I read The Hobbit first. (High school english class). Than the Trilogy. I'm torn about reading the Silmarillion. I haven't really decided wether or not to read it.

Read the Hobbit first, then the Trilogy.  I read the Silmarillion after a second read thru of the Hobbit and Trilogy.  I was able to stick with the Silmarillion and understand it better after reading the other books first. Its been a while since I read the Silmarillion, but I seem to recall it wasn't at all like the other books as far as plotting, story, characters etc.  Actually I had to struggle to finish it.

-RD

It is different, though.  Like reading non-fiction compared to a novel.  On a sliding scale between conveying facts and history and telling a dang good story, Silmarillion is much closer to the conveying info side of the scale.

I tend to agree with the rest of the posters: read the Hobbit first, then the LoTR, then the Silmarillion if you really like the rest of them. It's like reading a history textbook for Middle Earth. Really interesting, but don't try to get through too much at once. If you couldn't get enough of the appendices at the end of Return of the King, you'll love it, though. It's not that I didn't like it, just that you have to approach it differently than most books.

I also agree with that order, Hobbit, LOTR, than Silmarillion.

I also agree with that order, Hobbit, LOTR, than Silmarillion.

Me too. And, altho I loved loved loved LOTR, and have re-read it more times than I can count, I simply could not finish Silmarillion.....

Yes, Hobbit, LOTR and Silmarillion. I'm with you Betty, just couldn't finish the Silmarillion.  It reminds me of the begats section of the Old testament, very dry.

Just a bit of trivia here, Tolkien's son and author Guy Gavriel Kay helped put the Silmarillion together after his death.  I would highly recommend Kay's work.  His Fionavar Trilogy is right up there with LOTR for me, I have read it multiple times and love it!

wowie, I did not know that.

I knew Silmarilion was done after Tolkiens death, by his son and another writer, but I did not recall it being Guy Gavriel Kay.

I found GGK relatively recently. Some of his books I  loved---I think they were more contemporary/urban fantasy, or magic in contemp. times---but some of the others I could not get through....I'd have to see some summaries to remember which was which.

I agree with everyone who said Hobbit, then LOTR, then Silmarillion.   My hat's off to folks who make it through the Silmarillion.  I gave up almost immediately, and posted the book to my bookshelf.   The Hobbit and LOTR are some of my favorites ever, but the Silmarillion... I just couldn't get into it. 

Picked up  the Silmarillion on CD

It seemed to me to be more comprehensible

when there is someone else to pronounce the

real tounge-twisters for you. It definitely goes

quicker.

If after reading The Hobbit and LOtR you find yourself fascinated by the lore then by all means continue with the Silmarillion.  If you're only interested in the characters and history/lore bogs you down then you probably won't make it through though, as it's all historical background information.  Wonderful if you've ever wondered where the elves go when they leave Middle-earth or just what the hell Gandalf really is, far less so if you only want to see Legolas kicking orc ass.