Neil Gaiman (American Gods, Neverwhere, Good Omens, Doctor Who, Sandman, Stardust, etc.) recently released a compendium of Norse Mythology that he has mordernized and adapted. It's arguably the most accessible way for the person who isn't deeply into it or put off by a modern adaptation to get familiar with the stories. All the original stuff is, like many myth arcs, contradictory and disconnected, with things changing over time depending the author. Most of Norse myth comes from sagas, which you can wiki pretty easily.
https://smile.amazon.com/Norse-Mythology-Neil-Gaiman/dp/039360909X?sa-no-redirect=1
Edit: Wiki on the sources of the myths: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_mythology#Sources
I like this version. Not abridged but the illustrations are great: ilustrated Hobbit
If you are patient and not in a rush there’s a single hardcover volume being released in October of this year that’s supposed to include Tolkien’s original illustrations. I think the cover art is quite nice as well. Price isn’t bad either for hardcover.
https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-Illustrated-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0358653037
Not OP, but I found the same one, vinyl bound, on Amazon. It says it's 1,216 pages. It also says it's $20, which makes it literally $40 cheaper than at my local bookstore. 🤔
Those LoTR books are gorgeous. I’d love to get a set like that.
edit found them on Amazon. Only $50 Canadian. Not bad.
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: Deluxe Pocket Boxed Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0544445783/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_A8EY4CHCMG45A92Q3PNE
I got these for Christmas a couple years back. Used them to read the series for the first time and I absolutely love them. The font is small but manageable.
Viking Language 1 and 2 by Jesse L. Byock. Here's the first one:
https://www.amazon.com/Viking-Language-Learn-Norse-Icelandic/dp/1480216445
You can get audio recordings for the lessons on Amazon or iTunes as well.
The courses are by far the most modernized, user-friendly courses available. A close second would be 'A New Introduction to Old Norse,' which can be purchased here:
https://acmrs.org/publications/catalog/new-introduction-old-norse-part-i-ii-and-iii-discount-set
I also have the 2013 version illustrated by Jemima Catlin and I love it. It really does give it that "children's book" feel to it, but tastefully - if that makes sense.
https://www.amazon.com/Hobbit-Illustrated-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0544174224/ref=asc_df_0544174224/
You can scroll down to the images in the reviews for some samples, and it's cheap enough that you can buy it along with the other editions if you want to.
I had this same set, then had The Hobbit and Fellowship stolen when my car window was smashed and the backpack they were in was taken. Two years I sat frustratingly staring (not the entire time) at an incomplete box set. Just recently I simply had to right this wrong and picked up a new set of them, which has also inspired me to re-read all the way through again.
By the way, this pocket edition set is amazingly fair priced for its quality, look, and feel. And although they are pocket editions, they are extremely readable in my opinion. Highly recommended, $28 bucks on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0544445783/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_AfMjBbPX4HYEH
I hope not, I love the movies and I read half the hobbit but then the pandemic made me return the book to my HS so I just bought em
If anyone else is interested this is what I bought and now it’s on sale
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: Deluxe Pocket Boxed Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0544445783/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_Y75N2M9BQE7HSVA3M94V in dying inside
The one you linked to Amazon is not the same edition as the image you linked.
The image linked is ISBN: 9780618517657
Amazon Link
B&N(Cheaper)
It's a really nice edition.
I saw them in the US at Barnes and Noble a few weeks back. Here's the link from the web store, you may be able to find it there if you want to get it in person.
Amazon seems to have it for half the price though, if you can wait.
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: Deluxe Pocket Boxed Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0544445783/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Mlt.CbCTGB62D
Neil Gaiman wrote a book on Norse Mythology you might like. It's fantastic- the legends are the same but Neil makes them easy to read and shaves the fat.
This is a nice set if you want something for travel (kind of sounded like it):
https://www.amazon.se/dp/0544445783/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_i_2XVHR14RT9RZAV8Y47Z0
Here's another that's pretty cheap of your prefer hardcover:
https://www.amazon.se/dp/0008260184/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_i_M0Q2C1PAJQM3SNVPYH3M
To me, this looks more like a phrase book than anything else. Which could certainly supplement your other studies, but I don’t love phrase books myself.
I took a crack at old Norse a while ago (I only stupore because I lost my study buddy) and I liked this
https://www.amazon.com/Viking-Language-Learn-Norse-Icelandic/dp/1480216445
If anyone interested in this exact version, affiliate-free link:
https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-Deluxe-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0544273443
Have patience. Go where you must go, and hope!
Congrats on the major accomplishment and gift. For those who are interested it's currently on sale on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0544445783/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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I basically bought this one and the Silmarillion. Looking forward to finally reading it.
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Thanks for the help!
The Del Rey editions — which this set is — have the least accurate text of any in print (in English, at least...). I'm not aware of anything that would "dramatically change your understanding of the story," but there are certainly errors that could make you go, "say what!??"
I would suggest buying one of Houghton Mifflin's trade paperback editions, used, if necessary. For the cost of that set, you could get this version of LotR^* and this edition of The Hobbit and you'd have much better text and maps.
*This is the standard edition I usually recommend. The differences between it and "the most accurate current text" are very minor.
If you're just looking for a copy just to read and aren't too concerned about the way it looks, I recommend this one.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Lord-Rings-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0618640150
But if you want one that looks nice on a bookshelf, then this one is the way to go.
The most accurate text is in a very spendy HarperCollins edition from the UK. But the 50th anniversary paperback edition is very good, although the maps are presented in quarters on individual pages. It's long been my reading copy.
I use memrise as an instrument to build some vocab. When I have collected enough pretty words I'll raid this guy's book for me grammars:
http://www.amazon.com/Viking-Language-Learn-Norse-Icelandic/dp/1480216445/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Here's an Amazon link to pocket editions of both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: Deluxe Pocket Boxed Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/0544445783/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_IxEjvb0F1V6PD
Well, welcome to The Hobbit. Tolkien made up the story as he was telling it to his children before bed. Then Tolkien edited it before publication to make everything fit right.
I've done some more reading, and Tolkien wrote that he had originally intended for the Arkenstone to be a silmaril but changed his mind. This is probably why some passages suggest the Arkenstone emits light on its own and other seem to say it only reflects and refracts light in a fancy way.
Incidentally, while the Arkenstone lost importance to the story, the ring of invisibility was originally just supposed to be magical trinket. It being the One Ring and Gollum being a hobbit was a retcon that happened after the publication of The Hobbit.
If you're looking for better tie-ins, you'll have a much better time reading The Lord of the Rings illustrated edition. The footnotes are great. Note that if you click paperback you won't get the footnotes or Tolkien's illustrations, but the kindle version does have them.
While I can recommend just about any edition of The Hobbit, if you're looking for one with a bit more eye candy to help you through it there's this edition that has some great illustrations by Jemima Catlin:
Are you in the US? My understanding is that this version is the best illustrated version for kids: https://www.amazon.com/Hobbit-Illustrated-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0544174224/
There are two other illustrated versions, one of which is illustrated by Tolkien himself. But the illustrations are bit more dark and serious and potentially "scary" or whereas this Catlin version is bright and friendly.