I've started so I'll finish.

I sometimes wonder if 'Lord of The Rings' is entirely responsible for my almost pathological incapability not to finish a book or watch even the worst movie until the end. There are a few notable exceptions; 'Middlemarch' (in which it seems I'm not alone), in fact if anyone has got through it you have my undying admiration, if you enjoyed it-seek help, 'The Great Gatsby' and 'A Bodyguards Story' (something about Princess Diana I must have been given) spring to mind. Still overall I've sat through countless horrendous movies and read numerous bad books just because I have to know what happens.

Now I know blaming this on Tolkien seems outrageous, however I believe I have grounds, so here I state my case. For as long as I can remember I've wondered what happened at the end of that book, I could remember the scene in the inn where the Nazgul, shred the bed thinking that Frodo's in it, but after that nothing. I didn't even know what it was from! Finally the summer I turned 11 I read the book, and it was like I'd made a huge discovery. Talking to my Nan a few years ago I found the reason, apparently when I was a toddler she'd borrowed the old BBC readings of the book and was listening to them and doing the housework. I was on the floor playing, seemingly oblivious, until that scene. At which point I burst into tears. She turned it off and only listened to when I wasn't in the room from then on.

So I put it to the jury that Tolkien in collusion with my Nan has condemned me to spend my life fighting to reach the end of a myriad of inane movies and uninspiring books. Now as punishment I suggest reading 'Middlemarch'.