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Actually, during that time I did read several books.

I reread the LoTR Trilogy, and then followed that up with The Silmarillion.

The Silmarillion...

/shudder

Yeah, that part about Turin marrying his sister Nienor always creeps me out too.

Yea... I struggled to finish that book. I normally dont drop a book after I have read part of it, but I considered it on this one. I wont be rereading that again =P

The Silmarillion wasn't really a "book" per ce. It was more his amalgamated notes that he had stored on background and backstory, that was bound into book form and sold. For those that haven't read it, it's very, hrm, dense. There is some cool stuff in there, though. Like the fact that Sauron was only a lieutenant to the REAL bad guy, Morgoth. Example: Sauron's army: Orcs and Trolls. Morgoth's army: Balrogs. (yes, he had hordes and hordes of Balrogs. Fun, eh?) Morgoth's weapon, a hammer, was named Grond, which is why the big battering ram used at the siege of Minas Tirith in Return of the King was called that.

It also explains what the Wizards really are, and why you don't just see Gandalf blowing everyone away with fireballs, etc. Of course, it's also chock full of lots and lots of elf singing, and a fair amount of random useless stuff. So, if you're going to read it, don't go into it thinking of it as a book, think of it as a textbook instead, and it'll make a lot more sense.

-Arlos

Yea, good way to put it Arlos. Its more like reading a Textbook, I was trying to think of a way to describe it, but couldnt think of one.

What is really odd, is how powerful Shelob REALLY is, and yet Sam was able to beat her.

I am looking forward to Peter Jackson doing a movie of the Hobbit, if they decide to do it. Should be good.

I think you are thinking of Ungoliant. Shelob is just a little spawnling. A common theme in these works... things keep getting less and less poweful. The stories happen time and time again, but the Silmarills become the less awesome One Ring and Morgoth becomes Sauron, Beren becomes Aragorn etc.