"The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit - first of all - is a children's story about journeying. It's tone is playful even throughout the perhaps psychological and physical representations of the trauma of war (this was written between WWI and WWII) . There are huge spiders, evil trolls, and goblin battles, to name a few. These encounters that the hobbit (Bilbo Baggins), the dwarfs and elves have make them a team with the goal to retrieve the treasure that was wrongfully taken away from them (specifically from the dwarf Thorin Oakenshield) by yet another (recurring character in fantasy works) dragon, this one named Smaug. Gandalf the wizard acts as their guardian and teacher, offering kind words, advice, and support, the whole way, that is, the journey from the nice and homely place of Bag End to the dragon's lair at The Lonely Mountain. Bilbo Baggins is a naive jack-of-all-trades, even an odd-ball, and a partaker in pleasurable activities and hobbies, before he is practically pushed out of his comfortable home to join the dwarfs on their adventure. It is then he puts his talents to good use as a brilliant companion and wise "burglar". It is on this journey that the reader might learn some things. There is an importance placed on keeping on despite all obstacles; a survivalist stance is taken on all accounts. One must keep going despite who may be left behind with the faith that that one will catch up or be found and taken care of. To go on despite starvation, fear, et al. Visually, Tolkien describes a fantastical past history of a, perhaps, fictional Europe. Or is it is the Americas? There are natural expanses and gated castles filled with magical doorways and secret passageways built into the forest that any reader could easily get immersed and lost in. Much of the last half of the novel reminds me of something almost comedic, like 'Time Bandits' (movie, 1981), with the dwarfs almost schleping themselves to the end, even by placing themselves in barrels to get across a river, with Bilbo lagging behind. But Bilbo isn't actually lagging -he indeed is fighting his way, just like the rest of them, through the medieval labyrinthine maze that makes up the geography of The Hobbit. The novel may be about 30 pages too long, but the read is well worth it, as it traverses interestingly creepy places like Lake Town, where the heroic killer of the dragon is from. The Hobbit is a tale not to be missed.