I remember a couple of years ago I saw an advert on teli showing a priest from somewhere, perhaps the U.K and he was giving a series of lectures on LOTR. It was very absorbing and at one point it highlighted one of the things he would speak about;. namely the fact that many love the books because they give them a chance to go into another world where there are deep troubles and a threat to the freedom mankind desires so deeply , and they get to 'go along' as it were and join the fight, feel the grief and experience the joy of finally seeing victory in a rather personal way. I admit that while reading some parts I too escaped and allowed myself to enter into some of the deep feelings and views of the different participants in life in Middle-earth.