My 10 year old will likely tackle the trilogy on his own this year, after he finishes the Harry Potter books. We're planning on making a family reading of LOTR a yearly tradition, starting in the winter and finishing around Easter.
Definitely took my lead for some of the voices from the film version. Although my Gandalf is more like the old Hobbit cartoon. The toughest part is distinguishing the men, they can start to sound alike. Oddly, I found Merry and Pippen tough as well. Samwise is slow and rustic, Frodo tortured and sensitive, but I found less "voice" in Merry and Pip's lines even though they're two of our favorite characters. Oh well, maybe I'll hit on something next year.
I read somewhere that Christopher Lee has read the trilogy every single year for decades. What an inspiration!
Mine's read HP too. I was 13 when I read the Hobbit, but didn't read the trilogy until I was 17. It's great at any age. I love your idea of reading out loud to the whole family, but no way am I as creative as you with the voices.... I should take lessons.... ;^)
I probably have too...since I was about 12 years old and if you average it out. I might read a little one year and a bunch the next.
I've read the entire trilogy 7 times, The Hobbit twice, and The Silmarillion once just since the movie came out. After I finished the Trilogy this last time, I just skipped right to the Two Towers, and I'm at the Window on the West right now.