I encountered The Hobbit about 1963, I think, when I was home with the mumps. Went through the rest soon after, so when they became "mainstream" I was way ahead of the game.
Yah! I would not have known about the books but for my late fiance'. All he told me was where to get them and they were a "must read."
Since then, I have read them once a year...even with the movies. I have the original "The Hobbits" LP and coffee table book...not to mention the subsequent VHS.