So do I Lalaith but it is quite clear that he doesn't like the book, and probably liked the films as action films blah blah.... I guess he was never going to be into it .. as ahs been discussed elsewhere there is a section of the Literati who dislike Tolkien on principle and othere who genuinely don't get it - and that doesn't stop them having good judgement in other areas
. I get the feeling that he is a genuine in his dislike (a don't like rather than a won't like) .. so I don't let him put you off.