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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Bello conoscere l'origine di tutto, un po' pesantuccio, bisogna prendere appunti
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the greatest stories I have ever read, absolutely enthralling. It’s a world that will stay with me forever.
I read the LOTR 23 years ago and missed so much because I hadn’t read the Silmarillion. Definitely time for a re-read.
I read the LOTR 23 years ago and missed so much because I hadn’t read the Silmarillion. Definitely time for a re-read.
I can say little about The Silmarillion - it is an epic account of Tolkien's lore and it isn't a read for everyone. However, if you loved the Lord of the Rings, the Silmarillion has they key to understand much of its themes.
There were many moments worth of note; I was particularly impressed with Tolkien's love for songs, and the recurring theme of greed. Most of all, the Silmarillion is an account of Tolkien's elves, which are very often imitated and seldom understood. The elves love, fear, hate, are prone to great understanding and great anger; in their long lives they struggle and they fail; by all accounts they are more 'like us' than modern depictions would suggest.
An excellent read for epic fantasy enthusiasts and worldbuilders.
There were many moments worth of note; I was particularly impressed with Tolkien's love for songs, and the recurring theme of greed. Most of all, the Silmarillion is an account of Tolkien's elves, which are very often imitated and seldom understood. The elves love, fear, hate, are prone to great understanding and great anger; in their long lives they struggle and they fail; by all accounts they are more 'like us' than modern depictions would suggest.
An excellent read for epic fantasy enthusiasts and worldbuilders.
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As a lover of The Lord of the Rings who had never read The Silmarillion, I’ve felt like a pretender for years. Add to that my enjoyment of The Rings of Power, and it was only a matter of time. I’m so glad that I finally decided to take the plunge, following along retroactively with Breanne Rodgers’ 8-week readthrough.
8 weeks was a great pace — it gave me space to absorb what I’d read and then synthesize it with Breanne’s recap post plus a little extra help from Super Summary (a SparkNotes alternative). I absolutely recommend this approach; reading a recap of each chapter after I finished took the pressure off to remember every detail (impossible) and let me just relax and enjoy the ride. Which I did!
I started a reread of The Fellowship of the Ring this past weekend, and I’ve already picked up on things that would have felt meaningless before but stand out now (like the elves introducing themselves as “of the house of Finrod”). As a fan girl at heart, I love feeling 10x more informed about Tolkien’s lore and hope to pick up more of his supplemental works someday, perhaps starting with the story of Beren and Lúthien.
The Silmarillion is loaded with information. It will tell you how the world of Middle-Earth came to be, the nature of Elves, Dwarves and Men. It will also tell you the names of every elf of a certain lineage, and each of their aliases. Those expecting anything but a detailed tale of Tolkien's world will find themselves bombarded with information not readily exciting or relevant, but still meaningful especially for those who love a fleshed-out world.
In addition to the familiar tales of Elves and wizards, of dragons and Hobbits, you will find tales of individuals and who may have been mentioned only in passing (or never at all) in any of Tolkien's works. Familiar favorites may be mentioned in The Silmarillion, but it should really be enjoyed as a standalone piece.
Overall, The Silmarillion is a long and packed story that may either be a treat or punishment.
I found myself in the former category.
In addition to the familiar tales of Elves and wizards, of dragons and Hobbits, you will find tales of individuals and who may have been mentioned only in passing (or never at all) in any of Tolkien's works. Familiar favorites may be mentioned in The Silmarillion, but it should really be enjoyed as a standalone piece.
Overall, The Silmarillion is a long and packed story that may either be a treat or punishment.
I found myself in the former category.
Honestly I feel like I just read a myth cycle that could stand beside the Iliad or Beowulf. Confusing? Definitely. But also beautiful, sad, and epic in scope. It was a lot for my brain, but in a good way.