The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is one of my favorite books of all time. It follows the story of Bilbo Baggins, a reluctant and loveable hero who is a Hobbit. As many know, Hobbits are small human-ish folk who, even when full grown, don't stand taller than perhaps the elbow of an average man (when his arms are at his sides). Bilbo, the only son of Bungo Baggins and Beladonna Took Baggins, is recruited by Gandalf (largely because of Gandalf's association with Bilbo's mother, whom, the story strongly implies, went on adventures of her own) to help some dwarves reclaim their home from an invading dragon.

He doesn't want to go at first, but due to Gandalf's strong influence, finally sets out on an adventure with his new companions. After quite a lot of run-ins with some unsavory characters and a restful stop at Elrond's Homely House, the dwarves and Bilbo finally reach their destination. But how will their confrontation with the dragon go? Read the book and find out!

Movie Review: The Outsiders based on the Novel by S.E. Hinton

The Movie The Outsiders directed by Francis Ford Coppola was released in 1983. It follows the story of Ponyboy Curtis a young teenager living in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the late 1960s.

He, his best friend Johnny, his brothers, and his friends are called "Greasers". They have conflicts with the Socs (pronounced like the first syllable in Social) who are the rich kids from the other side of town. When Johnny and Ponyboy are out late one night, a group of drunk Socs chase after them, and when Johnny jumps in to keep the Socs from drowning Ponyboy, trouble starts. The movie does have a few swear words in it, and underage smoking. The original movie was rated PG.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a coming of age novel about Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny, his brothers, and other friends from his poor neighborhood in Tulsa, Olkahoma in the late 1960s.

They are referred to and call themselves Greasers. Their rivals, from the other side of town, the rich, priviledged kids, are called the Socs, short for Social, and pronounced like the first syllable in Social. Trouble starts when Johnny and Ponyboy are out late after watching a movie and making friends with a couple of girls who are Socs but aren't as stuck up as the boys they've been dating. Their angry (and drunk) boyfriends find Johnny and Ponyboy, grab Ponyboy and start to dunk his head in a nearby fountain. What happens when Johnny comes to Ponyboy's rescue? Read the book and find out!