The Silmarilion?!?!?
Wow, that's an tall order, even for advanced readers, since it's written more like a dry history book than like a fantasy novel. I am a big Tolkien fan, but I have to admit that the guy was simply a mediocre writer who had a great story to tell, and did so as best he could.
Try The Deed of Paksenarrion (by Elizabeth Moon) or The Novels of Tiger and Del (by Jennifer Roberson), both solid fantasy stories with strong female characters, and both written in a very accessible style.
Oh, and to stay on topic, I too brought several of the Thor Lightning Hammers to work, so I could terrorize my co-workers, a very neat toy.
T