What is the Tolkien need-to-read list?

ecthelion · 07-24-2005, 06:29 AM

I would say The hobbit, Lord of the rings, The Silmarillion, and then I'd get lost

***Valandil*** · 07-24-2005, 08:21 AM

Those are a good solid start.

If you have not done so - read the appendices in LOTR as well - there's actually a lot of information in them.

Beyond those, you could read 'The Letters of JRR Tolkien' and 'Unfinished Tales'. There are also a number of shorter works that are either ME-related ('The Adventures of Tom Bombadil') or otherwise relevant (JRRT's essay on Fairy Tales, 'Smith of Wootton Major' - 'Farmer Giles of Ham').

Then... there's the 12 volume - "History of Middle Earth" series. Enough to keep you reading for some time.

ecthelion · 07-25-2005, 02:22 AM

Thanks V, I read them as I can get them, where I live they are not easy to come by...

Maerbenn · 07-25-2005, 06:32 AM

This is my need-to-read list.

***Rían*** · 07-26-2005, 07:34 PM

*checks Maerbenn's list*

Wow! A bit too much for me

ecthelion, I would say Hobbit, LOTR, Sil, then Letters. Then Unfinished Tales. After that, it depends if you like the old elvish history better, or LOTR-type-stuff better. Some of the HoME ("History of Middle Earth") books cover LOTR development, and others cover elvish stuff like in the Sil. Personally, I like the elvish stuff, so I liked Morgoth's Ring, Peoples of Middle Earth, War of the Jewels, Book of Lost Tales 1 and 2, and Lays of Beleriand. I didn't buy the LOTR-development HoME books.

littleadanel · 07-27-2005, 04:38 AM

As for myself, I started with The Hobbit, hardly knowing what I was reading, I only knew that I liked it - and then the LOTR. It was a christmas present for my mum, but in secret I started to read and I just COULDN'T STOP!

And then the Sil and Unfinished Tales (only Tolkien books available in the library), then serious hunting in bookstores.

So my list of <own> books: Hobbit, LOTR, Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales both in my language and in original, and The Lays of Beleriand in original because of The Lay of Leithian. I love it - one of the most beautiful things I've read so far... wonder if HoME is published at all in my language? it wouldn't be the same anyway

lucky me, I mostly understand and really enjoy it.

And that's all. (ran out of money

)

Anyway, The Hobbit, LOTR and Sil are really need-to-read

then you can go on deeper and deeper...

07-24-2005, 06:29 AM	#1
ecthelion Enting Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Gondolin. in travian.it server5 Posts: 91	What is the Tolkien need-to-read list? I would say The hobbit, Lord of the rings, The Silmarillion, and then I'd get lost __________________ The green earth, say you? That is a mighty matter of legend, though you tread it under the light of day! What does "LOL" mean?

07-24-2005, 08:21 AM	#2
*Valandil* High King at Annuminas Administrator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wyoming - USA Posts: 10,752	Those are a good solid start. If you have not done so - read the appendices in LOTR as well - there's actually a lot of information in them. Beyond those, you could read 'The Letters of JRR Tolkien' and 'Unfinished Tales'. There are also a number of shorter works that are either ME-related ('The Adventures of Tom Bombadil') or otherwise relevant (JRRT's essay on Fairy Tales, 'Smith of Wootton Major' - 'Farmer Giles of Ham'). Then... there's the 12 volume - "History of Middle Earth" series. Enough to keep you reading for some time. __________________ My Fanfic: Letters of Firiel Tales of Nolduryon Visitors Come to Court Ñ á ë ?* ó ú é ä ï ö Ö ñ É Þ ð ß ® ™ [Xurl=Xhttp://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=ABCXYZ#postABCXYZ]text[/Xurl] Splitting Threads is SUCH Hard Work!!

07-25-2005, 02:22 AM	#3
ecthelion Enting Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Gondolin. in travian.it server5 Posts: 91	Thanks V, I read them as I can get them, where I live they are not easy to come by... __________________ The green earth, say you? That is a mighty matter of legend, though you tread it under the light of day! What does "LOL" mean?

07-26-2005, 07:34 PM	#5
*Rían* Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!) Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Not where I want to be ... Posts: 15,254	checks Maerbenn's list Wow! A bit too much for me ecthelion, I would say Hobbit, LOTR, Sil, then Letters. Then Unfinished Tales. After that, it depends if you like the old elvish history better, or LOTR-type-stuff better. Some of the HoME ("History of Middle Earth") books cover LOTR development, and others cover elvish stuff like in the Sil. Personally, I like the elvish stuff, so I liked Morgoth's Ring, Peoples of Middle Earth, War of the Jewels, Book of Lost Tales 1 and 2, and Lays of Beleriand. I didn't buy the LOTR-development HoME books. __________________ . I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva!

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07-25-2005, 06:32 AM	#4
Maerbenn Enting Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 54	This is my need-to-read list.

07-27-2005, 04:38 AM	#6
littleadanel of the House of Bëor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Eastwards. Posts: 979	As for myself, I started with The Hobbit, hardly knowing what I was reading, I only knew that I liked it - and then the LOTR. It was a christmas present for my mum, but in secret I started to read and I just COULDN'T STOP! And then the Sil and Unfinished Tales (only Tolkien books available in the library), then serious hunting in bookstores. So my list of <own> books: Hobbit, LOTR, Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales both in my language and in original, and The Lays of Beleriand in original because of The Lay of Leithian. I love it - one of the most beautiful things I've read so far... wonder if HoME is published at all in my language? it wouldn't be the same anyway lucky me, I mostly understand and really enjoy it. And that's all. (ran out of money ) Anyway, The Hobbit, LOTR and Sil are really need-to-read then you can go on deeper and deeper...