Can't think clearly enough to reply to either 112 or 113 so guess I'm conceeding. Bombadil's a good guy.
I don't care for the Bombadil part of the story either...I usually just skip it (much to HOTD's horror). I can stomach him long enough to get through the Barrow Downs, but that's it.
Someone up the thread brought up Beorn and how they were similar...now I really like Beorn.
Welcome, Miss Marple! The folks on this thread really do love the books. I, for one, have read them too many times to count (I know I'm on my fifth reading now, since the movie came out.)