LOTR sans Hobbit

[Amy Z]

Cindy wrote:
 
> Amy, can I or should I just skip the Hobbit and head straight for 
> LOTR?  Or is that kind of tacky?

Hmm, now that's a controversial question.    

I much prefer LOTR, so I'm tempted to say yes.  The Hobbit seems kind 
of childish to me--very much written to children.  I'm afraid if that 
isn't what you're looking for, you'll give up on Tolkien after 
reading The Hobbit.  On the other hand, you meet Gollum, who's very  
important, and you meet Bilbo, who figures in the background of LOTR, 
and the riddle scene is sooooooooooooo good.  So I would say:  read 
The Hobbit but don't stop there, and don't think what you like (or 
dislike) about it will be in LOTR.

Of course, I did recommend Prydain to you and it is very much for 
children.  It just doesn't have that cutesy tone that JRRT can get 
now and then in The Hobbit (I can give him a break, he was writing 
for his kids).

Any thoughts, you other JRRT fans out there?

Amy