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A review by rose_pawws
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
4.0
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.