Writing, reading, movies, history, obscure languages. Have a degree in Italian philology, would like to study Germanic philology. More will come to my mind.
First Lord of the Rings reading experience:
At 15, thanks to a friend who gave me LOTR as a gift. Then I read The Hobbit, the first book I read in the English language. Read the Silmarillion in English only lately, and fell in love with it. Currently working my way through HoME.
Favorite Tolkien character:
Aragorn, at 15 my ideal man; pictured him like Viggo in FOTR.
Movie Faramir, I loved the added conflict.
Thorin since I read the Hobbit, the classic flawed hero; pictured him exactly like Armitage.
Movie Thranduil, a new entry thanks to Lee Pace's complex characterization.
Several Elven Lords such as Fingolfin, Finrod, Maedhros, Elrond.