Strongly disagree about the dialogue. I reread the novels for the first time in 20 years just last year and I was struck by how naturalistic and often hilarious the dialogue is, especially between hobbits.
Digressions about friendship and family make up the bulk of the series. I'm using the essay a bit as a mirror to the novels to make a point about the novels.
It seems to be a stylistic disagreement here, which isn't especially fruitful.
edward_radical t1_jeb5n3m wrote
Reply to Finally reading Tolkien by jdbrew
Strongly disagree about the dialogue. I reread the novels for the first time in 20 years just last year and I was struck by how naturalistic and often hilarious the dialogue is, especially between hobbits.