The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien is a whimsical and fantastical journey sending one lone short fellow on a quest which he would very much prefer to not be on. Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit of respectable stature and reputable wealth, is unexpectedly swept off his feet by a wandering wizard and dragged off by a band of thirteen dwarves on a quest to reclaim their mountain home. Once a massive palace of fame and fortune, the Lonely Mountain is now nothing more than a bedroom for the dragon Smaug. The party struggles through perilous situations, including goblins, trolls, spiders, barrels, angry elves, slimy cave-creatures (who have a shocking disregard to proper grammar rules), and a lack of proper walking-sticks and pocket handkerchiefs. Once at their final destination, it must be Bilbo who finally confronts the dragon, sleeping (not so soundly) in his lair…
    

     The Hobbit has a wonderful cast of characters, almost all of which are interesting in some way or another. The world itself, by the name of Middle Earth, feels almost alive; often characters will mention the happenings of other places, and it feels as if armies are always marching and the gears of war are always turning. The dwarves hate the elves, the elves hate the dwarves, everyone hates the goblins, and the hobbits and men are just kind of there in the middle of everything. Some don’t really fall into any category, such as Beorn, the skin-changer, a man who can shape-shift into a bear at will (and still conveniently hates goblins, just like everyone else).
    

     The Hobbit definitely gains my approval, as a marvelous and charming experience, and an influence to many modern fantasy stories. Even if you happen to be uninterested in the genre, The Hobbit definitely deserves a look, and if you enjoy fantasy, The Hobbit will most likely take a place in your heart almost immediately.