I too read LotR at a relatively early age and loved it, moved onto the Silmarillion at 14 and didn't really understand it. A couple years later I re-read it however and was astounded, it was by far Tolkiens best story telling for me. His ability to do tragic heroes, spurned love, epic battles and all the other great story lines has to be some of the best I have ever read. I guess spending the best part of, what, 40-50 years writing it and not even finishing it, did give him the advantage of time, but I really think that while a lot of people are hung up on lord of the rings, it is definitely not his best work.

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