LOTR vs The Hobbit

[Maryjane]

Master believs in little people

 

[hodor]

Yes, but don't we all?

 

[polymorphikos]

I know several little people. Does that make me crazy?

I can remember all of the Hobbit pretty well, if I work my way through metally from beginning to end. I saw a stage production of it with gorgeous sets and costumes and kind of puppety thing for the main characters (and a really cool Smaug) for my birthday once, and it ranks as one of my all-time memories. Seing elves and orcs and wargs beat the effluvium out of one another in the flesh, and giant spiders, is not something that is forgotten lightly.

 

[hodor]

THAT was most interesting. I don't remember seeing the same production.

 

[The Master™]

is someone trying to say that "little people" don't exist??? now that is mean!!! there are leprechauns (i know, 'cos they keep pinching me jelly babies!!!), and fairies, and other such folk of myth and legend!!!

oh, and the voices in my head tell me i'm not crazy... if i can't believe them, who can i believe???

 

[hodor]

Look closely at the cat master. Look real close at the cat... You can believe the cat. The cat will tell you the truth.

 

[The Master™]

*stares wide eyed and vacant at the cat*

i...will...believe...the...cat...the...cat...tells...the...truth

*drools down shirt in a slack jawed fashion*

command...me...cat...i...am...your...willing...servant...

 

[Leto]

One lime to rule them all...

 

[The Master™]

and in the darkness juice them!!!

 

[hodor]

I will take over the world. All we have to do is bribe the mice with cheese. Master... your duty is to get the cheese.

 

[Morning Star]

Farmer Giles of Ham, now THAT was a good book, funny as hell.

 

[scalem X]

Well I would go for 'the hobbit'

 

[Syrio Forel]

I also will choose the Hobbit as my favorite of the two.

I read the Hobbit first when I was about 9 after listening to the audio tapes of the 1965 bbc radio dramatisation of it (This extreamly faithful to the novel, I highly recommend if anyone can get hold of a copy(not to be confuesd with the later narrated version) and I must say it remains in the the top 5 of my favorite books. Its short enough to read on a nice rainy sunday afternoon, has humor(the trolls, the dwarvish squabbles and other elements), excellent pace and yet does not neglect on the descriptive elements of Bilbo's surroundings. The book also gives tantalising clues and hints which make you want to learn more about Middle Earth (such as the mysterious evil Necromancer, the ring, Gollum, Radagast and Elrond amoungst others). There is just the right amount of action in it and even now brings a tear to my eye(even at the age of 25) when Thorin dies . To top it off is structured like all good books should- have a begining, middle and end.
Unfortuantly Tolkien was too thorough with LOTR, over descriptive and way to in-depth. If he wrote in the same style as the hobbit with a slightly more adult feel he would have had an even greater book to his name than he has today. I also can't forgive him for killing off my favorite dwarf- Balin.
Having said that LOTR is still miles better than most books of today and although long winded at times, still enjoyable as much to say I like to re-read it every few years or so.
One final note the two books compliment each other nicely and you get a much better insight from reading them.

 

[GOLLUM]

LOTR over The Hobbit any day of the week for me. I l;ook forward to the supposed movie they're planning to make on it.

 

[nixie]

I liked The Hobbit best

 

[Teir]

As a book which kept my interest – The Hobbit
LOTR was great in its scope; it was just easy to lose interest very quickly

 

[Syn]

i agree with some of you that the Hobbit was the better read and i therefor understand where you are coming from, it gives depth and history behind LOTR's as well as sets the scene.
i also agree with Teir, that it is very easy to loose interest while reading LOTR's, but as a carry on story it is ok i guess to read, but only in small sections.

 

[Marky Lazer]

I didn't read The Hobbit, so I opt for LOTR.

 

[scalem X]

In my opinion I think that one must read 'the hobbit' first and then lotr.
It's just when youn read the hobbit, you are just craving for more.

I must quote some part of meditations on middle earth (can't remember the writer. (no exact quote either but it illistrates the point)

After reading the hobbit I was like a zombie, but instead of wandering around I was searching trough piles of books. Instead of mumbling braaains braains I was mumbling tolkien tolkien

 

[Teir]

I didn't read The Hobbit, so I opt for LOTR.

tsk tsk, naughty boy. Go out and read it......right... about...NOW!
It adds such a huge dimension to LOTR. Without it, there are pieces missing. I agree with scalem x, it should be read. Not necessarily first, but read all the same.