That's a good strategy, there's so much detail, that to try to really study it on the first time through would bog you down. There's enough information to read it at a pleasurable pace and still find something new in it a second, third, fourth, and fifth time through it.
I assume you've seen all the movies. Do you think that helps or hinders reading the books the first time?
I've not seen the movies yet. I wanted to read the book through twice or three times before I watch the trilogy.