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Ryan's Reviews > The Hobbit
The Hobbit
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by
Ryan's review
bookshelves: dnf, 2-star, not-my-cup-of-tea, that-cover-though, mixed-feelings, library
Nov 09, 2016
bookshelves: dnf, 2-star, not-my-cup-of-tea, that-cover-though, mixed-feelings, library
Unpopular opinion time: I don't like The Hobbit.
Before all of you start hating me forever, please, hear me out. I truly respect J. R.R Tolkien. If I'm not mistaken, this was one of the first really popular fantasy books ever written. And fantasy just happens to be my favourite genre. So you can see why I really wanted to like this book. I wanted to like it so much, in fact, that I have tried to read it three times now. But each time, I have had to DNF it.
I love The Lord of the Rings movies. I love The Hobbit movies. But I cannot, for the life of me, finish this book.
Allow me to explain:
Three Perfectly Logical Reasons As to Why Ryan Can't Finish The Hobbit, So Please Don't Hate Her, Thank You
1) The writing style is just not for me.
I love beautiful descriptions in books, but when the description has been going on for more than four sentences, I'm out. I get it. It's a really nice tree. Just get back to the story.
2) The plot dragged on.
Not much seemed to be happening. I can't even remember 90% of what little I read. A 366 page book somehow managed to seem like an 800 page book. It was tedious.
3) I've already seen the movies.
Now before you shout, "SACRILEGE, HOW CAN YOU LIKE THE MOVIES AND NOT THE BOOK!" let me reiterate the fact that I've tried reading this book three times. After the supposed "third time's a charm" attempt failed, I moved on to the films. And I really enjoyed them. (Well, I didn't like how they stretched one book into three movies, but that's a discussion for another time.) The movies managed to keep everything I liked about the book, and cut out everything I didn't. Lovable characters and awesome world? Check. No overly-descriptive writing? Check.
If you're one of those many people who adore this book with all of your heart and soul, great for you! I'm glad you liked it. It's just not for me.
(And no, I will not try to finish this book again. That'd make four failed attempts. I've got to draw the line somewhere.)
Before all of you start hating me forever, please, hear me out. I truly respect J. R.R Tolkien. If I'm not mistaken, this was one of the first really popular fantasy books ever written. And fantasy just happens to be my favourite genre. So you can see why I really wanted to like this book. I wanted to like it so much, in fact, that I have tried to read it three times now. But each time, I have had to DNF it.
I love The Lord of the Rings movies. I love The Hobbit movies. But I cannot, for the life of me, finish this book.
Allow me to explain:
Three Perfectly Logical Reasons As to Why Ryan Can't Finish The Hobbit, So Please Don't Hate Her, Thank You
1) The writing style is just not for me.
I love beautiful descriptions in books, but when the description has been going on for more than four sentences, I'm out. I get it. It's a really nice tree. Just get back to the story.
2) The plot dragged on.
Not much seemed to be happening. I can't even remember 90% of what little I read. A 366 page book somehow managed to seem like an 800 page book. It was tedious.
3) I've already seen the movies.
Now before you shout, "SACRILEGE, HOW CAN YOU LIKE THE MOVIES AND NOT THE BOOK!" let me reiterate the fact that I've tried reading this book three times. After the supposed "third time's a charm" attempt failed, I moved on to the films. And I really enjoyed them. (Well, I didn't like how they stretched one book into three movies, but that's a discussion for another time.) The movies managed to keep everything I liked about the book, and cut out everything I didn't. Lovable characters and awesome world? Check. No overly-descriptive writing? Check.
If you're one of those many people who adore this book with all of your heart and soul, great for you! I'm glad you liked it. It's just not for me.
(And no, I will not try to finish this book again. That'd make four failed attempts. I've got to draw the line somewhere.)
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
November 9, 2016
– Shelved
November 9, 2016
– Shelved as:
dnf
November 9, 2016
– Shelved as:
2-star
November 9, 2016
– Shelved as:
not-my-cup-of-tea
November 16, 2016
– Shelved as:
that-cover-though
November 16, 2016
– Shelved as:
mixed-feelings
November 16, 2016
– Shelved as:
library
Comments Showing 1-50 of 53 (53 new)
message 1:
by
Liz Kowal
(new)
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rated it 5 stars
Nov 16, 2016 10:59PM
Aw. So sad. This is my favorite book of all time, my dad would read it to me when I was really little. So bummed you can't finish it... but I would never HATE you!
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Oh I agree this book was struggle city
Elizabeth (alaskanbookventures) wrote: "Aw. So sad. This is my favorite book of all time, my dad would read it to me when I was really little. So bummed you can't finish it... but I would never HATE you!"Phew *wipes forehead* Glad to know you could never hate me XD <3 But I know, I was so disappointed that I didn't like it. I love the characters, and I love the world, but the writing and the plot was a deal breaker for me, unfortunately.
☽Luna☾ wrote: "Oh I agree this book was struggle city"Yep. I much prefer the films (it's so weird saying that, I normally prefer the book over the movie....).
Note to Ryan: stay away from China Melville if four sentence descriptions get you frustrated. He is a full page or two description kind of guy. I swear, in Peridido street station he used half a page to describe the color of a wall and the dust on the shelves.Well crafted review Ryan, can't fault your opinion since you articulated so well.
Ugh
I enjoy your honesty, Ryan. What makes me a little sad is to see that you had to pad the review with justifications from apparent onslaught. However, you laid it out clearly and made sense of it all. Trust me, even a thoroughly animated audiobook version (of this and LotR) was painful for me. Thank you for being honest and open in your thinking.
Brenda wrote: "Ugh"I know... I am jealous I could not write such a raw and honest review as well.
Lee wrote: "Note to Ryan: stay away from China Melville if four sentence descriptions get you frustrated. He is a full page or two description kind of guy. I swear, in Peridido street station he used half a pa..."Half a page for a wall colour? Wow. Not for me then. And thank you very much, Lee :)
Brenda wrote: "Ugh"Sorry, Brenda. It just wasn't my thing.
Matt wrote: "I enjoy your honesty, Ryan. What makes me a little sad is to see that you had to pad the review with justifications from apparent onslaught. However, you laid it out clearly and made sense of it al..."Thank you, Matt! I think I might have gone a little over the top with the, "It's just my opinion" warning, but I wanted to make it clear, haha.
Your use of gifs makes you queen. Love the review!!
мαүғℓσωεя wrote: "Your use of gifs makes you queen. Love the review!!"
Aw, thanks, May! <3 It's never a review of mine without a multitude of gifs ;)
Ryan wrote: "Matt wrote: "I enjoy your honesty, Ryan. What makes me a little sad is to see that you had to pad the review with justifications from apparent onslaught. However, you laid it out clearly and made s..."I know all too well that some bring out the knives and clubs, forgetting that for most of us, this site is a place to lay honesty and encourage 'constructive' commentaries.
Matt wrote: "Ryan wrote: "Matt wrote: "I enjoy your honesty, Ryan. What makes me a little sad is to see that you had to pad the review with justifications from apparent onslaught. However, you laid it out clear..."That's what I was worried of. But so far, I haven't encountered any knives, or clubs, so I think my warning worked. And I completely agree with you. This site is for readers to share their thoughts on books. Not everyone can like every book, that's impossible.
I totally agree! I had to read it for class and I just couldn´t finish it. I enjoy classics with some levels of descriptive writing but I just found this so boring. I love the films and would love to give the books another go out of school. I would also recommend not reading Victor Hugo (especially Les Miserables) as it´s crazy descriptive!
Angélique wrote: "I totally agree! I had to read it for class and I just couldn´t finish it. I enjoy classics with some levels of descriptive writing but I just found this so boring. I love the films and would love ..."Really? Aw, I was looking forward to Les Miserables, haha. Glad you agree, though :)
Elizabeth, the sing-song did not intrigue you? :-)
I respect your opinion, Ryan. See, I love The Hobbit, but I'm currently struggling through The Lord of the Rings, which I've never been able to complete. It's just so dense. But I agree that the movies for all of them are more enjoyable.
Celeste, even the audio on those is painful for those not obsessed with the genre.
I loved this book but I mean we can't all love every single popular book out there. I know I've certainly not gotten why some are so beloved. I didn't really enjoy The Lord of the Rings books, I struggled really hard and I remember nothing about them lol I love the movies though. As for The Hobbit, I like the book much more than the movie.
It took me a month to read this book(I refused to DNF it), I completely agree and understand! <3
Same. I'm not really a fan of The Hobbit. I read the book like three years ago but wasn't able to finish it as I'm not a fan of fantasy.
Kinda like when I tried -multiple times- to finish The Two Towers because I love the ROTR movies but just couldn't. It felt like the book was in a slow motion so slowwww. Well, at least we both love the movies right , so that must count for something..?
Elizabeth wrote: "I couldn't even finish the audiobook of this, and all you have to do with that is listen while you go about your daily activities. orz"Yikes. That doesn't sound good.
Celeste wrote: "I respect your opinion, Ryan. See, I love The Hobbit, but I'm currently struggling through The Lord of the Rings, which I've never been able to complete. It's just so dense. But I agree that the mo..."Thank you, Celeste :)
Melanie wrote: "I loved this book but I mean we can't all love every single popular book out there. I know I've certainly not gotten why some are so beloved. I didn't really enjoy The Lord of the Rings books, I st..."Very true, we can't all love every popular book. Like I said, that's humanly impossible.
Tabi wrote: "It took me a month to read this book(I refused to DNF it), I completely agree and understand! <3"Glad you agree, Tabi! <3
Seema wrote: "Same. I'm not really a fan of The Hobbit. I read the book like three years ago but wasn't able to finish it as I'm not a fan of fantasy."I can see why you wouldn't like it then. I really thought I would because I love fantasy so much. I guess not, haha.
oh! lainey wrote: "Kinda like when I tried -multiple times- to finish The Two Towers because I love the ROTR movies but just couldn't. It felt like the book was in a slow motion so slowwww. Well, at least we both lov..."It definitely counts for something XD
The same here. I love watching the movie but not the book. -.-
Garden of Eden wrote: "The same here. I love watching the movie but not the book. -.-"There are actually quite a few people who share my opinion then, wow. I'm glad you agree :)
Everybody's tastes are different, there are many books that my friends have disliked and I absolutely loved or vice versa. That's what makes us unique. That being said I loved The Hobbit! It was one of the books that helped me fall in love with reading at a young age and I haven't stopped since! But again not everyone's tastes are the same. That's what makes us unique.
And I look forward to your reviews, they are awesome, interesting and refreshing...even if we disagree on whether a book is good or not. :)
I am going to have to read this for class soon. I hope I can get through it!
I enjoyed this book, but I also know Tolkien's not for everyone. The combination of fusty propriety and humour in this book can be weird. Note: I first read the Hobbit in grade 5 and saw the Rankin/Bass cartoon at that time, so my impressions are coloured by this book being a childhood experience.
Colleen wrote: "Everybody's tastes are different, there are many books that my friends have disliked and I absolutely loved or vice versa. That's what makes us unique. That being said I loved The Hobbit! It was o..."
Thank you so much, Colleen! <3
Deborah Hewitt wrote: "I am going to have to read this for class soon. I hope I can get through it!"Good luck :) I hope you enjoy it!
Matt wrote: "Cliff notes"^^What Matt said
Lata wrote: "I enjoyed this book, but I also know Tolkien's not for everyone. The combination of fusty propriety and humour in this book can be weird. Note: I first read the Hobbit in grade 5 and saw the Rankin..."Completely agree. I have books like that as well, with a certain positive memory attached to it that perhaps it clouding my judgement of the actual book. Though I don't think that's a bad thing, exactly. Some books are just a part of someone's life :)
Ana {The Good Gif Fairy} wrote: "I've never read The Hobbit but I'm a big fan of LOTR. Great honest review Ryan :)"Thanks, Ana! :)
Don't apologise so much, the book was long and tiring. The plot did move slow. But the feeling was nice, If you had patience and enough time to read without taking frequent and long breaks, you would have loved it. But if you failed to in your first time, its hell. And yes, the movies were better
This is my favorite lord of the rings book because it isn't as long as the freaking bible like the main books.
Ryan what is annoying about these days is if you hate something everyone else likes and make an imformed review people automatically hte you. I respect your opinion even though it is different then mine.
I can't be mad, you used Sherlock and Doctor Who gifs
I happen to love the book, but I understand where you're coming from--some books are to be respected rather than enjoyed.
Don't worry I purchased this book thinking "Wow it looks like a great book"But now I'm saying this book is real bad
I AGREE WITH EVERY SINGLE WORD YOU HAVE STATED. I am currently 85% done with the book and feel like this journey has been soooooo looooooong and boring. Nothing really exciting has happened. & Just getting to the action and it's still not that intriguing. My boyfriend on the other hand loves this book....I dont understand how there are three movies to this one book. But, I'm hopeful they are better. It's going to be hard to get me to read The Lord of the Rings. Ugh.
Hi! I'm Leo from Argentina. First of all, I admire you for having the courage of giving a true opinion, even when you know that much people don't think like you.Then I won't tell you that YOU MUST read The Hobbit. I understand you. I loved this book. But I read it when I was 23 years old. It was supposed to be a children's book, so I remembered I thoght: "Shit, this literature is so complex and descriptive. It's not for childrens". But you have to set it in an age where this literature was the way to express things. In a complex way, even for childrens. Tolkien is a father of fantasy genre, no one can deny it. But, fantasy or not, the hobbit is a classic. As every classic, its prose is complex, and can be tedious to read nowdays. Moreover, nowdays literature use to be simple and not romantic. I'm not saying which is the best way of writing, but I'm sure that if you read to Julio Verne or Charles Dickens (for example) you will have the same feeling. I think that it's not that you don't like the Hobbit, but you don't like classic literature. That's why you enjoyed the movie.
Best regards (and sorry for my english xD)
