September 21, 1937..

A date, yes, a full date. I often, as you know, do a blog post on a birthday or anniversary. Well, this post is kinda like that. Yet it could almost be considered a sort of book-report, to use a term I find rather lowly. (Forgive me, Thomas.)

Nay, it is more rather a post made to honor one of the greatest literary achievements of our time. A work that wonderfully portrays lightheartedness and epic graveness.

It is not my most favorite book (Second, favorite, for the record.), but it is perhaps, in my mind, the most perfect book, in that is it the most brilliantly written.


Yes, The Hobbit, or, There and Back Again, by J.J.R Tolkien. And it was on this day, 73 years ago, that it was first published.

It was on the early months of 2008 (I believe, but am not sure.) that I first started reading The Hobbit. At that time, I knew absolutely nothing about Tolkien's World, I didn't know what I was getting into, I didn't even know the plot of the book! But that book, it was the doorway into that glorious world in which I have found so many wonderful, wonderful thinks.

""""" I n a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit." I still remember reading those words for the first time. They make me smile ever time I think of them. The whole book, as I have said, is just brilliantly written. I don't like using the same adjective more than once in a single writing, but 'brilliant' is just the best way to describe it. Every time I pick it up and flip through it, every page I see, there is something wonderful. The glorious conversation between Bilbo and Gandalf', the dwarves' splendid songs, and the all time epic brief history of golf, in 'An Unexpected Party. And how Bilbo gets forced off into adventure, and has his first bit of excitement when he meets the Trolls in 'Roast Mutton.' And in 'A Short Rest,' we see the awesome Rivendell for the first time. That chapter also has one of my all time favorite quotes: "Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a great deal of telling anyway." And oh I could go on and on, longer than any one would want me to, 'Over hill, Under Hill,' Riddles in the Dark,' 'Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire,' (The Eagles are the EPICEST!!!) 'Flies and Spiders,' (Like, one of my very favorite chapters.) 'Barrels out of Bond,' And like I said, I could go on forever.

But, out of compassion for my reader, I end now.

"Farewell! Wherever you fare, till your eyrie receives you at the journey's end!"