Tolkein's writing was dull as ditchwater.

Of course I have to chime in and disagree here, but it really is just a matter of taste. I enjoy Tolkein’s style, but it is definitely different than most other books, especially these days. It is more the "sit down in a comfortable chair by the fire with something hot to drink and let the story envelop you" kind of reading, which isn't appreciated by everyone. I enjoy this style a great deal though, especially in the fantasy genre. Actually, LOTR is really the only fantasy I enjoy, and Tolkien’s ability to envelop the reader might be the reason why. But it's not a book I read fifteen minutes at a time whenever I get the chance to pick it up. It is very deliberate reading.