Hah, with me it's just the opposite! I first disliked the LotR films, then read the books, bought the extended version DVD boxed set and have seen them countless times afterwards ...
I started reading Tolkien with the "The Hobbit" (in English) and liked it, but don't like the films. Peter Jackson tries to squeeze 3 parts out of that small book to squeeze money 3 times out of the audience ...
As for the books, to me they were:
- Das Klassenfest / Uwe Kant
- Buddenbrooks / Thomas Mann
- Everything by Theodor Fontane
- Everything by Gwen Bristow
- Gone with the Wind / Margaret Mitchell
- Sense and Sensibility / Jane Austen
- Pride and Prejudice / Jane Austen