It's fine :) They're not everyone's thing (well, nothing is, really!)... My sister only read them after watching the films, and she says she likes the films a bit better. you should try them if you haven't, though I know it's hard to find the time to read something that long! Have you read The Hobbit?

Here's the whole thing: http://tolkien.cro.net/talesong/hearth.html Maybe not necessarily happier, but... more something you could march along to, if yu see what I mean.