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karlin0336 's review for:
The Silmarillion
by J.R.R. Tolkien
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is five stars, but that means something completely different than when I rate other books five stars.
I was not engrossed in it the whole time (I really had to push through parts of it). I did not love many of the characters (there were so many names, that it was really hard to keep track of everyone). It was confusing and very, VERY slow (thank goodness for the audiobook).
No, the reason this book is five stars is because of what it accomplishes. It sets the groundwork for the fantasy epic that is arguably the greatest cornerstone of its genre. It gives us a comprehensive history for perhaps the most well-crafted fantasy universe of all time (and it's one of the reasons that universe is so well developed). The Silmarillion was confusing, yes, but that's because it is a story on such a large scale that a single readthrough just isn't enough. I fully expect to discover something new each and every time I reread it. What this book manages to accomplish is pure genius.
I was not engrossed in it the whole time (I really had to push through parts of it). I did not love many of the characters (there were so many names, that it was really hard to keep track of everyone). It was confusing and very, VERY slow (thank goodness for the audiobook).
No, the reason this book is five stars is because of what it accomplishes. It sets the groundwork for the fantasy epic that is arguably the greatest cornerstone of its genre. It gives us a comprehensive history for perhaps the most well-crafted fantasy universe of all time (and it's one of the reasons that universe is so well developed). The Silmarillion was confusing, yes, but that's because it is a story on such a large scale that a single readthrough just isn't enough. I fully expect to discover something new each and every time I reread it. What this book manages to accomplish is pure genius.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Incest, Suicide, Grief