And another thing--what's with all these sudden new fans of Tolkien's work? This stuff is nearly 50 years old, people (The Lord of the Rings was completed in 1955, I think, so about 45-46 years, and The Hobbit was published in the thirties...). It has been around for a while. Why are you folks suddenly slithering out of the woodwork now that there's movies being made? (not that I have anything against fresh fans, but it's just weird at how many more I've seen lately)

I first read the Hobbit when I was in third grade or thereabouts, and I remember being extremely proud of myself for having finished what to me was a colossal tome in only 3 days. The Hobbit was probably my first books of serious quality (although I loved to read, the only other things my parents bought me were stuff along the lines of Sweet Valley High and Babysitters Club), and, of course, my introduction to the realms of fantasy. I don't have anything against this sudden spate of fans, it just seems odd to me that they're only now raving about it because there's movies being made.. :\