[Iris Alantiel]

I know exactly how you feel, Eruwen. When I was a kid (like 10) I really enjoyed Tolkien. Then, I was about 12, I did a presentation on Tolkien in class, and a lot of people started looking at me very weird because I was interested in someone so obscure, as opposed to Mariah Carey or Celine Dion or some actress. So, trying to make myself fit in better, I lost touch with the side of myself that really loved Tolkien.

For me, all it took to return to that part of my life was to start reading LotR again. At first it took a little bit of effort to get into it again, but before very long I was absolutely delighted with it; it was like coming home for me. Now I'm one of those crazy types of people who sits there on my break at work reading LotR with a big goofy smile on my face, but I don't care, because I love it so much.

I don't think you necessarily have to be obsessive about LotR to enjoy it. As others have said, there is more to life and too much of anything - even a good thing - can be negative. But it's so sad to feel as if you've lost touch with something that meant a lot to you just because you felt pressured by people who didn't share your interest. My advice would be, if reading the books again makes you happy, as it sounds like it probably will, keep doing it. All the best.