I've only seen some of the movies and never read the books, where do I even start?
A preface to all that follows, feel free to read or not read any of these books. Someone who has seen and enjoys the films is as much a “fan” as someone who has only read the books. Read the books because you want to enjoy them, not because you feel pressure to out of obligation to others. That said, I would advise starting with The Hobbit. Because of its length, easy readability, great character arc with Bilbo, and place in the chronology it’s usually the go-to for anyone reading the books for the first time. If that that sits well with you, start The Lord of the Rings after. It’s a bit longer, but delves deeper into the historical aspect of the world Tolkien has created. It might be tempting, but don’t skip the prologue (”Concerning Hobbits, and other matters”).
If that has scratched your Tolkien itch enough to be satisfied there’s no problem with just ending right there. If you want to go further here is what I advise: 1). The LotR Appendices A and B. More history and stories that couldn’t fit into LotR. 2). The Silmarillion. This one can take some time to get into. You might find it helpful to view it as a mythological library that contains several stories that are intertwined with each other. Some of the text is a little aloof, the language a little archaic, and the plot a little messy. Have patience, and try to make it to Chapter 6. “Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor.” This is where all the setup you’ve endured starts to pay off. 3). The Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth. Honestly, anything beyond The Silm is just for brownie points or for someone who has really fallen down the rabbit hole. This collection has some interesting side tales, such as "The Hunt for the Ring" that documents the Nazgûl’s journey to finding the Ring in the Shire and an unexpected encounter they have with another villain in the books along the way. 4). Maybe The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien? It does include letters where he writes and theorizes on answers to his books and writing, but it’s also every other letter we have record of that includes non-ME business. I’d advise finding a digital .pdf copy off the back of a truck online and CTRL/CMD + F searching to find interesting stories. Two of my favorites: His reply to an actual Sam Gamgee living in England, and his response to the Nazies inquiring if he was Jewish or not. 5). The History of Middle-earth. This is basically all of Tolkien’s many rough drafts of his writings with Christopher Tolkien’s commentary, and honestly no one beyond a researcher, linguist, or the completionist should ever read these books for pleasure. Fascinating and worthwhile, but not essential.
