I just saw a clip from LOTR Two Towers and I never got into LOTR and now feel like I lack some culture not having read any of it. I also haven’t watched any of the movies. I tried watching The Hobbit (first movie) but I didn’t understand any of it. Maybe it’s not for me? I like sci fi but not sure about phantasy. Can you understand each book without reading them in order? How many books are there? Is it still a trilogy?
Reading The Hobbit is far easier than watching it. It’s the rare example of a book I could probably read in less time than the film trilogy covers. So I would recommend starting with that book and ignoring the films until much later.
You can read Lord of the Rings without reading The Hobbit, though The Hobbit is a more accessible introduction to Tolkien’s style and Middle Earth. Tolkien loves lore, songs, and conversation; he also likes battles when they fit the narrative. Anything that feels more descriptive or digressive in The Hobbit is done twofold in LOTR. In any case, you should read Lord of the Rings in order: Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and Return of the King.