i didn't have time as a kid to read the books...i liked real things not fiction..and then the magic happened! I listened to the night time tapes that made a person fall to sleep! Magic. I loved learning about the little Hobbits and Golum (i know I'll get corrected on the spelling) but my point is...the tapes are great! The story is wonderful..the movie is great. Go on the journey with the little guys and fight their battles...and then let's get back to the real world.