(I usually don't list book introductions,
glossaries, maps, etc; consult them as you wish; though I do mention some
important ones you might otherwise miss. Also, I don't want to re-read the
textual notes, and I don't recommend anyone read them at all unless they're
interested in that sort of thing, unless I mention them as helpful.)
(I have numbered my own – not
Tolkien's – "chapters" consecutively rather than separately within
each section so I don't get mixed up. Page numbers are just for the editions I
own.)
ORDER (though few have all
the components)
all in chronological,
including dates given if possible (with the caveat that Tolkien has a couple
different dating systems)
a. the best
telling of the at least somewhat accepted story as it has come to us,
b. further
fascinating facts to do with that story,
c. any very
interesting retelling(s) (be aware that some – especially The Book of Lost
Tales' 2 volumes – can differ a lot, but they are really fun anyway; but if
you're afraid you'll get too mixed up read them for themselves separately all
the way through),
d. any happy
or otherwise interesting future stuff usually not covered above,
e. and any
interesting notes re evolution of the above (I include only a few of
Christopher Tolkien's notes because though valuable I'm rarely super interested
in them)
