J.R.R. Tolkien and why I hate him

What author has influenced your writing?

JRR Tolkien influenced me more than anyone even my parents. He was my steadfast companion all through long days of boredom with his books about Hobbits, Ents, and Elves. I couldn’t wait to get the next book. Then- I had read all four. Then…there was nothing more. I mean, for years. I grew to hate JRR Tolkien.
Looking for a comparable author with a comparable story took me from then until now. I have yet to find another one with quite as much color and fantasy as his. Oh, Dennis McKiernan tried. So did countless others. Ms. Rowling came close with Harry Potter books. But nope…I am still searching.
Speaking of which, it’s about time for me to pull the old tomes out and read them again.
I miss Hobbiton and The Old Forest and Rivendell. Oh, and to see the Lonely Mountain!
I guess it’s the change in seasons. When the fall colors appear (except in Florida!) I begin to long to go back to the fantasy world of my youth. To MORDOR! Buy it at the link below:
How this author plays into my life
I think sometimes that reading is my best and sometimes only way of escape. Sometimes you just want to curl up with a good book and a warm blanket and disappear for a while. Fall is like that for me. It’s time to center again. Time to relax and breathe. And dream. Lots of dreams.
So what author has influenced you? Maybe not writing…maybe you are not a writer. But who has written books that you cannot get enough of…that you reread on a regular basis?