Fellowship of the Ring
We have finally made it to the first chapter. But Dear Reader I have a secret… I’ve listened to the entire audio book.
Anyways–in this chapter we find Bilbo Baggins planning his party for is birthday 111 years young.
Hobbiton is always whispering about him. He’s so young looking. He is so well preserved. Ladies and gentlemen we have an Age of Adeline situation here.
They gossip about that one time he disappeared for a while and came back with lots of loot. Bilbo has always been super nice and generous with his money. While he was away on his adventure, his family secretly opening hoped he never returned. Even before his adventure it seems he had a pretty good thing going for him.
But he wasn’t really close to anyone for years until Frodo (his cousin) got older and then Bilbo named him his heir.
Gossip on Frodo: His parents drowned so he’s an orphan. His parents names are Drogo Baggins and Primula Brandybuck. And of course the family wasn’t too happy with the marriage. I gathered they may have been related on a … Sweet Home Alabama level. But it’s surprising because most if not all hobbits are related to each other. And they all proudly know their family tree through and through.
Back to the party…
Bilbo orders lots of food and beverages, and eventually Gandalf shows up with his own special fireworks. So at the party Bilbo gives this whole speech. He goes out there it sounds pretty prosaic, then he gets shady the crowd isn’t really clapping. And after some more words he slips the ring on says goodbye and poofs away.
Bilbo and Gandalf have a talk which starts off civil nd takes a turn when its becomes apparent that Bilbo does not want to part with the ring as he had earlier promised Gandalf. Bilbo tries to reason his claim for this ring and argue why he should keep it. I wonder if the ring knows Bilbo is traveling and it wants to be found.
Anyways Bilbo departs and he does leave the ring and puts Frodo in charge of handling his affairs as his heir. Frodo and Gandalf have a conversation about the ring in which Gandalf tells Frodo to keep the ring secret and safe. He does go as far as to say not to make use of it. At this point Gandalf knows nothing of this ring. Which c’mon they all know what happened right the war and what not way back when.
So Frodo is left to settle Bilbo’s affairs ie: the distribution of things he wanted to give people from his estate. At first it was orderly and hobbits were given items left to them in the will however that didn’t last very long.
The town all wanted a piece of Bag End and whatever they dreamed Bilbo had hidden away from his adventure. Frodo was left to manage the fights, label swapping, hole punching walls, and the digging in the pantries floors that the hobbits started doing.
And not many were happy with the arrangements Bilbo left in place with Frodo as heir. Mostly the family and they were very vocal about it.
The town even wonders if Bilbo died. Did they think he just took himself outback and ended it all?
I’m currently on the second audio book and it’s like pulling teeth at this moment. I liked Fellowship of the Ring more.
Well anyways.. see ya later
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