1 I found the Harry Potter books very enjoyable, quick reads. I would definately begin with book 1, and continue. Each book is better than the last and grows darker, more rich and enthralling. I highly reccomend reading them.

2 A couple of years ago a young friend of mine found out that I had not read the Potter books. She bought me the whole set. We were leaving on one of our long trailer camping trips so I took them along, thinking well, okay. I really enjoyed them. A fast reader can read the first three easily at one a day, the first two could be read in one day if you wanted, they get progressively longer, darker and the last one makes you think much more about where we might be heading with this, but I won't tip my hand on my opinion. These are a must read, try it, you'll like it.

3 Eh, Hudnall is right: LOTR was not written for children--Tolkien himself says this (although The Hobbit obviously was)--and Harry Potter, like almost all fantasy since him, is indeed derivative from Tokien. Yet you know quite well what a "fantasy nerd" I am from my site, though, and I can assure you that the Potter books are worth reading, especially the most recent works. (Read the Earthsea cycle while you're at it! Heh.)

4 I've read both sets, multiple times. Apples and Oranges. Both taste good, but are nothing alike.

5 Your brother has read almost all of the Harry Potter books and your dad is reading them now. You should read the books before you see the movies.

6 The Harry Potter books are good if unremarkable. The Lord of the Rings is remarkable, but certainly not to everyone's taste. As for the movies - I've only seen the first two parts of LOTR and the second HP. LOTR is spectacular - not flawless, but an amazing piece of filmmaking. HP2 is spectacularly dull. It's very true to the original book, but they could have cut out an hour and improved it immensely.