> Each time I re-read it now, I also include the
> Silmarillion and the Hobbit before The
> Fellowship. I've read it through twice that way.

Whoa, wait. You've actually *read* the Silmarillion? MORE THAN ONCE? And it *didn't* kill you? Now *that* is freaking impressive.

I can't even BEGIN to read the Silm. I could *barely* make it through Lord of the Rings. It makes me feel like less of a man that it took me so long to read LotR, and I had to FORCE myself to read it all the way through, so I feel even worse about it. Any other book or series of books I would have given up on quickly if they were written like LotR. Intellectually I recognize it as a great novel, but my body conspires to put me to sleep after reading more than a few paragraphs in a row. I especially hated that huge chunk in the middle in which NOTHING HAPPENS. I think it's called The Two Towers.

Anyway, congratulations on your accomplishment. I burned all copies of the Silm that I owned long ago out of frustration.

-- Dave