[Boromir88]

Nice thread Volo. Tolkien's good friend, Donald Swann, said some things that I always keep in mind. Swann co-wrote The Road Goes Ever On, along with Tolkien, and the foreward is a pleasant reflection of his friend:

"I used to feel that the Tolkien dimension was almost a danger. I then went against this, and decided I would enter it at any time I chose, but with this golden rule...that I must be able to emerge, shut the book, and get up from the chair. If I can't, I will earn the disappproval of the author. He was an upright man in the real world, and had no intention of casting a spell on anyone. I told him once of a young man who thought he was Frodo. "I've ruined their lives," he said disconsolately."

As much time Tolkien spent on writing his books, that was only a fraction of his life. His work in academics, his family life, his religious life, his time spent with chaps at the pub...I'm simply amazed that he had the time for all this! If I could ask him anything it would be about establishing good time management skills.

Anyway, I think Letter 181 cuts right to the heart of the question:

'I hope that you have enjoyed The Lord of the Rings? Enjoyed is the key-word. For it was written to amuse (in the highest sense): to be readable.'

Seeing as we are all different people with different interests, liking different things, the way we 'enjoy' the books are all different. For myself, I love reading and analyzing the story, particularly it's historical context. If I wasn't in HR, I would totally be a History teacher. Others take interest in the art work, or perhaps RPGing, or maybe the religious context. There are several people I know who are more interested in the author then any of the books he wrote, or perhaps you just want to sit down, relax, and read a good book. So, how we all find our personal enjoyment is going to be different.

One thing to keep in mind though is there is a life to live. The books were written to 'be readable' for the reader's own enjoyment; nothing more. Remembering what Donald Swann says, we just have to be able to 'shut the book and get up from the chair'. As my impression of Tolkien is that he was a warm, and down to earth fellow, he wouldn't want to find out that his story had consumed the life of one of his readers. Afterall, as much time as Tolkien spent writing his story and replying to his readers, he still set the pen down and got up from the chair.

It's interesting people seem to be embarassed at times to let people know things such as Star Wars, or The Lord of the Rings. By like I don't mean read it once and think 'hmm that was fun...next' but like as in you take a deep interest in it and just love talking about it. But really, if you think about it it's know different than someone else's 'obsession.' (if you want to refer call it that) Everyone has something they are passionate about. I have a friend who loves everything that has to do with Anderson Cooper, my mother reads all the Stephen King books...it's really the same passion I have for anything Tolkien related. But we can all set aside our obsessions and get out of that chair.

Although, I'm sure some can tell you I am obsessed with Sean Bean and Natalie Portman, but that's more of a 'strong fondness for two talented actors'