"Now he was borne down by the insupportable weight of Middle-earth" could be a thesis statement for the legendarium.
Tom Emanuel
I first read LOTR before I ever read anyone's comments on LOTR (can recommend). The many complaints about the writing seem silly on reread. The language is not difficult; the descriptions of nature are beautiful and evocative. Merry encountering the Sublime is as core to the story as any magic ring.
