitely exist read first for continuity sake. It is there nosotros are first introduced the darkly seductive power of The Ring, and the creatures of Heart Earth, including Bilbo.

L | 132 comments John wrote: "The Hobbit should definitely be read start for continuity sake. It is in that location nosotros are first introduced the darkly seductive power of The Ring, and the creatures of Middle Earth, including Bilbo."

I exercise concur.


The Peregrine Shepherd | 8 comments Reading The Hobbit first would serve well if you wanted to 'innovate' yourself to Eye Earth. However, I personally read LOTR first, which gave The Hobbit that extra dimension, knowing everything that was to come.

In the end though, information technology doesn't actually thing that much.


message 25: by Alex (new)

Alex Aye exercise read The Hobbit kickoff. Just because it was released commencement and introduces Gandalf and Bilbo and merely because it's a easy way to get into Tolkien and how he writes and all.

message 26: by Tara (new)

Tara (pinlynne) | 4 comments Reading "The Hobbit" is not crucial to understanding "The Lord of the Rings", but information technology would give you an understanding of Eye World. I read LOTR first and and so read the Hobbit. I read all at least in one case a twelvemonth! Enjoy!

Brandon | 10 comments Like if yous can't await for the Hobbit to come out this December!

Gianluca (gianlucag) | 3 comments Both LotR and The Hobbit are stand up-alone novels and don't demand each other to exist properly understood. However, The Hobbit is a groovy book and a perfect introduction to Heart-earth and its chief characters.
I recommend reading it before The Lord of the Rings.

Joanne | 79 comments hey, Nelle, i read the Hobbit when i took I form in Children's Lit at U.Ç.Riverside and didn't much treat it, Only my teacher recommended LOTR (this was in 1964 before any fame or fortune had come up to Tolkien). So I just picked up "The Fellowship of the Band" at the Pomona Library. I couldn't put it down (even tho I had 4 Children to care for. I have been a fan always since. I regret I never wrote to TRR earlier he died. My husband once played Gandalf on stage and did a bang-up job---LOTR is like existence inside all the great fairy stories, I read them when I experience depressed and need to be lifted. I read The Hobbit after and only then loved it.

bulletin 30: by Samuel (last edited Sep 29, 2012 05:46AM) (new)

Samuel Medina | 5 comments I'd go for the Hobbit first, just to get your feet wet in the world of middle earth. Yous don't have to, only it will enhance the reading of LOTR in a big fashion.

Joshua Dyer | 3 comments In that location And Dorsum Again will give you a fiddling more of the backstory that might help you to empathise what'due south going on in the trilogy. A few of the characters appear in both works. I would hesitate to say that it'southward mandatory to read information technology first, simply information technology would certainly brand LoTR meliorate.

Dakota | 1 comments So happy i constitute this discussion! I accept been wanting to read LotR and didn't know if i should read the Hobbit first. I will defiantly be picking up the Hobbit mon morning when the library opens.:) I feel like I have been living under a rock, I accept non even watched the movies and I am a Junior in loftier school!

message 33: by Kevis (concluding edited Dec 01, 2012 07:07PM) (new)

Kevis Hendrickson (kevishendrickson) | 20 comments I'm one of those readers who missed out on reading Tolkien as a kid (even though I saw the Cartoons). When I finally got around to reading the books, I had a hard fourth dimension getting my hands on the professor'south books from the library, as they were always--and I do hateful--always rented out. I got tired of waiting to read the books in literary order, then I decided to grab the only book that was available to me and that was The Silmarillion. Fortunately, I'm a fan of mythology and archetype literature, so it made my introduction to Tolkien much easier than the average reader. I dived right into 'Rings" after that and really stopped after reading The Two Towers so I could read The Hobbit. Only afterwards, did I go on to read The Render of the Rex.

Having read the books in this haphazard lodge, I highly recommend readers to start with The Hobbit. As others accept mentioned, it's the most reader-friendly of the Heart-Earth books and volition gear up the storyline for "Rings" for you. If you read Rings first, you lot'll miss some of the references to The Hobbit and lose some of the impact of the cyclic nature of the tales.


message 34: by Reyna (new)

Reyna Shruti (aiedail49) | 2 comments If you desire to get-go correct at the very beginning then yous should read The Silmarillion. That manner you'll know how Centre Earth was created and all merely its a long complicated history. The Hobbit is a lot easier to read and its more than fun likewise. Information technology would be better to read it before reading LOTR because that way yous'd sympathize Hobbits and Dwarves ameliorate and information technology provides the perfect dorsum story to the trilogy.

Jonathan The Hobbit has e'er been a fun read for me. I started to reread over Thanksgiving and I know I am farther along than the first movie. Read it now earlier the pic put images in your caput.

Stefan Yates (stefan31) | 127 comments Modern
Kevis wrote: "I got tired of waiting to read the books in literary order, so I decided to take hold of the just book that was available to me and that was The Silmarillion. Fortunately, I'm a fan of mythology and classic literature, and so it made my introduction to Tolkien much easier than the boilerplate reader."

I take to give you kudos on reading The Silmarillion first and getting through it then continuing on to LOTR and The Hobbit. I thoroughly enjoyed The Silmarillion, but having already read the other books and loved them, helped my in navigating my way through The Silmarillion tremendously. It'due south a not bad volume, but I would never advise that someone new to Tolkien read information technology before getting comfortable with his world and mode.

That said, The Hobbit is really the all-time place to start. Information technology eases the reader in to Middle Globe in a fun fashion and gives a lot of good groundwork to prepare the reader for LOTR.


bulletin 37: by Kevis (final edited December 03, 2012 06:41PM) (new)

Kevis Hendrickson (kevishendrickson) | 20 comments Stefan wrote: "I have to give y'all kudos on reading The Silmarillion starting time and getting through it then standing on to LOTR and The Hobbit. I thoroughly enjoyed The Silmarillion, but having already read the other books and loved them, helped my in navigating my manner through The Silmarillion tremendously. Information technology's a great volume, but I would never suggest that someone new to Tolkien read information technology earlier getting comfy with his world and style."

I agree, Stefan. The Silmarillion is my best favorite book, simply I wouldn't dare recommend anyone to start their education of Tolkien with it. Aside from the sheer size of the book, its contents would scare abroad most readers who aren't familiar with mythic tales. The Hobbit, on the other hand, is the perfect way to familiarize oneself with Middle World. In fact, if the new movie lives upwardly to its billing (and I have no reason to retrieve information technology won't), I'd recommend movie goers to offset in that location before watching The Lord of Rings too.


Carolyn (penny73lane) I concur with everyone that you'll want to read The Hobbit first. I had read half of information technology a few years before I read The Lord of the Rings and equally soon as I finished LOTR I went dorsum to read The Hobbit. Yous can read the LOTR firsts merely you will want to read The Hobbit when your washed and so you might besides starting time with information technology!!

bulletin 39: by Misty (new)

Misty Karen (mistykaren) | 2 comments a friend told me that if i want to read the series in a chronological manner I should start with The Silmarillion. Withal when I read it, information technology was a petty bit too much in my kickoff endeavor of Tolkien's works. And so, now I just decided to read The Hobbit first instead. :)

message 40: by Dena (new)

Dena (auntiedena72) I read The Hobbit earlier I read LOTR because I heard there was some referances in LOTR that happened in the Hobbit. And the Hobbit takes palce 60 years earlier the events in LOTR then to me it only made sense to read The Hobbit first.

Pippalotrfan | 2 comments Yes, information technology was written first therefore Tolkien intended for it to be read get-go :)

message 42: by Mae (last edited May 25, 2013 02:58PM) (new)

Mae (pitzpalu) | 2 comments I agree with the general consensus in here and advise reading The Hobbit first.
My hubby went directly to LOTR and he only doesn`t take the same honey for Bilbo every bit I accept.
I read The Hobbit as a teenager and went straight to LOTR. I`ve been re-reading every couple of years since.

I likewise dear Roverandom, information technology is pure Tolkien, enchanting and very sugariness.


Brooke | 8 comments I am reading The Hobbit right at present. I simply checked it out from the library. Fun read.

message 44: by Erin (new)

Erin Kahn | 36 comments Brooke wrote: "I am reading The Hobbit correct now. I just checked it out from the library. Fun read."

Enjoy! It'south pretty awesome.


message 45: by Anne (new)

Anne Gazzolo | 390 comments Mod
Erin wrote: "Brooke wrote: "I am reading The Hobbit right at present. I just checked it out from the library. Fun read."

Enjoy! It'due south pretty awesome."

And the book is much amend than the movie in my opinion.

Namarie, God bless, Anne Marie :)


Ashley Clark (lit_queen) | 1 comments I'd definitely say read it because information technology familiarizes you with the world and some of he creatures and locations mentioned in The Lord of the rings trilogy, not to mention in that location is a lot of referencing in the offset part of the fellowship which might become you lost and confused. Personally information technology does brand the whole story more than enjoyable and easier to understand since you met virtually half the cast or relations to them at to the lowest degree beforehand.

message 47: past Steve (new)

Steve Finegan | 5 comments Yes.

message 48: by John (new)

John Rosegrant | 51 comments Haha! An respond that is short and sweet and correct.

Llionora I've honestly read it after The Lord of the Rings, just considering I've met the latter kickoff. I cannot say I regret that, since has been rather sweet to know improve Bilbo and his story knowing already the struggles he had to endure in his terminal years and the story of the Ring itself.
So, what I can tell you is this: Should you read information technology before The Lord of the Rings? It depends. For me, it has been better this way, reading it later on, because I couldn't take been able to appreciated it and it could take put me off Tolkien altogether. And so, knowing what you at present know well-nigh them and about how dissimilar they are from each other, yous tin make a choice based on your tastes.
(I promise I didn't explain myself too poorly, English is not my beginning language!)

message l: by Anne (new)

Anne Gazzolo | 390 comments Mod
Eleonora wrote: "I've honestly read it after The Lord of the Rings, merely because I've met the latter beginning. I cannot say I regret that, since has been rather sweet to know better Bilbo and his story knowing already..."

You did great, Eleanora - if you hadn't said so, I wouldn't fifty-fifty take known English was not your outset. :)

I read The Hobbit later LOTR as well and enjoyed information technology in that order besides.

Namarie, God bless, Anne Marie :)


back to superlative
Add a reference:

Search for a book to add a reference

add:    link cover


Flag Abuse

Flagging a post will ship information technology to the Goodreads Customer Intendance team for review. We accept corruption seriously in our discussion boards. Only flag comments that conspicuously need our attending. As a full general rule we do not conscience whatsoever content on the site. The only content nosotros volition consider removing is spam, slanderous attacks on other members, or extremely offensive content (eg. pornography, pro-Nazi, child abuse, etc). Nosotros will not remove whatsoever content for bad language alone, or being critical of a particular book.

Welcome back. But a moment while we sign y'all in to your Goodreads business relationship.

Login animation

watkincamither.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/707430-the-hobbit-should-i-read-it-before-lotr

0 Response to "The Best Audio Reading of the Hobbit"

Post a Comment

Iklan Atas Artikel

Iklan Tengah Artikel 1

Iklan Tengah Artikel 2

Iklan Bawah Artikel