I am ashamed to admit I saw the films first. Although I am an avid reader, I come from a family where no one reads so I was never told the books I MUST read and I have come to them all later in life. I am devouring classics now and LOTR is one of my favourites, as is The Silmarillion. The first time I read LOTR I went right out and bought the Silmarilion and read it straight after. I must admit my first reading was a little tough-going. I stopped at The Council of Elrond and took a long time to pick it back up. It seemed to me to be overly descriptive but now... I crave more description. I love how Tolkien has created a whole universe and I want to immerse myself in it.