What made you love the books so much?

[Tigerlily Gamgee]

You pretty much took the words from my mouth, Sharon. I completely agree with you.
I find it amazing that Tolkien could create a world and characters who are so real that you actually have to make yourself believe that they never really existed. I think that I have changed since reading the books as well.
My love of nature has come back with a vengeance and I cringe every time I see land being cleared off for new subdivisions or shopping malls. I think, "No! The Ents!". I find it horrible that there is so much destruction in the world today & I often yearn to live in a world such as Middle Earth (not that it was completely care free, but I think I may like it better than here sometimes).
I just love the richness of everything in Tolkien's writing. He uses a language that I have not read in many books ever. It is pure brilliance.