El hobbit

"The Hobbit" could have been Tolkien's magnum opus, but "The Silmarillion" has claimed that title for itself. However, that does not diminish the greatness of his first published novel. I initially read "The Hobbit" when I was 9. Since then, it has been transformed into a permanent fixture in my life, and I reread it at least yearly, despite the fact that it was originally intended for children. But then again, that is precisely what makes it so great. W.H. Auden was right when he said that "there are good books which are only for adults because their comprehension presupposes adult experiences, but there are no good books which are only for children." and "The Hobbit" just so happens to be the perfect example. With its iconic cast of characters, beautifully written prose, adventurous plot, mesmerizing world-building, and captivating portrayal of its primary villain, the sentient dragon Smaug, this book is still as enjoyable to me as it was when I was 9 years old, if not even more.