The last time I read this book I was about 10 or so and it was for a Summer Reading assignment. It was just as good this time around, a colorful tale that well deserves its status as a classic. What struck me on second reading was the thematic continuity of the whole book, even though it’s tied to The Lord of the Rings very directly it feels very much like its own self-contained, relatively light hearted tale. Another thing, Tolkien was a far more versatile writer than many people may give him credit for. The Hobbit, is a superlative children’s book, The Lord of the Rings, an epic fantasy, The Silmarilion a mythic history, etc. Although Tolkien’s work is mostly all set in the same world, his skill as a writer lets him explore that world in many different facets.