I've read The Hobbit 2-1/2 times. Half because I didn't finish it on my first attempt. I've read LOTR about 30+ times altogether - once a year for quite a while - virtually all of the hair on my body is now grey. I was persuaded to read LOTR the first time during as a HS sophomore - by a friend - when I commented that I'd never read it because The Hobbit sucked - talked down to you. The friend said the first chapter or two of LOTR was a little like that but quickly got better and better. "Just stick with it until you get to weather top about 1/2 way through the first book."

I don't know if you would like LOTR or not. But I think my friend gave pretty good advice.

If you do read and like LOTR, I'd also offer the advice to read "The Tale of Years" appendix in the last book when you've finished.

Why read Shakespeare? Why read the Bible? The movies are just OK.

Start with the Hobbit, pretty enjoyable.

I'll curb my initial reaction which was to not think very highly of you and try to be positive.

Tolkien invented whole language systems just to make sure his races had a depth and mythology that didn't feel off the cuff. The lore and therefore depth of the examples you mention are akin to stepping into a puddle vs swimming in the ocean.

The examples you mention have fully realised histories. Tolkien's world has history so established, concrete and utitlised it's become mythology to the characters that take part in the events of the books.

I've read all the stuff you mention and they're simply not comparable. Yes they make you feel like you've stepped into another place. Tolkien makes you feel like you actually live there, or more accurately, that your ancient ancestors did and you're reading their story which is partly about their ancient ancestors. It's so immersive the only fantasy literature I can think of that really compares is Dune.

I've read Tolkien, and I've read lots of what you might call "generic fantasy" (so, Tolkien knockoffs).

Nothing ever came close.

By necessity, the movies have to cut out huge chunks of plot, worldbuilding, and characterization in order to fit the huge epic narrative into a 2-hour timeblock.

There’s tons in the books that got left on the cutting room floor - and a lot that was changed for Hollywood. The overall shape of the plot is the same but adaptation by necessity has to remove and alter a lot by changing the medium.

I would say the movies are faster and more exciting, but they lack the deep sense of immersion and characterization that you get from the books.

I was in the same place as you, just started LOTR and already the cinematic universe seems so limited to the cultural and historical lore included in the books. If you like high fantasy, the books will absolutely be worth it

Silmarillion

Movies aren’t books.

The best part about Tolkien is the vastnes of the world, and everything just “works” and makes sense together. Few other series have such a free sandbox feeling.

Then for LotR specifically, it is an expansive story that may have some boring parts but it all comes together fantastically to make a powerful whole. All of the characters and their motivations make sense, and working together across the world, they fight a long and nearly hopeless battle. So it’s about overcoming great difficulties, with the teamwork of thousands of people and multiple races, and help from even a normal skill-less person is valuable aid.

I loved the movies but they could not properly show the true vastness of the world, nor all the small storylines that add up together to tell a greater one. Other series may have more exciting stories, or more accessible prose, but no one has come close yet to the comprehensive detail of Middle-Earth.

Tolkien was heavily expired by European mythology as well as ancient epics such as Beowulf. LOTR was part of his attempt to create a mythology for Britain, because he thought such a thing was lacking. Lord of the rings has a mythic quality and poetic prose. I have never read another series that feels quite the same. I think it a revered series not just because it was the first, but because it is one of the best. Admittedly it has been a long time since I have read it though.

personally I find the movies to be good on their own merits but relatively weak adaptations of Tolkein's actual work. There's a lot of the story, the characters and the world that is either dropped, simplified or changed to streamline the movie plot or alternately to add pointless melodrama and inter-character conflict. Frankly I think the movies are more 'generic fantasy' than the books, which can still be kinda weird.

Of course you may well not like them at that's ok.

I read the books when i was 15 and didnt like them that much but it wasnt bad.

LOTR was the first fantasy book with such a big world building, different new languages etc. thats why its so big. Because everything similar to it has its roots on LOTR. (for example GRRM had a lot of inspiration on JRRT)

My psychic powers are waning of late. I have no way of knowing whether you'll find them interesting. That, Mr. Holes, is something you'll just have to find out yourself. Go, read, live! I eagerly await your progress reports.

But yes, the movies fail to convey a lot. Tolkien is the gold standard for fantasy worldbuilding. No one has ever come remotely close to the depth of his Middle Earth. That is not to say everyone else pales in comparison, just that no one has ever done anywhere near as much worldbuilding as Tolkien. The movies absolutely do not concern themselves with this because they don't have time for it.

Haven't read the books, calls the world and lore dull.

That's pretty much all that's needed to be said.

It's the fantasy that kind of built the tropes. Kind of like Dune with Sci fi.

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If you want to read something read it, if you don't then don't.

If your on the fence then id say give it a go whenever you get into a mood to read something with a specific premise or theme.

Reading is something you should do for enjoyment or study, not everyone is going to like every book or every genre and that's perfectly fine.

The only time I think there is an issue is when people read two pages and review the book at .5 stars for any amount of dumb reasons like having a lack of character development in the first 500 words. (This happens surprisingly often on sites like Royal Road)

It's a book, not a house. Bur or borrow it and try for yourself. No one can tell you.

Because he’s the best writer to have lived since Homer. That’s why lol

Hard to find something dull that you haven't read.. but if you don't like the general story you remember from the movies, guess there is no reason to waste your time on the books?

But I'm just asking if there's something there that the movies fail to convey about the world that'll keep it interesting for me :( I'm not talking shit, Im inquiring.

>Personally, I find the lore and the universe of Hobbit / LOTR a bit dull. I haven't read the books, I've watched the movies as a young teen, but the universe just didn't interest me that much.

How much can you know if you haven't read the books? It's fine not to have liked the movies, and it's fine not to want to read the books, but maybe don't make such sweeping statements about a universe you barely know.

Anyway Tolkien's worldbuilding is unparalleled when it comes to his attention to language - very idiosyncratic in that way. Theology as well.

Another unique feature of the legendarium is that while Tolkien himself only published two books set in that universe, we do have access to a whole hoard of other writings of his thanks to his son Christopher - a view into not just the finished product (which in some cases, ie the Silmarillion, just does not exist anyway - or at least wasn't finished by Tolkien) but into the process of writing. Readers have access to the kind of material that would normally be reserved for scholars, and perhaps not even them.

Edit: regarding your tastes... Eh. Tolkien writes some dark stuff (Children of Húrin being the prime example) but not full on grimdark à la GRRM. Not particularly grounded either.

I find it is so much more interesting discussing books with people who have actually bothered to read them first.

But I want to read them, I'm just asking first if the world will appeal to me, knowing how I was bored by the adaptations' world