How old were you when you first read "The Hobbit"?

[il Padrino Ute]

I ask, because I'm trying to get my 14 year old son interested in reading. He does well in school, but doesn't really like to read. He'd rather play sports or sit down and work at getting better on the drums. Nothing wrong with those activities, but he's not understanding how important it is to read as much as possible to fully appreciate life. Any other folks have/had similar situations?

I was 14 when I read The Hobbit the first time. I'd like to read it again and have my boy read it as well so we can discuss it. It's an awesome story and I think he would actually enjoy it if he would read it.

[TripletDaddy]

I was 12 or 13.

One of my favorite books of all time and one of the first books that really showed how reading can spark imagination and take you on all kinds of fun journeys.

[wuapinmon]

I ask, because I'm trying to get my 14 year old son interested in reading. He does well in school, but doesn't really like to read. He'd rather play sports or sit down and work at getting better on the drums. Nothing wrong with those activities, but he's not understanding how important it is to read as much as possible to fully appreciate life. Any other folks have/had similar situations?

I was 14 when I read The Hobbit the first time. I'd like to read it again and have my boy read it as well so we can discuss it. It's an awesome story and I think he would actually enjoy it if he would read it.

I was eleven. Go for it....a fourteen year old should be ready for the Hobbit without any doubt, provided he's reading on-level.

As far as motivation, offer him a reward if he reads the book and can pass a test about it when he's done. Don't despair though, I'm a literature professor and I was forced to read so much bad literature in high school that I hated reading anything other than my subscription to Military History Magazine.

[landpoke]

Never. I refuse to read anything produced by papists.

[byu71]

Haven't read it. I have though watched all of the Lord of the Rings movies.

[TripletDaddy]

EPU, does he like the Potter books? Because if he does, let him know that he can put those rank amateur pamphlets down and enter Tolkien's world of adventure. He will never read another Hogwarts manifesto again.

[il Padrino Ute]

EPU, does he like the Potter books? Because if he does, let him know that he can put those rank amateur pamphlets down and enter Tolkien's world of adventure. He will never read another Hogwarts manifesto again.

No, he doesn't like Harry Potter at all.

waupinmon has a great idea about rewarding him. He wants a 2nd high hat for his drum set. This may be the way to get him to do it.

Perhaps I'll have my soon to be 11 year old boy read it as well. He's reads at a ridiculously high level and is more into reading than his brother. This may encourage the older one to read it, as his younger brother will mock him for not wanting to read.

Perhaps I should start a Padrino Y chromosome book club. But I get to dress up as Gandalf.

[wuapinmon]

EPU, does he like the Potter books? Because if he does, let him know that he can put those rank amateur pamphlets down and enter Tolkien's world of adventure. He will never read another Hogwarts manifesto again.

Rowling is to Tolkien's books as George is to Ike Behar's neckties.

[Pheidippides]

Pre-teen. By 14, I'd read the entire LOTR trilogy. There was a lot I didn't understand, though - Tolkien has some mean prose.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I have never read it, or any of the LOTR books. I grew up loving to read, and still try to read about 2 books a month.

[happyone]

I read it for an eight grade english class. I loved it. However, I never could into "Lord of the Rings". I must have started that 10 times and could never get past about page 100.

[Borg]

7th grade...I think I was 12 or so. Loved it and couldn't put it down even though I wasn't a "reader" as such.

Immediately grabbed the Lord of the Rings and downed those...loved them.

Stalled out on "Sillmarillion". That was the equivalent of reading the Old Testament for a 12 year old. Just couldn't get through it.

[OhioBlue]

I had read the entire Lord of the Rings series twice by the time I turned 12. The trick is so utterly restrict your son's other options for entertainment (eg TV, video games) that he has no choice but to sit around and read.

Kidding of course, but it worked for me. I loved reading when I was a kid. Now I claim I don't have as much time, but the truth is I like TV and movies too much.

[cowboy]

No wonder he hates to read. I'd hate to read too if people were trying to push that crap on me. Get him a few Louis L'Amour books and he'll be hooked.

[Donuthole]

I was in 6th grade, and we read it as a class. I think becuase of that, I didn't like it as much as I would have had I read it of my own volition. I went back and read it a couple years later and thought it was great.