The Lord of the Rings question

Yes, I had exactly the same problem when I read it for the first time. But when you finish, it doesn't matter. If you don't care, just don't try to remember them. The important ones will be especially mentioned more times, so don't worry! You'll be able to remember the ones that really matter. Unless you're a big Tolkien fan like me, you don't have to delve in too deeply. But if you want to find out more about them, read the Silmarillion. It tells about many of the Elves and places and all that. For example, we find out there that "Elbereth" is actually the name for Varda, a Vala (like an angel), who controls the stars. Another example is that you find out more about the story of Beren and Luthien.

Kinda like the bible? So and so begot so and so who begot so and so who...???

Character names and place names get mentioned a lot in just about every kind of fiction. I'll venture a guess that you only find the character and place names frustrating because they are unfamiliar and perhaps difficult for you.

If instead of "Boromir, son of Denethor of Minas Tirith in Gondor" you were to read about "Jonny Campbell from Camden, New Jersey" you probably wouldn't notice.

Most of us die-hard Hobbit-heads enjoy the exoticism of Tolkien's language, it helps to differentiate his fantasy world from our mundane world.

I believe that all the names and places give you a greater feeling of middle earth as a real place. it almost makes you feel like it surrounds you and all you need is a plane ticket.

I would agree with most of the responses. The depth of place and personal names gives the books a sense of reality, and history. But don't sweat them too much. As Voldemort said, the important ones will be repeated, just as in any book--fiction or non--and then you'll remember them. If you read it more than once, like most Tolkien fans, they all start to stick after awhile. And there is a lot more background in the other books. Just enjoy the ride. Don't sweat all the details.

It has exactly the same number of place names and people names as any piece of the real world, populated with real people, over a long period of time. That is part of it's charm. LOTR basically describes a portion of the history of Middle Earth.