I finished reading First Light for a second time just recently. Wonderfully written, it made a greater impression on me the 2nd time for some reason. Visited Stanmore/Bentley Priory near Watford consequently. A real gem of a little local museum, well worth the trip. Reading Tom Neil's 'Scramble'...
Lord of the Rings:
Perseverance - journey to Mordor against all odds
Tolerance - ancient mistrusts between numerous races that are overcome to unite against a common enemy
Compassion - the whole Gollum story
It's also a fantastic read that fires the imagination, hence why it's still widely...