I tried, Lord knows I tried, but I only got through a third of it. (Is it really considered a trilogy? I thought it was supposed to be considered as one.) Not my bag. And I have an English lit degree, so you can’t say I’m subliterate.
Or “The Wheel of Time” series by Robert Jordan. The first few books were fun. In later books there were just endless descriptions of women’s dresses and the fine details of the lace. I couldn’t decide if it was needless padding or a weird obsession on Jordan’s part. The series got harder to slog through the further you got. Tolkien’s world building was light years better.
Note that it is possible both to think that the statement made by this thread’s title is true and to personally not like it.
I think that The Lord of the Rings is very good, possibly even The Best, at being what it is and doing what it does. But not everyone likes that kind of thing. And that’s perfectly okay.
I read it, I guess, four times so far (due for a re-read one of these days), the first time when I was 13. I never found it particularly difficult to read, but when I did get bogged down during at least a couple of read-throughs, it was in Book III (i.e. the first half of The Two Towers).
I think different people plug into different things.
My GF is ALL about the writing. Whatever the book is it needs to meet her personal standards of good writing. Years later I still have not figured out what that is.
Personally, I like the world building and the slow but steady plot.
Others want something faster paced. Or romance. Or whatever.
All are valid and there is no better or worse when it comes to preference.
I will say that Tolkien’s world building is unsurpassed. Doesn’t mean you have to like it.
[Moderating]
This is verging very close to saying that people who don’t like the books, including some people who have already posted in the thread, are sub-literate. Cut it. Now.
That reminds me–I did read Bored of the Rings in high school (around 1990).
While not the best parody ever written and, on re-reading, showing far too much reliance on punning with late 1960s commercial product names that have not aged well, I can offer Bored of the Rings as part of the LOTR universe.
Wikipedia says it has remained in print since being published in 1969, which is impressive indeed and it has gone into multiple languages, which is the great final test for any wordplay.
Its enduring quality and readability probably stems in large part from the solidity of the book it was parodying as a story.
My opinion, as well. Perhaps the writing itself isn’t quite as elevated but I’ve read comic books with better stories. Also, my taste in Fantasy veers closer to Science Fiction.
Me, too. Only about 20 years earlier.
Loved the movies. Hated the books.
Technically, it is one story, divided into six parts. Traditionally, publishers print Book One and Book Two in a single volume, Book Three and Book Four in another volume, etc.
One thing new readers need to be aware of, is that The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and the Silmarillion are three different beasts, written for three different audiences.
The Hobbit is written for children.
The Lord of the Rings is written for a general audience.
The Silmarillion is written for ivory-tower academics.
People will often read one, love it, then get confused when another fails to match their expectations.
Eh…the first third sure. It’s a bit of a slog.
But later it gets into stories (like Beren and Luthien). Those are great. If I could make Peter Jackson do another movie it would be that.
I didnt say that. In fact I said
Tastes vary, and even the best of all time in any category has people who dont like it.
Needless padding. His editors told him his readers would buy anything so he started to put out books with about a chapter of plot moving forward, and lots of passing. Then he died.
I would like to have a rule- if you are gonna do something like that- I am looking at you GRRM and Rothfuss-you have to put a final ending plot synopsis in a sealed mayonnaise jar on Funk & wagnalls porch- or something.
This being the internet and all, you are correct. If one does not love a work beyond all measure, one must hate it beyond all measure. Never acknowledge anything in between. It is heresy!
If you like kittens the most, you must hate puppies. If you like banana cream pie the most, you must hate apple pie. If you like tiramisu the most, you obviously hate and despise ice cream.
I’ve probably read The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Hobbit more than ten time over my lifetime. I enjoy them immensely. I have a copy of the Silmarillion and have read some of it, even.
The best story of all time? Hold up a minute. Even restricting the discussion to epic fantasy, I personally have always held The Riddlemaster trilogy by Patricia A. McKillip, the Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny (at least the Corwin books), and the Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin in higher esteem than The Lord of the Rings. Tolkein’s writing makes the reader do a lot more of the heavy lifting to create vibrant characters and their emotions. It’s worth the lift, but my admiration of writing that sweeps the reader through the story is greater for some other authors.
Now, I guess I’m obliged to go kick a puppy. 
Oh, no doubt. He definitely gets into it.
Oh, that’s a big plus in my book. Because I hate the things unfolding exactly like you describe, with a bunch of random people and having to guess how it’s going to fit together. I’ll check it out!
I didnt say that either.
“dont like” is not the same as Hate.
Nothing wrong with those- altho the later Amber books to me are just so-so.
Note what I was replying to
I.e people who dislike LotR. You do not seem to dislike LotR so my words were not meant for you.
I wasn’t talking about people who like LotR but prefer other fantasy epics. That’s great. I disagree, but that’s just a matter of taste.
But my point stands- it doesn’t matter how great something is- someone will dislike it. Best film of all time has people who don’t like it.
Can you think of something that everyone universally loves?
I understand. That’s how I took it. No argument from me on this point.
I’ve tried the books. Couldn’t get through them. I tried watching the second movie, but I fell asleep. Twice. It was so dark, and there was so much fighting. I usually fast forward through battle scenes, because they’re usually boring for me.
I don’t hate/dislike fanstasy or world-building – good grief, I actually read the 800 page version of Islandia – I guess it’s just Tolkein’s world itself that doesn’t work for me. I didn’t care much for Game of Thrones either. It’s not my favorite genre of fantasy.
Do you have the Tolkien Bestiary? Lovely pictures.
Oxygen?