Bilbo's Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning of The Hobbit Paperback – November 23, 2012

Very intriguing approach to Tolkien's "childlike adventure", The Hobbit. Altogether, this book brings us a key to understand the hidden Catholic and philosophic messages from Middle Earth. Indeed, it is a valuable read!

The author of this short, little book brings more TO the story than I believe Tolkien meant to have drawn from it. Okay, there is “symbolism” all through the Hobbit (and, for that matter, the LotR) but I believe the “meaning” of the symbol is, as it is said, in the eye (or mind) of the “beholder”. To gain an impression of personal relevance from the written word is the sign of a book well written and one well read. To find “meaningfulness” in the written word is something to be respected; to declare that one’s personal reading is the ONLY valid reading is to push in the direction of dogma. The author of this book allows his interpretation, his Orthodox Christian, or rather, his Orthodox Roman Catholic interpretation, to be the only “proper” interpretation of the Hobbit. Tolkien was a practicing Roman Catholic, therefore everything he wrote must be seen from that perspective and no other. This seems to be a case of projection; as if gazing upon one’s own reflection in a mirror and believing it to be a window. If we can see beyond the Catholicity of many of this author’s statements we can, indeed, find a message Tolkien has for us- one, I believe, of “Universals” over “ Specifics”. I, for myself, find in Tolkien’s writings the “Universals” that are present in honest living and honest reflection. This, I believe is the source of Tolkien’s universal appeal; the attraction of Middle- Earth for generations past and many yet to come.

I think I would have enjoyed Mr. Pearce's book a little more had I not recently read Corey Olsen's Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, which is a much better book, better written and more focused. It's unfortunate, because Mr. Pearce does have some important things to say. If he doesn't quite "discover...the hidden meaning of The Hobbit" as his subtitle implies, he does bring out points that readers unaware of Tolkien's Catholic faith might miss.What is disappointing his how easily he strays from The Hobbit into The Lord of the Rings to make his various points. It is clear that some of the connections Pearce is trying to make appear most powerfully in The Lord of the Rings but this book is about The Hobbit. If Pearce's main goal is to discuss Tolkien's Catholicism, then write an extensive book about The Lord of the Rings and be done with it. Otherwise, my expectation is a deeper reading of The Hobbit.Pearce makes some pretty obvious connections between royal figures in Tolkien's work and Christ, and the allegorical representation of Bilbo's journey as a Christian pilgrimage. On the other hand, he also comes up with some more clever ideas. For example, there is the image of Bilbo as suffering from his own type of dragon sickness as he sits in his comfortable hobbit hole at the beginning of the novel. Also, his connection with Beorn as a St. Francis of Assisi-like figure is interesting.Still, this book ends up feeling like an opportunity missed. Instead of a truly deep reading of Middle Earth's foundational novel, we get a scattershot of Catholic ideas across a variety of Tolkien's work. Olsen's work is deeper and, though he doesn't use the theological language, covers much of the same ground. It's too bad, because had Pearce taken his topic as seriously as Olsen, he could have produced something magnificent. Instead, we have a book that is adequate, but no more.

My daughter had to read "The Hobbit" as a 7th grade Literature assignment in her virtual school. This book is the perfect companion to understanding the deeper meaning of the characters and their actions, the setting, the conflict, the mercy, and most profoundly the "journey" of the Hobbit, and of all of us, to "grow up" and become more "other-centered" instead of self-centered. You will appreciate many of Joseph Pearce's insights. I highly recommend reading "Bilbo's Journey" section by section, just enough of each of his chapters as you finish each chapter in the Hobbit...pick up this book and ponder Pearce's intelligent commentary. They only minor suggestion I could make on improving this book would be to indicate corresponding chapter numbers in "The Hobbit." A couple of times, we thought Pearce was analyzing the chapter we had just finished, but the next paragraph went into something we hadn't read yet..."spoiler alert!" my kids would yell! We would have stopped reading had Pearce noted in the margin when he jumped into the next chapter. We all LOVE this book!

Impressively, the author has a grasp of the true nature of Tolkien's book. He was a Catholic first, a father second, and an artist besides. Though, short and simplistic, as is the Hobbit itself, Pearce excels in his interpretation of Tolkien's intent, analogy, and point of all his writing, his choice of words and passages, and his communication of the journey we're all on in our own right. It's not surprising of course, appreciating his other works on Shakespeare, but I was impressed with his ability to capture the true meaning as so many fail to do.

I thought this book was excellent. Pearce goes through the story and unlocks the hidden meanings that Tolkien put into the book. I especially liked how Pearce showed the parallels between Bilbo's comforts at home in the beginning vs. the Dragon's comfort with the gold, and his description of "dragon sickness". I also liked how Pearce unlocked this not only as a "coming of age" story for Bilbo, but of how Divine Providence works through our lives as we partake of our own journeys, and how Providence is really at work when we think of it as luck. I gained some good insights into how Providence and free will work together through this book. Plus, it was fun to go through The Hobbit story again through a different lens.Be aware that Pearce expects that you have read both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings before you read this book.

good and interesting. But NOT for somebody who has NOT YET read Lord of the Rings as it gives details you would NOT like to know!

Excellent and prompt service! So happy with this book that gives you the Christian perspective of the meaning to the Tolkien children classic. Journey = Pilgrimage!!

I would recommend any book by Pearce and "Bilbo's Journey" is no exception. Pearce's writing skills have been honed over time and this is reflected in his cogent analysis of Tolkein's first fiction. It invites the reader to perhaps experience what the wizard himself offers to Bilbo in the novel, namely 'an adventure which will be 'very good for you and very likely profitable too'".

Heeft het klassieke verhaal van Tolkien, de Hobbit, een diepere betekenis? Kom er alles over te weten in dit mooie en goede boek.

I am a fan of Pearce and Tolkien. This little book combines the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit in it. It would be a marvellous book to read to children.