The story begins at birthday party of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins. They share the same birthday. Frodo turns 33 and becomes a man in Hobbit culture and Bilbo becomes 111, a strange and peculiar number. Bilbo leaves his home after disappearing at the party with a magic ring. He entrusts all of his belongings and treasures to his nephew Frodo. Gandalf the Grey, a powerful wizard sent by the (insert immortal group name here) to protect Middle-Earth, convinces Bilbo to also leave the ring to Frodo.
Gandalf persuades Frodo to keep the ring hidden and safe. He also told Frodo to never wear the ring. Later, Gandalf finds out that the ring is the One Ring, a dangerous artifact created by the Dark Lord Sauron with the help of the Elven blacksmith Celebrimbor.
He sends Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin to eradicate the One Ring by going on a quest and destroying it in a magical place. They see a mysterious figure dressed in all black. Sam recognizes them as a group looking for Frodo and the One Ring for Sauron. After escaping, they meet a group of friendly Elves who have already heard of them and some of their mission.
As I was reading the book, things I were wondering about were how J.R.R. Tolkien thought of the Hobbit world and if Gandalf is immortal. I predict that the Frodo and Gandalf will see Bilbo again. I like Gandalf because of his willingness to always do the right thing in the interests of the greater good. I dislike the Sackville-Bagginses because they are greedy and ungrateful. The quote “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world” is important because some humans must realize that money is not the most important thing in the universe.
In chapter five, Frodo and his friends continue their journey while being pursued by the Black Riders. The Black Riders asked a local hobbit, the Old Maggot, if he had seen Frodo. Maggot chased the Black Riders away from his home. Later, Frodo meets Maggot and they share their stories. Maggot offers to bring Frodo and his friends to the ferry. After, they arrive at Frodo’s new home in Crickhollow, with one of his friends preparing the house. Frodo’s friends tell Frodo that they had known of his plans to leave, as well as the One Ring.