An Incredible Tolkien Book

So, I admit it, I was a dedicated J. R. R. Tolkien fan long before the movies were even in the making. I read The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and even The Silmarillion while I was in high school. And yes, a friend of mine and I did write notes to each other using the Angerthas alphabet. (If that doesn't make sense to you, then don't worry; you're just not into Tolkien that much.)Well, lately I've stumbled across this marvelous book called "The Road to Middle Earth" by T. A. Shippey. (here's the link to the book's info at the Library of Congress)
I haven't finished the book, but it is an explanation of how Tolkien came about to writing first The Hobbit and then LOTR. And, it explores it from a philological / linguistic aspect. Ok, so maybe that only fascinates me - since I labored through 11 weeks of linguistic classes this summer - but it is a compelling read. Shippey's work draws in the background of Old English, Old Germanic, and Norse texts that provide the backdrop for Tolkien's works. Anyway, all that to say, if you're fascinated by Tolkien and his works, this is a read I recommend.