I never read LOTR until after the movie Trilogy. I suppose as a long time fantasy fan that's pretty weird, but I always found reading LOTR a slow go. However last summer I gave it another shot, and finished the whole book in just a few weeks. (I then ran out and checked out The Silmarillion from the library) Now I'm a major Tolkien BOOK fan. The one thing that LOTR (and the Silmarillion) does for me, as an experience is that it gives me HOPE and a desire to continue in different aspects of my life, even though things seem pretty much hopeless. In that sense LOTR has helped me through some rough spots in life. In fact I can't wait to read it again. (I'll be purchasing my first copy of the book in the coming week)