It was a while ago but not long ago. I was ten and was prompted by my brother to read it, after he had watched the films. I liked it but not very much. Then I read the Hobbit and fell in love with it. Later, I revisited LOTR, and found it much more enjoyable than I remembered.
Favorite Tolkien character:
Bilbo Baggins. I really like his story from a comfortable Hobbit to a much more adventurous (or "Tookish") one.