Should I read the books?

YESSSSSSSS. I read them all right before the movies came out and there is so much great stuff that they just couldn't fit into the movies. The whole story is so epic and beautiful, do yourself a favor and read them!! If it's easier, this is what I ended up doing. The first movie came out and I hadn't read any yet. I read the first book quick, saw the movie (which gives away the beginning of book two unfortunately). Then I read the other two later, one over spring break, one over the summer. Spread it out and it won't seem so overwhelming. I was 15-16 when I read them.

YES! I actually watched all the movies before reading it! And i kinda regret it! Its worth reading. And like all movies that is based on books, the books is ALWAYS better!

Yes, they're definitely worth reading, in my opinion! The books are almost always better than movies. Actually, I only started reading them a few days ago, because before I thought I was too young for them. But now I think it's OK ;)

if you read em you should read the hobbit too

Yes, they are great books with so much more than the movies. If you havn't read the books then you havn't really experienced LOTR!

Definitively, YES! I read them before the movies and loved them. If you have patience, read The Silmarillion too, it's about the creation of the earth, the elves, humans..., and then, read The Hobbit before LOTR. There are some other books but you can read them later if u want. The movies are great but had to skip part of the books.

Yes of course! I read The Hobbit and LOTR a few months ago and I loved them. Now they're my favourite books! They are fairly long and have lots of detail but it's definitely worth it.

You should. Trust me, my sister didn't get heads or tails of the movie because she didn't read the books. You might find them long and slightly over-descriptive and at times boring, but it is waaaaay worth it. You'll regret not reading the books. (and there not that long, I finished the trilogy in under two weeks, so it should take you less time probably)

YES

i think you should read lords of the ring cuz the movies dont have all the details the book has. an i read the books and they are really good

They are different to the movies in many things, but they are totally worth to read!
I only read the first one, but I imagine the other 2 are just as good, it is a great way to know the characters better and with much more details than in the movies (even the extended editions)

I'm in the middle of reading them right now, and yes, they are definitely worth reading. The first half of FOTR is extremely boring, but don't get discouraged, they get better.

well i found them a bit boring they explain it to much

They are way better than the movies.
The detail is one of the many reasons I liked them so much.

you probably don't need to know any more after all those answers from people! But i just wanna say that i would fully recommend you reading those books. even though i've only read the first one i know that all three of them are excellent reads. they help you to understand the story a lot better than the movies do. they're quite long and you have to be a good reader but apart from that, they're great! enjoy them! ;)

definatly in middle of reading no.1 already awesome

Yes you should!!! There's so much in the books that they left out in the movies! It's an awesome series! You should read The Hobbit, too. =D

On the whole books are better than films as there is scope for more detail, particularly inner thoughts of characters. With Tolkien thre is also the dimension of language itself. The world of Middle-earth was ostensibly created as a medium for Tolkien's invented languages which he has inserted into this book with great subtlety...he uses Quenya (high elven) and Sindarin, as well as the real Anglo-Saxon etc all expressed through modern English - no mean feat - You don't have to know these languages to appreciate the text but you soon recognise the different forms as spoken by the various characters: sometimes he will use his other languages as they actually are - sometimes with translation but occassionally without...this doesn't matter; neither does the fact that he will also throw in names that are not explained e.g. Hurin, Turin & Beren (at the end of the Council Of Elrond) it all adds very effectively to the sense of a real history...it gives a depth to everything a sense of 7000 years of struggle against the evil created by Morgoth (Satan if you like) and perpetuated by Sauron. This is largely lost in the film. Don't get me wrong, Peter Jackson's films are terrific and he has done a great job with Tolkien's text, but at the same time liberties had to be taken to make a multi-popular film - one that would be enjoyed by cinema goers and book readers (though they are not necessarily exclusive). Tom Bombadil doesn't appear in the film at all and he has a whole chapter in the book and is the only person who cannot be corrupted by the ring, which is expressed in very dramatic terms...could go on, but brfore I go I'd like to say a brief word about the Hobbit (out this December) and recommend Unfinished Tales...Hobbit readers may wonder why Galadriel (Ctae Blanchette) & Sauruman (Christopher Lee) are in the cast when they do not feature in the book. Well actually they kind of do by very oblique reference...because when Gandalf leaves Bilbo & the dwarves at Mirkwood it is because he is going to the White Council and Galadriel is the chair of the council and Sauruman its chief wizzard...decisions at the council will later have an influence on LOTR...Some other will wonder if the epic events of LOTR can be expressed in the Hobbit which is really a children's book...Unfinished Tales addresses both of these problems by making the choice of the dwarves to take Bilbo along with them (The Quest For Erebor) much more adult and introducing Suaruman's lust for the Ring (Hunt for the Ring) again in very dramatic terms. Get it read it enjoy it.

I wouldn't recommend it. Although i can understand that they are classics, they tend to be very analytical and sometimes even boring. This is the only time I'll say this but I think the movies are better than the books!

My Dear Mrs. X.
Kallia48 just said, she did not reccomend because they can be deemed a difficult read basically & "boring." Although this question is a year old it is worth advocating Tolkien's own pen, for my answer because it was the EXACT opposite for me.

Some people like the concise quick-paced writing style of J.K. Rowling, as you mentioned, but to me it wasn't HP that started my addictive love of reading it was Tolkien & he cannot be compared to her. It is a "smart" read and helped me become college ready. I have since taken courses on Tolkien BECAUSE it is NOT at ALL boring to me, but fascinating in EVERY detail and EXACTLY the style I enjoy & like to read. Some people thought the same of the "Silmarillion" by Tolkien but I liked it the most. It may or may not be your style, it may or may not be hard to read for some, but I like the detail. It gives far more background and description. I am soooo thankful I read all Tolkiens works! I just LOVE Tolkien!