Before answering the question of what a hobbit is (for those who are not aware), I want first to pay homage to John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, born on January 3, 1892. Tolkien studied in Oxford and excelled in languages. As a young boy, he would spend hours drinking tea and discussing literature and the arts with several classmates. When World War I broke out, Tolkien and his friends enlisted in the military. After only a few months in France, for the start of the Somme offensive, Tolkien became sick with trench fever, resulting in a lengthy recovery period at a hospital back in England. While hospitalized, Tolkien’s imagination gave birth to beginnings of The Hobbit. Likely, his war memories contributed to the action in his novels, as the elves, dwarfs, and hobbit fight mightily in hand-to-hand combat with orcs and wargs.
So back to the question at hand . . . what is a hobbit? They resemble humans, although about half the average height. In addition, they do not need footwear. Their feet, covered with wooly hair, are tough on the bottom, like the soles of leather shoes. They live in houses carved into the sides of mountains with rooms that tunnel down into burrows, or holes, in the ground. Actually, their homes seem rather cozy and I would not mind living in one myself.
In the story The Hobbit, we meet Biblo Baggins. A band of dwarfs has recruited him to travel with them to Lonely Mountain and take back treasure stolen by Smaug the Dragon. In addition, to slay the dragon. Gandalf, a wizard, is also involved and called upon for wisdom and protection.
Even though I saw the cartoon version of this movie years ago, I never watched the film, starring Martin Freeman as Bilbo (released in 2012), until last week. I had never even read the novel, until this past week. NOW I can really say I know what a hobbit is . . . at least I understand Bilbo a lot better. Bilbo has contradictory character traits, in that he loves the peace and comfort of his hobbit hole and on the other hand, he longs for an adventure. You can see the dilemma he is in as he struggles with these feelings along his journey to help the dwarfs. Throughout the story, Bilbo evolves in wisdom and virtue to become a useful addition to the quest. I found I could relate to this loveable character, as I like a good adventure too, but am cautious about stepping out to quickly . . . if even.
One thing’s for sure, as a reader I can live vicariously through the lives of so many different types of characters. That is why books are so addictive to me. Well, there are worse things one can have for an addiction.
The Wilkes County Public Library is teaming up with Two Rivers Cinema to feature films at 1:00 p.m. every first Saturday. These are FREE movies for the community. All you need to know is the password to get in: “Keeping it Reel.” The Reading Trap at Traphill Library, will be discussing these featured films and books each month in the branch library at 6:00 p.m. every second Thursday. Stop in either the main library or the branch library for books and reading guides to join the conversation. Don’t forget to ‘keep it reel’ with films at Two Rivers Cinema.
In February, the conversation revolves around William Shirer’s, Berlin Diary. This follows the national observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day. Keeping it Reel’s featured film is The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, based on William Shirer’s first-hand accounts of Nazi Germany from the years of Hitler’s birth (1889) to the end of World War II (1945). Share the news and save-the-dates for next month: Keeping it Reel 1:00 p.m. on February 4 and The Reading Trap at 6:00 p.m. on February 12.