I wanted to read it because of the John Howe cover but my mom wouldn't buy it for me unless I read "To Kill a Mockingbird" to show that I was dedicated enough to read an adult book. So I read it and then she bought me The Fellowship of the Ring and my world was changed forever.
Favorite Tolkien character:
Gandalf. The wise wizard who is a friend to the hobbits. Wise in age, vast in experience, and has a beard that is the definition of awesomeness.