The Hobbit

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. The coziest first sentence ever typed.

Bilbo ran out his door without a pocket handkerchief. Adventure begins with underpacking.

Riddles in the dark with Gollum, the tensest Q&A session in literature.

More than anything he loved the ring. Said at the barrel scene. We all know better now.

Thorin's dying words, if more of us valued food and cheer above gold, it would be a merrier world.

Bard shot the dragon with a black arrow and a wind change. Skills plus timing.

The battle of five armies took eleven pages. The Hobbit's actual dragon was greed all along.

Bilbo went back to tea and more comfort than usual. Post-adventure depression, 1937 edition.

Smaug's vanity was the weak point. Monsters love talking about themselves. Let them.

Carried out of it: comfort is a launchpad, not a grave. Keep your handkerchief by the door.