Books By and About J.R.R. Tolkien
There are so many great books about Middle-earth and Tolkien I cannot list them all. Here are some of my favorites.
J.R.R. Tolkien Books
The Hobbit -- This is the book that started it out. Although written as a children's adventure it really is a very interesting story and I am glad they made it into movies even if I didn't like some parts of the movies. One of the best scenes in this book is where Bilbo talks with Smaug and outsmarts him by using the magic ring. I think the movies did a bad job with this scene.
The Lord of the Rings -- This is the granddaddy of the fantasy novels. I know there were older books but this one started it all for most of us. I can read the Lord of the Rings over and over again. Aragorn is one of my favorite characters. I wish there were more stories about him.
The Silmarillion -- This book is kind of hard to read the first time through but I really liked the stories about Beren and Luthien and Turin Turambar. The great sadness Tolkien must have felt when writing these stories must have really moved him.
The Children of Hurin -- This is the long version of the story of Turin. It's a great book. I wish there were other books based on the Silmarilion stories. It would be fun to read a book about Turgon.
Books about Tolkien and Middle-earth
Understanding Middle-earth -- This book by Michael Martinez really explains a lot of things really well. I have read this book several times over.
J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator -- This book by Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull really surprised me. I enjoyed reading about all the pictures Tolkien made through his lifetime. And I was surprised by a lot of the details they shared about his life.
Tolkien and the Great War -- This book by John Garth really makes you appreciate just how much fighting in World War I affected Tolkien and influenced his writing. So many sad things happened in that war.
The Annotated Hobbit -- After you read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings you have to read this book. Edited by Douglas Anderson this book explores a lot of ideas about connections and influences in The Hobbit.
Mindfaring Through Middle-earth -- Another book by Michael Martinez this is his second ebook. This book takes you on a first-hand tour through Middle-earth. It's really not like anything you have read. Some stupid reviewer said it was fan fiction. It's not fan fiction.