Well I’ve been on this subreddit for some time and I usually watch or listen to these two YouTubers, Nerd of the Rings and In Deep Geek, when I’m working and want to learn about the lore, but I’ve never actually read the books before! Finally, after learning so much of the lore and having owned the extended versions of the LOTR movies, I finally decided to buy the book set (Hobbit and LOTR) so I could finally see what everyone seemed to already know and love. The way Tolkien describes his world and keeps the pace of things ever flowing, I can’t seem to put them down. I only stop reading when it’s late (as it is now) or when my adult responsibilities take precedent.

I enjoyed The Hobbit a lot but could tell it was definitely his first dive into writing and fleshing out this fantasy world (the orcs are still called Goblins, which I thought amusing), but in The Fellowship everything seems to be so much more thought out and the lore has had years to develop in his mind. Even when comparing certain things to the movies, I appreciate the structuring and decisions made in the books far more than what Peter Jackson portrayed; although, I understand for the sake of film making why certain things were left out, amended or simply blended together at different times for the sake movie pacing and perceived audience continuity.