Tigerlily - I don't think you necessarily need to jump in at the beginning and read them straight through. Just "browse" in the areas that interest you, and it will probably lead to more questions that will lead you to pursue other volumes.
I myself started with Volume 6: The Return of the Shadow. It's not really complete tales so much as rough drafts of the LoTR, and shows the development of the novel.
I find it facsinating reading: should have realized that a novel of this size didn't just spring out of Tolkien's head like Venus on a half-shell.
If nothing else it makes me VERY thankful that the original name for Meriadoc was given to the lead character, ("...and 'Bingo' was his name...OHHH?), and that Meriadoc was not saddled for all posterity with the name "Marmaduke"! [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]
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