I read them in my early 20’s when they were the underground rage in colleges....nearly fifty years ago.
;>)
Also read the National Lampoon satire, “Bored of the Rings” back then... the Bilbo character in the last throes of battling Gollum for the ring in the darkest cavern finds pity for the creature....”pity that his .38 Smith and Wesson had run out of bullets.”
I bought my first set of LOTR in an office supply store, for the same reason: It was underground. And the boxed set contained the four volumes. And yes, I did the Lampoon satire of “Bored of the Rings,” too!
I read them every year until the movies came out. I need to read them again, and then go after the Harry Potter books once more. I think I have them all, in assorted sizes and bindings...
I had “Bored of the Rings” as well. It was very funny!
My favorite “Bored” character was Tim Benzadrine.
Smoke a lid, toke a lid, pass the mescaline-o
Stash the hash, gonna crash, make mine methedrine-o
Hop a hill, pop a pill, for ol’ Tim Benzadrine-o
Those were the days.