[Azaelia of Willowbottom]

I usually read LOTR in order, starting from page one. I guess this is because I just never thought of reading it differently.

Sometimes, I use them as research, and go back to whatever point in the story that I need to find a quote or whatever else I am looking for.

Someone I talked to once had charted out a complex timeline that involved reading LOTR in chronological order, according to the events that happened in the story. I may do that on my next read-through, as it sounds very interesting. I don't know how far I'd actually get without getting so wrapped up in the flow of the story that I forget to flip to whatever chapter I'm supposed to read next.

On readthroughs, I never technically skip anything, but some parts I have found that I skim over in my rush to reach my favorite scenes. It's not that I don't read them, it's that I read them less carefully. It's one of the hazards of me knowing what comes next.

I'd never read LOTR in random order as has been suggested by some, for two reasons: I love the way the story flows, and that it would never be random order, because I'd open it to a place and forget that I'm supposed to be jumping around randomly, and just read straight through from that point.

I sort of wish that I could be reading it for the first time again, but I never try to forget the ending, or what happens next...Wish I could, but it isn't possible. I do get wrapped up in the story, but never to the extent tht I did when reading it for the first time.