Reading Response 1: Fellowship of the Ring

                It all begins on a very special occasion: Bilbo Baggins’s eleventy-first birthday party. In fact, it was such a grand party, that everyone in the town was invited. At the opportunity to have free food, fireworks, and especially free beer the whole town was delighted to be in attendance, even a few from far away. One such foreigner was Gandalf the Grey, who had had many stories and fables told about him. Unknown to the majority of the attendants, there was a scheme behind the whole party; Bilbo Baggins was going away, and he was going to use The Ring to do it...

                One of my favorite quotes from the birthday party was this: “‘I don't know half of you half as well as I should like and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.’ This was unexpected and rather difficult. There was some scattered clapping, but most of them were trying to work it out and see if it came to a compliment.” It was said by Bilbo during his birthday speech and he said it to all of the guests that were in attendance. When I read that (I am not even kidding when I say this) I laughed out loud after a couple of seconds of processing what was said. It really shows the good old English wittiness of J.R.R. Tolkien. I thoroughly enjoy reading a good witty book and with those three sentences my respect for Tolkien went way up. Basically the quote means that Bilbo doesn't know all of the people and he wishes he has more time to get to know them. He also states that he has a distaste for some, even though he should loathe them more than he does already.

                So far I am thoroughly enjoying this book and would highly recommend it to all of my friends who understand subtle, witty remarks and enjoy them. This book is a must read, and is excellent thus far. If you haven’t taken the time to read The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, then stop what you are doing, get up and go to a library or book store near you. It will be well WORTH IT.