I loved the movies so much. They actually have a really good element of religion. J.R Tolkien was a very religious man himself. I am starting to read the books now, it's taking me a while. I didn't see them when they first came out because I'm not one to follow a trend. But, I ended up being the most obsessed out of all of my friends.

I happen to live not far from the place that inspired Tolkien and I was actually scheduled to teach a course on his life and works. Not enough students signed up, unfortunately, so it was shelved, but some of us are planning on taking a Tolkien Discovery Walk this spring.

That's a shame, PDM, you should go and take photos for us!

If you want pictures - and a brief history - have a look here:
http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateCon...6&EXPAND=15

I'd also recommend the biography by the late Humphrey Carpenter. It's very readable.

The only thing I will say is that Carpenter makes a point of saying that while Tolkien loved Worcestershire, his beloved Sarehole was in Warwickshire. But it wasn't; it was in Worcestershire.

It is now a suburb of Birmingham. It's alongside a conservation area, though, so it retains a bit of its 'rural' charm.

Ok, tolkien is legendary - i was impressed with the films, but how many times did i try reading the books!?! i would read the first couple of books (including the hobbit) and never get any further. the story is a fantastic one, don't get me wrong, but there was only so many times i could read that they went 'over the hill, and then under the hill, and then they had breakfast, then over another hill, and they had second breakfast, and then round another hill....' i could go on...

I understand.
I read The Hobbit and loved it.
I've almost finished The Fellowship', but whether I'll ever get to the end, I don't know.
You really have to be in the mood and have plenty of time on your hands.

yes - i really enjoyed the hobbit too. it just all starts becoming repetitious after that.

now harry potter! there's a great read! i'm very excited about the next book...

Patience is a virtue.
I too tried several times before I read Tolkiens books but it was worth it in the end. The films could have been a big disapointment, but to everyones credit they were beautifly made

I've read all the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter also. I started reading the Harry Potters series when I was teaching just to see what they were like because so many students borrowed them from the Library. I have to admit, I really ejoyed them and even set some of my english/cloze activities on say a particular chapter of the book after it was read in class. The children loved it.

I think it's great to get children interested in learning, via books that they already love.

I haven't read the Harry Potter books, myself, possibly because my children have never shown much interest. When I was helping out in the local primary school I would sometimes listen to children reading excerpts from the first one, but it didn't grab my imagination too much.

I have bought all of the Lord of the Rings - and some other Tolkien extracts - on tape. I might listen to them while I'm driving (provided they don't send me to sleep).