[GretchenEE]

JenB, yes, I began (forced myself to begin) with The Hobbit, although I saw FotR before I finished reading it. I have had this overwhelming sense that there is a good chronology in which one should read Tolkien in order to have his writing make the most sense, so starting with Bilbo's story made the most sense. But it is easy for a reader to lose the trail after the trilogy.

Thank you for your excellent recommendations. I am copying and pasting them into an Email to myself so I'll have them at hand (same for HairoftheDog's suggestions). Interestingly, I figured that Silmarillion should be next, but didn't want to go with my uneducated guess. I came to that conclusion after reading Sam and Frodo's discussion at the end of The Two Towers about the tales and adventures of the Silmarillion, how they were darker and more desperate adventures than what Frodo and Sam were experiencing, and yet they got through their "tale" and in doing so, passed on the light of Earendil for Sam and Frodo to use in the dark places.

Thanks. You folks are the best.

[JenB]

Always happy to help! Good for you, reading "The Hobbit" first even though the movie was coming out... I'll bet you really appreciated the jokes about Bilbo's adventures, and the map!