New Audible Favorite!

As a kid I was absolutely enchanted by the Lord of the Rings movies, sitting up gazing at the beauty of Middle Earth while my family had fallen asleep by minute twenty. I watched the LOTR movies and The Hobbit trilogy repeatedly and read the books in high school. I have several copies of each book. Date night now often consists of LOTR marathons.

Clearly, I have an obsession. When I was scrolling through the Audible webpage I noticed some dramatized readings of the books. Since I listen on my long drives and while I am working, I wasn't thrilled that they were only a couple of hours long. Then I saw it. Rob Inglis is the only narrator with unabridged readings. With a two for one sale going on, I decided to snag The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. It is undoubtedly one of my best Audible purchases yet.

Title: The Hobbit
Author: J. R. R. Tolkien
Page Count: 389
Rating: A++++++
Keywords: Magic, Fantasy, Classic, Adventure
Genre: Fantasy
Narrator: Rob Inglis
Duration: 11 hours and 8 minutes
Younger Readers: Great for children

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.
Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when it was first published in 1937. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent.

My Review:

The Hobbit is an amazing read! From page one it feels as if you are being told a story by a kindly grandfather and you completely lose yourself in the tale of Bilbo Baggins leaving the Shire. If you have only seen the movies, this is going to be bit different. The main difference is that you do not see as much of Gandalf's journey in the book. Despite this, it is amazing. Rob Inglis was an absolutely perfect choice to amplify the feeling of being told a tale. I quickly lost myself in the book, hours disappearing before I even noticed.

While I thoroughly enjoyed reading this as a tween, and again as an adult, I think that this would be a great choice for a younger reader/listener. It is enchanting and has the comforting feel of a bedtime story. It was especially enjoyable during a road trip, adding to the sense of adventure.

As a side note, my dog absolutely loves listening to Rob Inglis' reading. Every time I opened my Audible app at home, I'd hear the click of nails running towards me and then she would follow the phone for hours. This is sure to be an instant favorite for everyone.


Title: The Fellowship of the Ring
Author: J. R. R. Tolkien
Page Count: 458
Rating: A++++++
Keywords: Magic, Fantasy, Classic, Adventure
Genre: Fantasy
Narrator: Rob Inglis
Duration: 19 hours and 7 minutes
Younger Readers: Great for children, though a bit more mature than The Hobbit

Synopsis from Goodreads:

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkeness bind them

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, The Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit.

In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.  

My Review:

Full disclaimer, I have about an hour left in this audiobook. However, it is still amazing! When I read this in high school there were parts of the book that just seemed to drag on for pages and I would find myself losing focus. Rob Inglis' narration completely eliminated this issue for me. Throughout the listening experience I found myself picking up details that I had barely noticed before and I was completely engaged in the story the entire time.

This is closer to the movies than The Hobbit was so true fans of the films will not find themselves disappointed if they give the classic books a go. There is one key difference that I truly appreciated. If anyone else cannot stand Frodo in the movies, he is far more likable in the book!

If you enjoyed The Hobbit or are just a fan of fantasy, give this series a try.

****Listening Note: This is an older recording and sometimes Inglis' has long pauses that sound awkward. Put the listening speed at 1.25x and the pauses will sound far more natural****