When I was in my teens and early twenties I made a habit of reading THE LORD OF THE RINGS every years, each time starting a few days before September 22nd, which is when the book starts.

It's been quite a while since I last read the books, after seeing the first movie in the theater when it was in original release, but I found myself in the mood again, so. . .

Once again I am reminded of what a very good wordsmith Tolkien was. This guy could sling a sentence! It is also quite fascinating to watch the storytelling "grow". It begins very lightheartedly, much in the style of THE HOBBIT (which was, after all, a kid's book), and grows steadily "darker" as we go. Not quite 100 pages in, just now, but already reminded of the many, many reasons I loathe the Peter Jackson "interpretation" -- tho, credit where credit is due, his Black Riders were magnificent!

Reading THE LORD OF THE RINGS is one of those experiences that is very, very comfortable for me, like spending time with old and valued friends. I reckon this will make something like the 15th time I have read it, and there are long passages I am virtually doing in my head as I go, more than actually reading.

(I've a longtime friend who is very dismissive of the books. Refuses to read them. Thinks they are stupid and that anyone who would even look at them must have a screw loose somewhere. Whenever he gets off on one of his minirants I ask him what issue of JUSTICE LEAGUE Kanjar Ro first appeared in. He names the issue without a blink, as he could about any other piece of DC Comics "lore". For some reason, he never seems to get my point.)