The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien | Rating: ★★★★★

"Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, and all courses may run ill.”

It took me quite a while to see it, but in recent months I’ve finally seen the light when it comes to this delightful adventure that J.R.R. Tolkien provided for us. The middle-earth is a much beloved world of fantasy that will continue to delight generations to come and once again, reminds me what it’s like to believe in a world so magical and mysterious. There’s nothing quite like this world Tolkien created for us and it welcomes us back each time, embracing us like an old friend.

The Fellowship of the Ring, the first in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, naturally reads similar to The Hobbit and for me it feels as warm and comfortable as your favorite childhood bedtime story. There’s something about this world and these adventures that brings a fantasy to live and transport you to a childlike state of mind. It’s an absolute gift to literature and I can’t believe I went much of my life without getting into it.

My favorite part of The Hobbit was Bilbo and I was absolutely delighted by the character making appearances throughout this story as well. He’s such a fun character to read about and I loved his ‘last hurrah’ at the shire before handing over his home and more to Frodo. Fortunately for us, Frodo is just as loveable as Bilbo and really makes me love both hobbits all the more in his adventures and troubles. How awesome are hobbits?! C'mon!

The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien | Rating: ★★★★★

"There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after."

My father has always been a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's works and, because of this, he has been on my case to read this since my early teens. I'd avoided it for quite some time because while it appealed to me, I've always picked something over it when it came down to the moment I'd read something or start a new series. I'm not sure why I did that. In fact, I'd rather like to smack myself upside the head because I adored this book. I mean, really, what took me so long?

I'm clearly a fool. But don't worry -- my father's got enough scolding and eye rolling in my direction cover you. Seriously.

The Hobbit was a vivid and delightful ride to take. As soon as you open it, you understand almost instantly why it's referred to as a classic. It's just so good. It instantly captures your attention and you have a warm interest in the story as it's told. I felt as though someone comfortable and familiar was reading it to me -- almost like a childhood bedtime story. The world that Tolkien creates is as clear and fascinating as your favorite painting or movie. He really, really allowed our imaginations to run freely with his creation and that's the very best part about his writing; he transports us to a different time and a different world.