started reading it one christmas when I was 10. Took forever to read it, finishing only months before the release of the Fellowship in 2001.
Favorite Tolkien character:
A toughie... I love Gandalf and Boromir to bits, but their excellent portrayals in the films coloured my impressions of them as book characters. If I was to pick a favourite character based solely on their own merits, I would have to pick Hurin Thalion, who I think is far more of a tragic hero than his son. I love Hurin because of his numerous qualities as a warrior, father, husband, brother and friend.