The Hobbit

I’ve read “Hobbit” for the first time back in high school, and then again years later with my kids. It was one of the first fantasy books I ever picked up—not exactly my favourite, but definitely a solid introduction to the genre.

There were things that puzzled me at the time, like the difference between dwarfs and gnomes, or why “elfs” are called “elves” here. Luckily, I had friends who introduced me to the arcana of “Hobbit”,“The Lord of the Rings”¹²³ and even the world of Forgotten Realms⁴. Thanks to them, I started to see the bigger picture and the connections between these universes.

Reading “Hobbit” with my kids was a different experience—seeing their reactions to Bilbo’s adventures, the dwarves’ stubbornness, and the riddles with Gollum. It’s a book that works well as a first step into fantasy, even if it doesn’t have the depth or darkness of later Tolkien works.

If you’re just starting your journey with fantasy, “Hobbit” is a good place to begin. For me, it was more of a gateway to richer worlds, but I still appreciate its charm and simplicity.