I don't understand why people seem to accept for granted that Tolkien was a poor writer. Even people who defend him often will admit that point but then say "but he built such a great world" and what not. Maybe this doesn't work for people who saw the movies, but The Lord of the Rings is MASTERFULLY plotted. I can think of no better example of concurrent narratives being weaved together. When Aragorn and the riders head to confront Sauruman, only to find Merry and Pippin just hanging out and smoking pipes is great! On the other hand, when the Mouth of Sauron presents Frodo's Mithril coat and it really appears that all hope is lost.
Or look at The Council of Elrond. I love the heck out of that chapter. Tolkien takes what could be just an info dump and makes it interesting. All the different speakers, including those who speak within the accounts of those present, all have a different voice. They have unique patterns of speech, the dwarves being stern, the minions of Sauron cunning but deceptively peaceful. The contrast between the two men present, Aragorn and Boromir foreshadow the clash of cultures that will be so important as the story continues. Tolkien had an ear for dialogue that few even come close too. It was his job to think about words after all.
Tolkien will never be mistaken for the bestselling writers of today, but that is a good thing. It's a slow burn to be sure, but try to have some damn patience and learn to appreciate the writing. It's almost a shame that so many people know the plot of The Lord of The Rings from the movies, because the plot really is an incredible one. Peter Jackson and company had to simplify it for the big screen, which isn't bad, but takes away quite a bit from what made the books so special. (And he also had Aragorn fall off of a cliff and float down a river for some reason during The Two Towers. Never quite understood why that was necessary.)
Also, not that it REALLY matters, but Tolkien did not consider himself an Entomologist but a Philologist. It's a slight difference.
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