Are you familiar with Tolkien's World from A to Z: The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth.
This is what I was hoping that the Companion would try to be. It has everything in it. Everything. Even the page listings for each entry! Robert Foster put a lot of time and hard work into it, and it shows. I LOVE this thing.
I was extremely disappointed that Jordan's work could not get the same treatment. Not even remotely close.
You don't *need* it, but you might want Forster's Complete Guide to Middle Earth. It's handy for looking up obscure in-world allusions and references, keeping track of uncommon characters, etc. Theses days it's fairly easy to find a website or app that does the same thing (Encyclopedia of Arda is a good one) but I like old fashioned printed reference works.
Otherwise, welcome to Middle Earth! Enjoy your travels here!
The first chapter of Book II, "The Council of Elrond" can sometimes be a slog, but push on. It's very important for the history of Middle Earth and the Ring, but after reading the books three times, it might be my favorite now.
This is an excellent companion book. It will help keep names and places straight as you're going through the series and indispensable if you decide to read The Simarillion.
I recommend that you get Tolkien's World from A to Z: The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth, which has been essential in my readings of The Silmarillion. It's an encyclopedia in its format and there was no way I could have kept up with all of the Elves and their interconnections without it. Hell, I've spent hours and hours just looking through this book.
I know I am a bit late but try this: Tolkien's World from A to Z: The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth.
It is like a Tolkien dictionary. I used it to familiarize myself with Middle Earth. It's arranged alphabetically so you can look up character names, events etc.
Get this. It's a necessity.
Get yourself the Tolkien Dictionary. Pretty cheap and IMMENSELY helpful.
There's Tolkien's World from A to Z: The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth. I have an earlier edition of the book, which I have found to be very useful.
Robert Foster's COMPLETE GUIDE TO MIDDLE-EARTH is the definitive encyclopedic guide.
Get the 12 volume set: "The Complete History of Middle Earth". Also, buy a copy of the reference book The Complete Guide to Middle Earth
I had this next to me while reading it. Can't recommend it enough.
If any one is looking to buy it, you can get it on amazon.