The Hobbit

As far as epic adventures go, the Hobbit is by far the best epic tale I have had the pleasure of reading. I read it for the first time in fifth grade, and it instantly made my list of top five, so I was eager and excited to read it again after so many years. Tolkein's narrative style kept me glued, and I found myself unable to simply put the book down. The depth of the characters and development of the world in which the story takes place rivals anything I've ever experienced. Every single detail seems to have been thought out and there is this very apparent common history that seems to influence and drive the events of the book while remaining somewhat invisible, not at the forethought of the reader but providing a base around which this tale is written. The story follows Bilbo Baggins, an interesting little hobbit that is tricked into undertaking an adventure of epic proportions, a life changing experience that serves to only fuel his urge to travel and explore in the end. I feel that in the beginning, no one really knew how profound this escapade would be and how hard it would impact his character, but it is something that he obviously would not change by the end of the story. This serves as the prequel to the infamous film trilogy (based off books of the same name and plot), yet it is truly surprising how different the story is from the rest, focusing on Bilbo and his adventure more than the ring of power. It takes place in the same universe, the same middle earth, yet it depicts a story much more different than the tale of Bilbo's cousin and adopted heir, Frodo. It's truly interesting reflecting on the future of the characters and the future middle-earth in respect to the trilogy while making your way through the Hobbit, and I feel that it provides a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the elements of the story. This was a truly eye opening experience for me, and I feel as though reading this book a second time so many years later, I hold a renewed love and understanding for the narrative, being able to understand it on a level I was unable to achieve when i was in fifth grade. Overall, this book is one of my favorites, a beautiful piece comparable to few others.

Interview with a Vampire

I've never seen the film adaptation of this story, but I have seen Queen of the Dammed, the adaptation of the sequel. The book was interesting, a unique tale (for its time) challenging the dark and horrific image of the vampire up until that point in time. This was no Dracula, no Blade, no Underworld, instead it introduced this romanticized image of what a vampire is. To my knowledge and experience, this story ushered in the age of romantic vampires, giving birth to Twilight and other vampire stories alike. This isn't really my kind of story, I feel that in only certain situations does the romanticized image of the vampire really work, and this is not one of them. It opens up this vulnerability and makes the character almost entirely about that weakness. I guess I am somewhat old school in saying that I like my vampires vicious, blood thirsty, and powerful. This is completely opposite of the image painted by Anne Rice in this novel, and where as I enjoy the fresh perspective, my bias wins out in the end. I do however enjoy the fact that she highlights the aspect that whereas a vampires body may be dead, but their minds are still very much human, and that the power and responsibility of the new state and what it takes to maintain are aspects that will ruin and drive that human component to madness and misery.