I borrowed it from a neighbor as a kid but they asked for it back before I ever got far into it. Years later, the trilogy got me through a rough freshman year of college, and I've been a devoted follower ever since.
Favorite Tolkien character:
Besides the obvious answer, Gandalf, my favorite has always been Sam, because he represents the heart and soul of Middle Earth. The quintessential hobbit: down-to-earth - literally! - as well as loyal and courageous. He is the only member of the fellowship to come from a lowly birth; all the rest come from well-to-do or noble backgrounds.