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The One Ring Forums: Tolkien Topics: Movie Discussion: The Hobbit:
When the book was read... *spoilers*

arithmancer
Grey Havens

Feb 20 2013, 12:56am


Views: 379
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When the book was read... *spoilers* [In reply to] Can't Post

My son has had (it seems to me) a very similar reaction to yours. He is 8 (second grade) right now and just finished reading the book. It is well above his "official" reading level. But his reaction was very similar to yours in terms of really sympathizing with/identifying with the Dwarves. He did not choose to discuss the book much, with the exception that when Bilbo gave the Arkenstone away he was so upset by this on the Dwarves' behalf that he sought reassurance from me that they would get it back.

Which I find fascinating, because I did not have this reaction. I was six when I read the book, and it was likewise above my reading level and I stuck with it despite its difficulty. For me the character I most loved and identified with was Bilbo. The Dwarves were interesting and at times funny and the reason for the adventure but were mostly important to me because they became Bilbo's friends. I was sad when Thorin sent him away, and also sad when Thorin died because Bilbo was saddened by these things. The only one I recall liking for himself was Balin, I think because he seemed so grandfatherly and this appealed to me. I think that is one reason I like the movie choice to make him older than Thorin, my mental image of him is "grandfather", whereas my mental image of Thorin is less distinct and certainly less age-specific.

I do agree with you that things like the narrator "talking" to the reader probably worked so well for all of us who read it young precisely because it is like something an adult telling us a story would have done in our real life. I recall reading a quote from a review of the book (somewhat negative review) that described "The Hobbit" as a book only a terribly precocious child could love. Which made me smile as I certainly did love it.

Subject User Time
Will Dáin be worthy of being called King? (***spoilers***, naturally) Roheryn Send a private message to Roheryn Feb 18 2013, 7:21am
    Did you accept it in the book? imin Send a private message to imin Feb 18 2013, 11:28am
    One way it could be handled alienorchid Send a private message to alienorchid Feb 18 2013, 1:21pm
        This will be what makes it work Ham_Sammy Send a private message to Ham_Sammy Feb 18 2013, 3:05pm
    Doubt it will be a problem *spoilers* arithmancer Send a private message to arithmancer Feb 18 2013, 1:53pm
    Anything is better than Thorin stoutfiles Send a private message to stoutfiles Feb 18 2013, 2:31pm
        Explain me why Marionette Send a private message to Marionette Feb 19 2013, 5:52pm
            Lots of reasons stoutfiles Send a private message to stoutfiles Feb 19 2013, 7:43pm
                We will still see 3,4 and 5. Ham_Sammy Send a private message to Ham_Sammy Feb 19 2013, 9:24pm
                    I truly hope we don't see a racist Thorin* *Spoilers** Old Toby Send a private message to Old Toby Feb 19 2013, 10:24pm
                        I don't want to see that either Ham_Sammy Send a private message to Ham_Sammy Feb 19 2013, 11:03pm
                            A suggestion Old Toby Send a private message to Old Toby Feb 19 2013, 11:44pm
                                Completely! Ham_Sammy Send a private message to Ham_Sammy Feb 19 2013, 11:57pm
                        "'Descendent of rats,' indeed." Otaku-sempai Send a private message to Otaku-sempai Feb 20 2013, 9:45pm
    King Dain Súlimë Send a private message to Súlimë Feb 18 2013, 3:32pm
    It's hard to say at this point Old Toby Send a private message to Old Toby Feb 18 2013, 4:06pm
        A clarification Old Toby Send a private message to Old Toby Feb 18 2013, 5:00pm
            I've always felt that Bard and his people had a very good claim Bellerock Send a private message to Bellerock Feb 19 2013, 1:21am
                I can only agree with some of what you say, Bellerock. ShireHorse Send a private message to ShireHorse Feb 19 2013, 7:47pm
                    I agree that Bilbo pobably shouldn't have sparred with the dragon. Bellerock Send a private message to Bellerock Feb 20 2013, 1:45am
    It depends on how this is handled in the movie Angharad73 Send a private message to Angharad73 Feb 18 2013, 5:42pm
        Why PJ has done the dirty on Dain in AUJ is a bit of a mystery... Eleniel Send a private message to Eleniel Feb 18 2013, 6:21pm
            Yes, I'm wondering why ShireHorse Send a private message to ShireHorse Feb 18 2013, 7:57pm
            Good point Lio Send a private message to Lio Feb 18 2013, 9:27pm
                I really hope it will be Thorin Old Toby Send a private message to Old Toby Feb 18 2013, 10:18pm
    I'm not sure it even matters Rostron2 Send a private message to Rostron2 Feb 18 2013, 9:51pm
    An uphill climb for us...and the Company Brethil Send a private message to Brethil Feb 19 2013, 3:11am
        Shakespearean finale Old Toby Send a private message to Old Toby Feb 19 2013, 3:44am
            RA brings a classical intensity Brethil Send a private message to Brethil Feb 19 2013, 5:51pm
        Nice post imin Send a private message to imin Feb 19 2013, 4:03am
            Thank you, Imin! To answer your questions Brethil Send a private message to Brethil Feb 19 2013, 6:33pm
                Another great post :) imin Send a private message to imin Feb 20 2013, 12:02am
                    When the book was read... *spoilers* arithmancer Send a private message to arithmancer Feb 20 2013, 12:56am
                        That is interesting imin Send a private message to imin Feb 20 2013, 3:37pm
                    Explains the Thorin issues...(laughing) Brethil Send a private message to Brethil Feb 20 2013, 4:10am
                        Sounds like we are both a little bit jealous of each other, haha imin Send a private message to imin Feb 20 2013, 3:55pm
                            Indeed! Brethil Send a private message to Brethil Feb 20 2013, 4:52pm
        I think you summed it up... swordwhale Send a private message to swordwhale Feb 19 2013, 4:32am
        Yes the end is going to be devastating Ham_Sammy Send a private message to Ham_Sammy Feb 19 2013, 5:34am
            Personally... marillaraina Send a private message to marillaraina Feb 19 2013, 8:41am
                I agree! (*spoilers* of course) Angharad73 Send a private message to Angharad73 Feb 19 2013, 9:19am
                    Yeah marillaraina Send a private message to marillaraina Feb 19 2013, 10:06am
                        Yep Angharad73 Send a private message to Angharad73 Feb 19 2013, 10:39am
                            LOL! Old Toby Send a private message to Old Toby Feb 19 2013, 3:29pm
                            Indeed Ham_Sammy Send a private message to Ham_Sammy Feb 19 2013, 3:46pm
                                The tissue concession Brethil Send a private message to Brethil Feb 20 2013, 4:41am
                        But surely "random" is the whole point, marillarania? ShireHorse Send a private message to ShireHorse Feb 19 2013, 5:08pm
                            Is it really random, though? Angharad73 Send a private message to Angharad73 Feb 19 2013, 5:59pm
                            Fan wanking IMO marillaraina Send a private message to marillaraina Feb 20 2013, 10:41pm
        Great thoughts, Brethil. Roheryn Send a private message to Roheryn Feb 19 2013, 11:01am
            Thanks Ro! Brethil Send a private message to Brethil Feb 19 2013, 7:58pm
                :-) Musings... Roheryn Send a private message to Roheryn Feb 19 2013, 11:12pm
                    That is my view as well Ham_Sammy Send a private message to Ham_Sammy Feb 19 2013, 11:25pm
                    One license Brethil Send a private message to Brethil Feb 20 2013, 12:44am
                    Thorin's fate **spoilers** Old Toby Send a private message to Old Toby Feb 20 2013, 5:10am
    Dain has to become king,no matter what. Thorins_apprentice Send a private message to Thorins_apprentice Feb 19 2013, 7:05am
    Reading the book... Marionette Send a private message to Marionette Feb 19 2013, 10:11pm
    I think a lot of it depends on Billy Connolly's portrayal. Kimtc Send a private message to Kimtc Feb 20 2013, 4:32am
        I've just begun to wonder ShireHorse Send a private message to ShireHorse Feb 20 2013, 1:28pm
            This is an excellent concept! Kimtc Send a private message to Kimtc Feb 20 2013, 2:51pm
            That's a great idea! GloryBox Send a private message to GloryBox Feb 20 2013, 6:19pm
            It would help (spoilers) Brethil Send a private message to Brethil Feb 20 2013, 8:34pm
                Dain as Rebuilder Ham_Sammy Send a private message to Ham_Sammy Feb 20 2013, 8:49pm
            Oh, fantastic idea! Roheryn Send a private message to Roheryn Feb 20 2013, 11:30pm
            Oh I like this idea! Súlimë Send a private message to Súlimë Feb 21 2013, 8:14am
            Interesting idea. Macfeast Send a private message to Macfeast Feb 21 2013, 1:45pm
                Your "ride of the... GloryBox Send a private message to GloryBox Feb 21 2013, 6:08pm
    Going by Dain's words in LOTR to the Witch King emre43 Send a private message to emre43 Feb 20 2013, 2:21pm

 
 
 

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