I have to say, I am loving it! It’s a wonderful read, so much better than I had expected. First of all, I’ve had the ‘Unexpected Party’ chapter read to me a couple of times. First off, when I was five or so, my mother started reading it to me, but I don’t think we got very far. Then over the past nigh-on decade I have been with my fiancé we have started this book probably twice before. I love this chapter, I love the cloaks all hung on the pegs in the front hall. I’ve always found that such an easy image to conjure in my mind, and has stuck with me for a long time.

Now, I didn’t really expect all that much from Bilbo to begin with… I’m more familiar with Lord of the Rings – though, ashamedly, I’ve not read that either, which is why it is the book my fiancé and I are going to start on once we finish The Hobbit – in which Bilbo is quite old and seems quite frail. Not in The Hobbit though, in fact, my esteem of Hobbits has gone up exponentially from reading this. Bilbo is quick witted, clever, brave, stoic, loyal, honourable, and all round more awesome than I had ever expected.

The scene where Bilbo fights off all the spiders of Mirkwood really set it in my mind that this is one little Hobbit not to trifle with. He so bravely attacked those disgusting creatures, and didn’t think anything of it, himself. Earlier in the book too, when he got out of the Goblin infested caves, he knew he would go back for the Dwarves, but they would have left him back in there if not for Gandalf insisting they didn’t. Bilbo is more loyal to them, and it takes him saving their lives three times over before they truly start to appreciate the awesomeness that is Bilbo Baggins, of Bag-End, Underhill.

Reading this book has made my appreciation of Hobbits in general take off, and I thought they were kick ass in the first place! I’m even more happy to be playing one in LOTRO than I was before! I’m also loving all the traits I personally share with Hobbits, so that makes me really happy too.

Today I am going to link to a pattern of a knitted spider, so the awesome Hobbit in us all can kick it’s knitted ass…

Firstly, the one most imminent. I am really, really, looking forward to the new Pixar movie, Up. This just looks like such a sweet film, and I have always liked anything that Pixar has brought to the big screen. I like the grumpy old man character, and I love the ‘Follow your dreams’ message the film seems to be promoting. I’m really excited that this one is out this year, though we have to wait until October before it hits our shores.

Next up, Alice in Wonderland, a new Disney film directed by Tim Burton. Alice in Wonderland is such an interesting story, so rich should one want to pull it apart to gain greater understanding, or simply read/watch it superficially. In this case, I think there will be a certain kookiness to it that hasn’t been depicted in quite the same way before. Burton lends himself well to the eerie, and sometimes the macabre, and whilst I hope the latter isn’t present in this film, I’m nearly certain there will be bucket loads of the former! The casting choices have made this film a stand out one to see for me, I think Jonny Depp as the Mad Hatter will be great – though if I hadn’t seen his rendition of Willy Wonka, I wouldn’t have thought that at all – and Helena Bonam Carter will be fantastic as the Red Queen/Queen of Hearts… Apparently they are increasing the size of her head by three times for the film, I think that will be great! They have also cast Mat Lucas as both Tweedles and I think that is going to be absolutely hilarious! More great British talent has been case in Steven Fry as the Cheshire Cat, which I think will play out marvellously, and Christopher Lee has been cast as the Jabberwock which I’m guessing is going to be absolutely amazing! Here’s a link to the character screens released so far, their is definitely a very strong idea of what the film is going to be like shown here, and I think that it’s great. The release date is March 5 next year.

Lastly, I’m really excited about the up comming Hobbit film. I’m so excited to see how this book comes to life over two films! Guillermo del Toro is set to direct, and if he manages to capture the wonder and emotional intensity of Pan’s Labyrinth with the wonderful content of The Hobbit, then this film is set to be one of my all time favourites! Casting hasn’t been announced for Bilbo himself, but Gandalf, Golum, and Elrond are all set to return. I’m so glad that Gandalf especially is going to reprise his roll, because… He’s Gandalf! We can expect these films in December next year and the year after.

For today’s patterns, I think something inspired by Alice in Wonderland, these gloves, and something inspired by The Hobbit, these amazingly cute Hobbit feet baby booties. I’m thinking of scaling up the pattern and making these for myself!