The Hobbit

Celebrate Tolkien Reading Day with the story of a first edition version of The Hobbit that has its own interesting adventure. Similar to the ring of power in the LOTR trilogy, this book was stolen from, but then later returned to, its home at The University of North Texas. Luckily for all of us book lovers and fantasy fans, it wasn't dipped in a lava bath once it got back home.

Aside from learning how to throw a changeup and turning a double play, the best thing my father ever introduced me to was Middle Earth. My dad could teach classes on J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit." Almost a decade after the showstopping "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy finished, we're at the dawn of "The Hobbit," and we're getting go