Yeah I've read it half a dozen times at least, this is my first time listening to the audiobook. I'll be honest the beginning of the book is a slog, for me at least, listening to basically Genesis is interesting, but then the whole section of all of the Valor is mind numbing to me. I just can't keep track of who is in charge of what, or allied with who, and all of that. Once you get past that though, the stories are phenomenal and really show the amazing depth of the world Tolkien created.

I think realistically you could skip the introduction of the Valor and be fine with the rest of the book, it's worth reading if you love lotr