I've read all of them up until now... I'm getting close to the end.. I think that he's written 33 so far? ( you don't need to read all of 'em to understand what's going on... it's very self-contained.) There are a few adult themes, though - There's a "seamstresses" guild that really is about ladies of the night, for example.

I cheat, I've downloaded the majority of them into my palmtop, and read on the bus en-route to work.

I get most of my reading done in transit, or right before bed.

The hobbit is a lot more young adult based than the ring books... easier vocabulary.