Right after the first movie came out I read all 3 and the Hobbit in about 2 months and loved every minute of it. I felt like a true geek after that (apparently being in marching band, orchestra, sound crew, and having grown up on Star Trek: TNG hadn't hit that message home yet).
Favorite Tolkien character:
It used to be Sam, but for the last few years I'd have to say Eowyn.