Tolkien (duh), Japanese culture, both traditonal (kabuki, The Tale of Genji, geisha) and modern (J-pop, anime, JRPG's), Internet culture (Tumblr is a strange place), Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, and writing fanficton.
First Lord of the Rings reading experience:
Even though I read The Hobbit at around age 12, I didn't become interested in Tolkien until the movies came out. My Dad said that the books were even better, so I decided to buy The Lord of the Rings 3-in-1 book to see if he was right. He was, of course. I eventually gave that to a friend, but not before becoming a book-verse diehard.
I don't remember much about my first reading of Lord of the Rings, but I do remember that I couldn't get enough of it.
