A review by ceallaighsbooks
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"And it is said by the Eldar that in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainu more than in any substance else that is in this Earth; and many of the Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen."

TITLE—The Silmarillion
AUTHOR—JRR Tolkien
PUBLISHED—1977
PUBLISHER—George Allen & Unwin

GENRE—fantasy
SETTING—Eä (mythological world)
MAIN THEMES/SUBJECTS—high European fantasy worldbuilding and language systems, creation mythology, spirituality of music, nature as sacred, gods & elves, historical & mythological background to THE HOBBIT & THE LORD OF THE RINGS, intensely beautiful & tragic friendships & relationships, Dooms & Oaths, vengeance & loyalty, "Fëanor, no.", maps

WRITING STYLE—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
CHARACTERS—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STORY/PLOT—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

BONUS ELEMENT/S—I super enjoyed rereading this right after watching ROP season 1. All of my marginalia was like:

PHILOSOPHY—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
PREMISE—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
EXECUTION—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"‘Many are the strange chances of the world,’ said Mithrandir, ‘and help oft shall come from the hands of the weak when the Wise falter.’"

My thoughts:
I was so excited to start re-reading all of Tolkien’s more esoteric writing after watching the RINGS OF POWER last year! Being able to connect the dots in the writers’ intentions and interpretations was really fun.

Things I enjoyed on this re-read:
  • Thingol and Fëanor’s storylines as for some reason I only had vague memories of these characters from previous readings and yet on this reading they really stood out to me as complex characters.
  • I enjoyed all the spiritual theology of Nature and especially the Sea this time around as well as the forces of creation being Music.
  • And all the sneaky little clues about the Valar’s existences outside of the action depicted in the text like Varda & Melkor’s historic enmity, Mandos’s hint about things happening in Aman outside of the Eldar’s memory?? (Example: Fëanor: "It may be that… I shall be slain; first of all the Eldar in Aman." Mandos: "Not the first."!!?—in chapter 9 of the Quenta Silmarillion)
  • I’m sorry to say that I am also now a big fan of the Melkor / Sauron ship so I was totally hunting for clues to support this theory as I was reading. 🤣
  • Although I am also **very** much here for the sexy-Ungoliant fanart interpretations as well so this is the trio that I need to be finding some fanfic for I think… 😂
  • I also realized that the Beren and Lúthien story has big Halloween vibes! Might plan to reread that one in October this year. 🦇🐺🧛🏻‍♂️
  • I’m still looking for more backstory and information relating to Círdan and Mithrandir and especially of their friendship. (They better cast Círdan in ROP **perfectly** oh! I’m so nervous. 🙈)

"Beyond his hope she returned to him where he sat in darkness…"

I would recommend this book to readers who have already read at least THE LORD OF THE RINGS although if you’ve only seen the movies you might still enjoy it. This book is best read… with #TheFellowshipOfReaders bookclub hosted by IG:@pointyeared because their takes and interpretations, observations and contributions to the discussion brought my appreciation (and comprehension) of this book to a whole new level!

Final note: I am very much already enjoying rereading UNFINISHED TALES next!

"But as for me, my heart is with the Sea, and I will dwell by the grey shores, guarding the Havens until the last ship sails. Then I shall await thee."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Further Reading—
  • UNFINISHED TALES, by JRR Tolkien / Christopher Tolkien
  • THE FALL OF GONDOLIN—TBR
  • THE FALL OF NÚMENÓR—TBR
  • BEREN AND LÚTHIEN
  • THE CHILDREN OF HÚRIN