*queep*

I tried something that was interesting but didn't work: I read The Silmarillion and Tolkien's Letters (whatever the name is) at the same time. The letters told of the development and marketing of The Hobbit, LoTR and The Silmarillion. The counterpoint worked, and prevented both from going stale, but eventually I ran out of steam. Technically speaking, I am still reading both, though it's been more than a decade since I've picked them up. I hold out hope of finishing one or both some day.