Scan barcode
jlsigman's review against another edition
2.0
I understand what Christopher Tolkein was trying to do with these. But, honestly, it's a confusing mess as best with names and details changed from what is "canon". I had thought to read more of these, but I think I'll just stick with the trilogy, "The Hobbit", and "The Similarion".
celia_sphinxou's review
http://sphinxou.wordpress.com/2014/07/12/le-livre-des-contes-perdus-partie-2-_-tolkien/
pcarney's review against another edition
3.0
It took me like a month but I did it! I enjoyed the different versions of familiar stories - Beren and Luthien (though clearly JRRT was not a fan of cats, boo on him), the Fall of Gondolin, the Nauglafring, and the Tale of Earendel. I don't think I'll ever enjoy reading about disaster-man Turin and I did not care at all for Eriol's tale and the whole, let's try and make this England, glad JRRT seemed to let go of a lot of that as time went on.
vulturetime's review against another edition
3.0
I’m not exactly sure how I would rate this (which is why I’m not). The language could be stiff and a tad boring at times, which is understandable, since Lost Tales are centered around the earlier drafts and ideas of Tolkien’s stories, most of which end up in the Silmarillion.
I will say it was fascinating seeing the changes and also seeing where some of the drafts were going.
Review from 2022: I do prefer the Book of Lost Tales Part One, since many of the stories in Part Two have been covered two or three times already, so it doesn't quite feel like I'm getting something that much new from the experience. It's also interesting to see which of Tolkien's biases remained and which he cut out for the more final drafts.
I will say it was fascinating seeing the changes and also seeing where some of the drafts were going.
Review from 2022: I do prefer the Book of Lost Tales Part One, since many of the stories in Part Two have been covered two or three times already, so it doesn't quite feel like I'm getting something that much new from the experience. It's also interesting to see which of Tolkien's biases remained and which he cut out for the more final drafts.
More...