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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am a gigantic Tolkien fan and have been for years, but reading The Silmarillion always seemed terrifying and so I put it off...and continued to put it off until 7 years later, where I finally decided to pick it up again. The Silmarillion is definitely not like any of his other works that take place in Middle-Earth; it is a history, not a story, and thus reads very differently. There were definitely moments where I didn't want to continue or wanted to climb into the book and scream at a stupid character, but it is still another of Tolkien's masterpieces. It provides really good context for the events of The Lord of the Rings, and it had some wonderful stories hidden within pages of descriptions of family trees and mountains. I was definitely partial to the final chapter "On the Rings of Power and the Third Age", mostly because it contained characters who I really like to read about. However, stories like that of the Fëanorians and of Beren and Luthien surprised me, and I ended up loving them (particularly that one; Luthien is amazing and they are so precious). Overall, I think it's worth reading if you are a major Lord of the Rings fan, and you might end up coming out of it with a few new favorite characters (I certainly did).
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
adventurous
This book is my bible. I love each and every story in Tolkien's legendarium and will continue to love this book for many years to come.
3.25/5 stars
I'm honestly shocked to say that this was everything I wish LotR was. We got all the world building without the tediousness of Tolkien's repetitive writing.
I'm honestly shocked to say that this was everything I wish LotR was. We got all the world building without the tediousness of Tolkien's repetitive writing.
Wow, such a master world builder. It was such a rare treat to get to see the structure and concepts that Tolkien had created to get to LOTR. It is very clear to me that he had many more stories to tell in middle earth. It is such a shame that he passed away with these works incomplete. I would love to read these stories in his unique and beautiful voice in their final form. This work is an outline of the entire history of middle earth and could easily fill ten novels if it was completed. As such it often feels like an outline and a sweeping sequence of events with little emotional investment. I wish Tolkien had written more female characters but at least he seems to admire and love women, but he is a product of his time in this way. It was worth reading this to better understand Sauron, Elrond, Aragorn and middle earth in general, where the wizards came from, and the tensions between the races of middle earth. Pretty incredible that we get to read his concepts, even if they feel like a history. The exception being the chapters on Beren and Luthien, which were gorgeous and dynamic. I am
Thankful to the Tolkien family for sharing this with us. My rating is largely influenced by taking this for what it is, a gift, the outline of a world building genius, and a glimpse behind the curtain of a master of high fantasy. It at times felt like work to read, and is incomplete, and as such I can’t give it five stars, but I very much respect it.
Thankful to the Tolkien family for sharing this with us. My rating is largely influenced by taking this for what it is, a gift, the outline of a world building genius, and a glimpse behind the curtain of a master of high fantasy. It at times felt like work to read, and is incomplete, and as such I can’t give it five stars, but I very much respect it.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've only just got around to reading The Silmarillion, despite having read The Hobbit and LotR several times, and despite my memories of being fascinated by my dad's illustrated guide to Tolkien's world (I must go back home and look at that again!) Someone told me not to bother, that it was hard work, boring and essentially a genealogical list plus back story of everyone in The Hobbit or LotR and I guess I must have taken them at face value and not really considered it as an option. However having just finished The Hobbit again I thought I would give this a go, and like many other reviewers I'm glad I did as this book has been misrepresented!
It is hard work in places, but no more than many other books, and this is due to its collection of stories feel, different sections will appeal to different readers... I got a bit bogged down in the middle somewhere but read on and you'll soon move on to a new character who you just might identify with more. It's also very biblical with some strong parallels with the Old Testament, but again a lot of works are.
What makes Tolkien's works so great is the language, the writing is beautiful, the first section Ainulindalë, the songs of creation, could almost be poetry how it flows off the page and surrounds you. Next the Quenta Silmarillion, the stories of the Silmarils, this includes everyone's favourite love story the tale of Beren and Lúthien, the deliciously dark tale of Túrin and Niënor, and the tale of Eärendil and Elwing, parents of Elrond. Next Akallabêth, the story of the Númenor, where Núemenor and Sauron are both destroyed and we meet Elendil and Isildur. Finally, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, the build up to the events in The Hobbit and LotR.
It is the back story to Tolkien's wider-read works, but it's fascinating to read of the Elves in all their glory and get the stories behind the names you skim over in LotR, Galadriel, Elrond, Isildur, Sauron himself, there's even more information on the wizards, Gandalf, Saruman and Radagast, and more on the Nazgûl. In fact it probably covers everything and anyone you could wish to know more about.
A must-read for Middle Earth fans, further proof that Tolkien was a genius - who else could invent such a compelling and believable world, with a history of all it's tales since it's creation, complete with several languages? However only four stars for this book (this time) because, I think it's a grower, the more you read it in conjunction with the other works, the more you will appreciate it.
It is hard work in places, but no more than many other books, and this is due to its collection of stories feel, different sections will appeal to different readers... I got a bit bogged down in the middle somewhere but read on and you'll soon move on to a new character who you just might identify with more. It's also very biblical with some strong parallels with the Old Testament, but again a lot of works are.
What makes Tolkien's works so great is the language, the writing is beautiful, the first section Ainulindalë, the songs of creation, could almost be poetry how it flows off the page and surrounds you. Next the Quenta Silmarillion, the stories of the Silmarils, this includes everyone's favourite love story the tale of Beren and Lúthien, the deliciously dark tale of Túrin and Niënor, and the tale of Eärendil and Elwing, parents of Elrond. Next Akallabêth, the story of the Númenor, where Núemenor and Sauron are both destroyed and we meet Elendil and Isildur. Finally, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, the build up to the events in The Hobbit and LotR.
It is the back story to Tolkien's wider-read works, but it's fascinating to read of the Elves in all their glory and get the stories behind the names you skim over in LotR, Galadriel, Elrond, Isildur, Sauron himself, there's even more information on the wizards, Gandalf, Saruman and Radagast, and more on the Nazgûl. In fact it probably covers everything and anyone you could wish to know more about.
A must-read for Middle Earth fans, further proof that Tolkien was a genius - who else could invent such a compelling and believable world, with a history of all it's tales since it's creation, complete with several languages? However only four stars for this book (this time) because, I think it's a grower, the more you read it in conjunction with the other works, the more you will appreciate it.