I loved the hobbit more than the lord of the rings. But I never found them boring. Admittedly, Tolkien was a very wordy writer.but his attention to detail and explanation is part of the books appeal. If you’re having trouble keeping interest. Take a break and go back to it later.

Aside from the hardy boys as a kid. I’d say the first series I Dived into was the death gate cycle. I don’t remember most of it, but I remember enjoying the story.