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Original poster

Tolkien's The Hobbit- ok for a 10yo?

45 replies

winnybella · 12/11/2011 00:19

I'm looking for books for Christmas for DS. He'll be 10 at the end of January. I remember liking The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but I think I was a bit older, maybe 12 or 13.
He's a fluent reader, but up til recently was into manga etc so not used to long books. I have forced Harry Potter on him few weeks ago and he read the entire series averaging 5 hours per book.
What do you think?

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CointreauVersial · 12/11/2011 00:25

I certainly read it at primary school.

Go for it, always good to buy challenging books.

Original poster
winnybella · 12/11/2011 00:26

Great. I've just read a review on French Amazon and apparently French translation is crap, though. DS's French is better than English. Hmm.

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workshy · 12/11/2011 00:27

my DD is reading lord of the rings at the moment and finding it heavy going

she wizzed through Harry Potter but the writing style of Tolkien requires much more thought, the themes are much more adult and she is 'missing' quite alot of the plot lines as they are not laid out so obviously for the reader

I read the Hobbit at 12 (2nd year high school) but didn't really get it until I read it again at 16

would he be interested in something along the lines of twighlight if he is into fantasy fiction? DD found these much more enjoyable to read

GrimmaTheNome · 12/11/2011 00:27

Yes; The Hobbit is a children's book. I read it to my DD - hm, can't remember when now, maybe she was 8 or 9. I would think your DS will wolf it down!

NormanTheForeman · 12/11/2011 00:28

Absolutely! We read it at school aged 7 or 8. Lord of the Rings would be better for an older age group though.

GrimmaTheNome · 12/11/2011 00:29

The writing style of the Hobbit isn't the same as LOTR though, workshy.

workshy · 12/11/2011 00:30

fair enough -been a while since I read it lol

Goldenbrown1981 · 12/11/2011 00:30

We were read the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings in year 6, so i would say go for it. The hobbit is hard going at first I think but worth persevering. the audio books are also good, but I know that's not what you are after

NormanTheForeman · 12/11/2011 00:30

Agree, Grimma, Hobbit fine for this age group, LOTR better for teenagers.

Original poster
winnybella · 12/11/2011 00:30

workshy-isn't Twilight basically a love story? I doubt DS would like that.

Okay-3 yays, 1 nay.

I also thought that The Hobbit is much easier to read than TLOTR.

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Goldenbrown1981 · 12/11/2011 00:31

Also.. Twilight? really? Not a bit... erm.... sexualized? Maybe I'm just a prude

workshy · 12/11/2011 00:31

girls see twilight as a love story, boys see it as a vampire thing lol

Original poster
winnybella · 12/11/2011 00:33

Any other books suitable for a 10 yo? Would a Guiness World Records be amusing? I know it's not a proper book Grin

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Original poster
winnybella · 12/11/2011 00:34

There has been a lot of fantasy books released in the last decade, no? What about Philip Pullman (sp?)?

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Goldenbrown1981 · 12/11/2011 00:36

Phillip Pullman is good but I believe there is a religious issue if you are into that kinda thing. The Eragon books are supposed to be good too

GrimmaTheNome · 12/11/2011 00:40

He might like Pullman (my DD doesn't yet, she's 12).

Obviously I have to suggest Terry Pratchett Grin - DDs current 'book at bedtime' (ie the one I'm reading to her) is Johnny and the Bomb. Her own reading matter at the moment is a pile of Just Williams, which are always worth consideration.

workshy · 12/11/2011 00:46

david walliams is funny

douglas adams (hitch hiker's guide) good but possibly a little too old

and now I'm off before I get told off again Grin

NormanTheForeman · 12/11/2011 00:48

Has he read the Arthur Ransome Swallows and Amazon's books? My ds (nearly 11) loved those, and is now re-reading them.

startail · 12/11/2011 00:57

Percy Jackson and the Egypt ones by the same author, he'll whizz through them. They are probably slightly easier than the later HP.
Alex Rider likewise.
He might like the first his dark materials, but a 10 yearold would miss the subtleties of the later ones.
Twighlight - no! My 12 yearold loved it and her 10 yearold sister listerened to the audio book of the last and most adult oneBlush
It's a love story and pretty grown up. DD2 knows far to much having a big sister who's best friend is a year older still.

DilysPrice · 12/11/2011 01:00

The Hobbit is excellent, but it's a big old book if he's not used to extended readings, he might still need to work up to it a bit.. Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan is great fun for that age group, and would second the younger age Pratchetts, and Artemis Fowl.

workshy · 12/11/2011 01:09

ok apologies for twighlight Blush

dd is an old 10 yo and has only read the first one which she was given by her cousin

perhaps I should go and read it properly...........

MrsWembley · 12/11/2011 01:15

Yy to The Hobbit. I remember reading it at Primary, I think around 7 or 8. (I can just remember which classroom we were in which shows how the book affected meSmile.)

Bumply · 12/11/2011 03:09

DS1 loved the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series of books by Michelle Paver.
I read them to him as he isn't much of a reader himself, although he has read the Percy Jackson books.

Original poster
winnybella · 12/11/2011 08:04

Lovely. Thanks very much. Will loop up all of those.

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Original poster
winnybella · 12/11/2011 08:04

look

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