
I still feel absurd reading the abridged versions. Granted, with Les Miserables, which unfortunately I have not read, and others in the eras of "volume = $" it is sometimes necessary to make it through the thing. Not to mention unabridged paperback copies sometimes are very expensive, if available at all.
Tolkien still does it for me ^_^ I think if a writer can succeed in making you thoroughly fall in love with the characters and atmosphere, he can get away with murder.