New to the game...
 

Ok well I'm new here and well I haven't actually ready any of the LotR Books but ive seen the movies and ive been reading all about the books and other works on the internet at various sites (this one included) and im very intrested in readin them.. but im just not sure where to start.. with what book?.. Hobbit or Fellowship or what..
also.. are the books hard to comprehend as in, are the way they are written make it hard to understand whats going on or what?... Help please

Start with the Hobbit. It gives background to the LotR series.

The Hobbit I wouldn't call a groundwork so much as a prologue, but it is a good place to start. If you find the writing too childish, well, just try to get through it and trust me the mood and style of writing in LotR is much different. If you still feel up to it, you can then tackle the Silmarillion and any other of Tolkien's works or his son's editions!

[ July 01, 2003: Message edited by: Lord of Angmar ]

Personally, I would read the History of Middle-Earth series dead last.

didnt u start another thread like this? Your original was moved to the novice and newcomers. I, like about everyone else, suggest u start with The Hobbit, THough you'll be ok if start with FOTR

start with the hobbit and Jimmy Page rocks hehe

well actually I started 2 threads, one here and one in the newbie section, since the 1st one wasnt gettin many responses I made this one in just the general section, and yes Jimmy Page does rock

You might want to check if there are any other threads with suggested book lists on them, because there probably are a couple others out there. There's no point in creating a duplicate threads. Just use the search function at the top portion of the page.

I know I've posted on this before in another thread, but in the helping spirit, here's my opinion as to the order you should read the books.

1. Hobbit
2. Lord of the Rings
3. Silmarillion
4. Unfinished Tales
5. A Biography (any of them, you'll probably want a background if you desire to continue onward towards the HoME books.)
6. Letters (you can read them all at once, or selectively as you feel the need)
7. History of Middle-Earth (the book of lost tales is similiar in parts to the Silmarillion, after that you get a lot of interesting background info through unpublished drafts and such. I have not yet completed any single HoME book)
8. Other novels, including Roverandom, Leaf by Niggle, Mr. Bliss, etc. (by now you've completed all material on Middle-Earth. Now you move on to the real world in step 9)
9. Professional Works, including Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics, and other lesser known titles. (this step is completely optional, and depends greatly on one's own love of language which has been developed through reading Tolkien. These titles are also quite rare, and I have not yet been able to find any of them so far.)

Enjoy your pursuits!

Iarwain

I'm going to agree with what Iarwain said. Though personally, I'd make one alteration, and move the History of Middle-earth up underneath Unfinished Tales. That's just me, though.

Abedithon le,

Aranel

I'm sorry, but we don't really need two threads with the same question, and this is indeed a topic that has been discussed many times before. I'm moving this thread to the Novices and Newcomers forum, since it is not an advanced book discussion. The previous thread with the same question was closed for the simple reason that the question was answered...

Tolkien's style of writing can be difficult to understand at times, but once you get used to it, it's pretty easy. Sort of like Shakespeare, but much easier. And even if you have a lot of trouble understanding something, you can always ask us as the Downs. We're usually more than happy to help people.