My father read aloud the books to me and my brothers as a bed side story, when I was 5 years old.
Favorite Tolkien character:
Gimli.
I love the dwarves as a people and Gimli is the one we get to know the best. His stubbornes, honesty, and nobel heart are all characteristics that I find appealing in a hero. The dialog Tolkien created for Gimli is also some of my favorite.