The Shire is bustling with excitement as Bilbo celebrates his 111th birthday. He has a grand surprise in store - his last adventure, and he intends to leave everything, including the ring he found with the creature Gollem, to his cousin Frodo. However, Gandalf the Grey is suspicious of the ring and soon discovers it to be the one ring of the Dark Lord. Frodo must escape the Shire with the ring to keep it from falling into the hands of Sauron.

I read this book for the first time twenty years ago, and it was a life-changing experience. It was my first epic fantasy read, and I was immediately hooked. Reading it again, I felt the same wonder and awe, but on a deeper level. The journey was magical, with poems, songs, and new characters that I had forgotten about, and beloved characters that I cherished. Tolkien's writing style was impeccable, and the way he crafted the characters and world was simply breathtaking.

I understand that some might find the book a bit slow-paced, especially in the prologue and the Council of Elrond, but the rest of the book, with its wonderful and famous lines, was an absolute delight. It remains one of my all-time favorite books.

If you're hesitant to give it a try, I highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Andy Serkis. He makes even the slow parts bearable and brings the characters to life in a way that is truly captivating.