I am looking for some insight from people who have read all the LotR-related books...to you dedicated fans I ask this question:

Should I completely read the entire series (FotR, TTT, RotK) and then the additional books (such as The Silmarillion), or in the reverse order so as too learn more about the history of Middle-Earth before delving into the actual stories?

I know it isn't the most important question, but I would like to gain as much knowledge and entertainment from these books as possible. Your input is greatly appreciated.

_________________
<center>

((Banner by Arweb & Avatar by TimTimTimTim))

~(Custom Avatars by Me!)~

I went LotR trilogy first then Silmarillion. Made more sense to me. I went in an odd order with the books though, I went RotK, Hobbit, Two Towers, Fellowship. I'd seen the first two movies and was waiting for RotK, so I decided to read the book to see what happened. Hehe.

_________________
Job 42:1-2 (amp)
1 Then Job said to The Lord,
2 I know that You can do all things and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained or thwarted

Guardian of Osgiliath!

I also read the LotR series first and in my opinion it's the better way, because the Sil is very hard to read and if you've read LotR first then at least you've got a bit of knowledge about Middle-Earth. But on the other hand the Sil is about a totally different time and also its style is completely different from LotR, so it doesn't matter too much which of the two you read first.

_________________
[!+~^$#&:;]

I agree. i read the LotR series first, too and i think it's better that way but in fact it doesn't really matter...

_________________
><>Son of God, brother of Jesus. I've got the best family I could have imagined! Saved by his mercy and love. What else could I wish for?<><

Well, I was hoping to be able to say something new, but alas, I agree with everyone else, who have already agreed with each other.
While the Silmarillion is a wonderful book (I like it at least as much as LotR), Lord of the Rings is the better one to read first. As you have probably seen on various threads in this section, the Silm does not start getting interesting until several chapters in, so many readers quit before they get anywhere near the good part because they get bored and/or have trouble with the old-fashioned words. This happened to me, but I picked it up again a few months later and was very glad I did.
However, if I had not read LotR already, I doubt I would have had the interest and will to get through that boring part. (Some people say skip the first chapter or 3 chapters or something, but I think they help you understand things later in the book.) There are a few things mentioned in LotR that you won't understand until you read the Silm, but they are not important to the plot (just characters making vague references to old legends). Also, LotR reads like most fantasy novels (but a little more mature), whereas the Silmarillion reads like an epic, such as the Iliad, or like a bizarre cross between Shakespeare and a history book. The narration doesn't really make you have a personal connection to the characters like you get from a novel, so if you want one you have to make it yourself (if that makes sense).
So I suggest that you read Lord of the Rings first. It will, hopefully, make you want to read the Silmarilion, which is important to making it through the "boring parts". If, as I did, you read the Silm several years after reading LotR, it might make you want to read LotR all over again, which is great. (The more you re-read it, the higher you'll score on the Ringer Obsession Test, after all!)
I hope I haven't made the Silmarillion sound boring. It really isn't (as proof, it has inspired some absolutely amazing fanart). Do read it, but you'll like it better if you read LotR first.
Actually, I think you should read The Hobbit first...but that's a whole different arguement and my post is way too long already.

_________________
"If I had a button that would cause all guns everywhere to disappear, I might push it.
Wars would be more fun if we used swords again."
– one of my guyfriends

YESYES! The Hobbit should be read first, as it starts everything. To me the Silmarillion sounds more like a chronicling of the events of Middle-earth by elves, or as it would be told in story at Rivendell to weary travelers.

_________________
Job 42:1-2 (amp)
1 Then Job said to The Lord,
2 I know that You can do all things and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained or thwarted

Guardian of Osgiliath!

Yes if you've also got the Hobbit you should read that at first, because then you'll understand LotR even better and it also introduces a few important LotR characters. And of course it also is a very good book

_________________
[!+~^$#&:;]

_________________

- married fingon fingolfinion 6/4/13 -
~art credit~

No, but it helps to give some background info and I think it tells a fascinating story. I would tell them to read it if they want to, and even if they don't they should skim it.

_________________
Colonel Vasiliy of the Hornet Army

Time travelers never die.

I am thinking about taking this as an offense...
The Silmarillion is not boring at all. It just depends on yourself

_________________
><>Son of God, brother of Jesus. I've got the best family I could have imagined! Saved by his mercy and love. What else could I wish for?<><

^
yeah the Sil is definitely not boring. I mean it depends on you and I'm sure for a lot of people the Sil seams boring, but if you like Tolkien's world and its history then the Sil is a very good book with deep and beautiful stories.. anyway, there are other threads for discussing this topic..

_________________
[!+~^$#&:;]

The Silmarillion is far from boring. It is like a history book, but far more interesting. I found it thoroughly enjoyable. I love it--it's tied with The Silmarillion for my favorite Tolkien book.

_________________

Thanks for all your input. :]

I just so happened to have received a lovely hard-cover edition of the triology for Valentine's Day, so I'm already well into the FotR.

_________________
<center>

((Banner by Arweb & Avatar by TimTimTimTim))

~(Custom Avatars by Me!)~

I agree with Velcayelde, GKoN and Firiel... I think ye should read The Hobbit first... it is far less confusing than LotR, though it is just as good a book as LotR. But it tells ye about how Bilbo finds the Ring, what Gollum is and all... 'tis just an interesting read. I really like the Hobbit... 'tis a really funny book *parts of it* and I totally recommend it.


Actually it's not boring at all... are you sure it isna just because ye dinna understand it?

_________________

....Personally, I didn't find The Hobbit to be as interesting as The Lord of the Rings. It was interesting, to be sure, but not nearly so interesting as LotR.

_________________

I did Hobbit, trilogy in order, then Sil a month or so later. I retain most of the information reasonably well archived in my brain, so I think that's a good way to go. Sil first could also be good

_________________
Colonel Vasiliy of the Hornet Army

Time travelers never die.