The Hobbit

I thought I’d write a post expressing my love for this book and my excitement about the release of the first part of the film next month.  Personally, I didn’t mind when I heard they were making three films not one.   I want to see the White Council kick the Necromancer’s ass in Mirkwood and everything else.  I’m fairly confident in Peter Jackson’s ability as a director to ensure each film is just as amazing and visually stunning as well.    I loved the Lord of the Rings films (who didn’t) and for me, the part where Rohan enters the Battle of the Pelennor Fields is still the greatest cinema moment I’ve experienced and I’m hoping that in The Hobbit, the moment where Gandalf sees the goblins approaching in The Battle of the Five Armies eclipses it.  In fact, seeing Smaug for the first time should also be pretty good in the cinema.

The Hobbit is by far my favourite book of all time and I own many versions of it.   I dabbled with looking into a first edition to buy, but a few things made me say no.  Obviously the price was close to ten thousand dollars (!) but I was also thinking I had no experience in looking after rare, first edition books.  I looked at the first edition books on the internet that people had and they were all kept in a vacuum state, within almost safe-like glass and wood cupboards.  For me, I think books should be read and worn out and so I would want to read it and show it off but ultimately this would ruin it.  If I was going to spend that much money, I guess it would make sense to keep it pristine and pass it on as a family heirloom.  

After reading this book in primary school, my teacher got me into the Lord of the Rings and from there, I continued reading all of Tolkien’s work.   The Silmarillion is my second favourite book of all time.  What I loved most about The Hobbit is its broad appeal to both children and adults and the fact that so much happens, with such fantastical battles, descriptions and character dialogue despite the book being only a few hundred pages long.  It's the one book you can reread every year and get into from the first page, despite knowing how it will turn out.  Tolkien's writing just draws you in every time and you can't help but be transported into the Middle-earth straight away.  I’ve just never been able to get into another author’s fantasy series, such as Game of Thrones or The Wheel of Time, mainly because I lose patience and I just can’t help thinking perfection has already been achieved by Tolkien and everything else is just a poorer, longer copy version.

What does everyone else think about The Hobbit?  Are you looking forward to the film?

Super Spuds update:

In the last week I received some fantastic reviews:

Bloody brilliant. I loved these magical creatures and all the unique personalities and stories behind them! Very tongue-in-cheek humor with a great mix of fantasy and reality with comical twists on our modern world (Molly and Sculder anyone??) Mr. Diack has created a wholly enjoyable world to visit where you can expect the unexpected. I read this in one sitting as it was so enjoyable and entertaining, and admittedly very different from what I normally read. But I’m so glad I took a chance and if Mr. Diack writes any more in the future (I think he’s found his niche here) I’ll be the first in line to buy it.

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OMG lol what did I just read? Haha this has to be one of the most, if not THE most clever, original, and funny books I’ve ever read. I was chuckling almost from the beginning and I’ll never be able to look at potato chips (or “crisps”) the same way again! (Much like what happened after I saw the movie “Antz”). I could totally see this book (or its concept) being a movie, or even better a tv show cartoon on Adult Swim. Epic. There are so many great characters in here (love the list at the end, lol!!) and each are funny and awesome in their own right. It’s technically 3 books in one, which is why it’s called a “trilogy”, but it’s about the length of an average book so don’t be intimidated. Although when it’s done you’ll be wishing there was more! (5 stars).

Obviously I’m chuffed to bits by the response and I’d love to see this concept as a TV show or film.  I have no clue about how to go about doing this but it’s something I think I’ll have to research about.   At least give it a try and see what happens, otherwise I’ll never know.  My editor is busy on Book 4 of the Super Spuds and I’m hoping for a Christmas release, so that’s exciting as well.

Thanks everyone!

What really happened to Crispian the hedgehog…

Here is the “real” story, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-20151566, although this is what actually happened:

General Martin led his team of steak and spinach flavour Super Spuds through the perilous woods that surrounding their rubbish tip city of Mt Ibri, Weston-super-Mare.  They were on a mission to gather mushrooms growing in the forest.   The king of Mt Ibri, King Boris, had developed an insatiable appetite for mushrooms and demanded that a plate of the freshest mushrooms was on his dinner table every night.  It was a risky mission, the woods were full of enemies: foxes, badgers, birds, and last but not least, hedgehogs.  General Martin wasn’t scared, he had been into these woods many times before; his trusty sword – a sharpened HB pencil – had killed many enemies while his shield – a 2p coin – had protected him from the sharpest of claws.   

                “Quiet troops, we’re deep behind enemy lines now,” whispered General Martin.

Unknown to the four Super Spuds, they were already being tracked by Crispian and his gang of hedgehogs.  The mushrooms were a delicacy for the hedgehogs too and they were growing tired of the Super Spuds stealing their food.  Crispian was also a young hedgehog, fiercely territorial and desperate to impress the female hedgehogs in the woods.   Lying in wait upon higher ground, Crispian could see the Super Spuds approaching their position.  Crispian, along with his gang, curled into a ball and began rolling down the hill towards the Super Spuds, gaining terrific speed.

                “Ambush!” screamed General Martin.

General Martin managed to dive out of the way of the incoming spike balls, but the rest of his squad died instantly once the hedgehogs slammed into – and subsequently impaled – their packages.  Crispian and his gang unrolled and slowly approached General Martin.  Despite killing two hedgehogs, General Martin was outnumbered and surrounded.  Crispian dealt the lethal blow, painfully removing one of his spikes from his body and throwing it through General Martin like a javelin.   Crispian had impressed his gang and especially the females, but he was in bad shape. Removing one of his spikes had sent his body into shock and he was left with no choice but to rip open General Martin and hide inside his packet to prevent heat loss. 

                Two hours later and the humans arrived.  Thinking Crispian had become trapped inside the crisp packet, the humans felt sorry for him and took him away for medical care, saving his life.  Crispian smiled to himself; soon he would be healed and could return to his woods to lead his gang once more.   Back in Mt Ibri, King Boris was furious his mushrooms hadn’t arrived.