Well, I saw
Fellowship of the Ring without any prior knowledge or appreciation for the story, but the film was so well done I picked the book up and read it solid for about a week. I then progressed (regressed? :p ) to the Hobbit which I did enjoy, just not as much as it's successor.
Obviously, I went to see the last two movies and that was about it for me. I did make an attempt to read the
Silmarillion, but it was a painful, painful read. I could not settle into it one bit.
So, in answer to the poll, knowledgeable, but not fanatical.
~ Adhamh.