Which one first?

Opan · 06-06-2003, 10:24 AM

I was just posting to ask u all...

Did u read the Silmarillion BEFORE LOTR or after.....?

And which one would u read first now if u wanted to read them both again?

Just a question of interest thats all because i havent yet read the S - and was wondering would the trilogy have been better if i had read it before hand?

Arien the Maia · 06-06-2003, 10:32 AM

I read the Sil after I read Lotr and the Hobbit....the Sil is my favorite book but I think I liked reading Lotr first b/c there's alot of mystery there still regarding the elves' history and such

Opan · 06-06-2003, 10:34 AM

Thats what i was thinking.......because i definately want to read more about the elves....i'm in love with that race lol

Arien the Maia · 06-06-2003, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Opan
Thats what i was thinking.......because i definately want to read more about the elves....i'm in love with that race lol

they are awesome aren't they! (especially the Noldor!) but I must warn you that it take at least 2-3 time to really love and understand the Silmarillion...there's alot of info in that book and alot of names and places to remember

Melko Belcha · 06-06-2003, 10:47 AM

I read LotR first. The Silmarillion is my favorite though. The Silmarillion really enhanced my love for LotR.

Lalaith · 06-06-2003, 11:01 AM

I think reading LotR first is the best choice. Then the Silmarillion and then the Unfinished Tales. I prefer the UT to the Silmarillion. If you have read these three books you could start with the HoME series.

Opan · 06-06-2003, 01:42 PM

yeah...i've flicked through the Silmarillion and there seems to be a HUGE amount of info with names and p[laces etc..... It seems quite daunting but.....hey....i think i'll give it ago seeing allt he praise thta it has got

Silpion · 06-06-2003, 04:26 PM

I read Lord of the Rings then The Silmarillion. When I read The Silmarillion, I then read Lord of the Rings again and it was a richer story.

LutraMage · 06-06-2003, 04:35 PM

Same here, first LoTR, then TS. In fact, first The Hobbit. I think I would recommend that as the order to read the books, but with a warning to any adults reading Tolkien for the first time that TH is a fairy story for children, but well worth the read, whereas LoTR is definitely for children and adults.

Anglorfin · 06-06-2003, 11:21 PM

When I was little my dad read me the Hobbit. As I got older I read LotR by myself a few times before my dad got me the Silmarillion for my birthday or something. I then read that once, then LotR, then Sil, then LotR, and so on,...recently I have been reading UT and BoLT.

WHen I got my friends into reading Tolkien I told them to start with the Silmarillion. The movies had already come out and I didn't want to wait a long time for them to finish LotR and constantly talk about book vs. movie related stuff, so I just explained the story to them as they read the Silmarillion. I figure tackling the Sil first would prove to me their devotion to the actual world of Tolkien istead of them just going "mainstream" and picking up LotR and forgetting about it. Now that they have read both Sil and LotR they are glad that I made them read Sil first.

Linaewen · 06-07-2003, 08:04 AM

I read LotR before the Silm. And I like that I read it that way- not entirely sure why. Sometimes it's more interesting to read things out of chronological order, IMO anyway. The 'Rings of Power...' chapter was very enjoyable for me, simply because it related to the events of the WotR. It just made things clearer- and if I could go back in time, and read the Silm first, I wouldn't.

***Fat middle*** · 06-07-2003, 08:16 AM

it seems i'm the one that read first the Silm. A friend made me a briefing of its story and i decided i had to read that book.

when i finished, i read TH and then LOTR. and then Sil. again... you know...

Elf Girl · 06-07-2003, 08:32 AM

If you read the Sil first it gives away LotR's ending.

gollum9630 · 06-07-2003, 09:28 AM

i read LotR first, then the Sil. next time, i will read the Sil first

Radagast The Brown · 06-07-2003, 10:09 AM

Quote:

originally posted by Elf Girl
If you read the Sil first it gives away LotR's ending.

Right. That's why it's wrong to read Sil befroe LOTR.

I read LOTR befroe Sil.

Anglorfin · 06-07-2003, 01:09 PM

It doesn't really matter anymore with the movies coming out now. Besides when my friends read the Sil first they felt great that they weren't just part of the movie fanclub that flocked to LotR books right away. They had a bit more knowledge to wave over everybody else's heads.

Ornelírë Mistë · 06-08-2003, 08:03 PM

I read the Hobbit, then Two Towers, then Silmarillion, then Return of the King, then Fellowship. But I wasn't confused about what happened because I listened to the Fellowship on tape before I read TTT.

Linaewen · 06-09-2003, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Radagast The Brown
Right. That's why it's wrong to read Sil befroe LOTR.

And not only that it gives away the ending, but I think it's important to see if you're into Tolkien's world in the first place. People who have read LotR beforehand, have still been deterred from reading the Silm because of its complexity/difficulty. Imagine someone reading the Silm first, and assuming the rest of JRRT's works are in that style- they wouldn't even bother with LotR!

This is sort of why I would recommend LotR before the Silm. The Silm provided a lot more background info for me, which made LotR clearer. Who knows what would have happened if I read the Silm first, but? I would have been too confused and disinterested, maybe.

Ruinel · 06-09-2003, 11:19 AM

Actually, I read The Hobbit first, it was required reading at my school. Then LotR: FotR, TTT, RotK. Then The Sil. Then BoLT1. Then BoLT2. Then UT. Then Morgot's Ring. Then WotJ. Then PoME. I'm currently working on picking up other books as well.

Pre-Hobbit and LotR stories are still my favorite stories.

I'm also interested in the poetry Tolkien wrote.

Quote:

Originally posted by Anglorfin
It doesn't really matter anymore with the movies coming out now. Besides when my friends read the Sil first they felt great that they weren't just part of the movie fanclub that flocked to LotR books right away. They had a bit more knowledge to wave over everybody else's heads.

O.o It does matter... the movies and the books are very different. And the books are sooooooo much better than the movies.

LutraMage · 06-09-2003, 03:27 PM

First TH, then LoTR, then TS

06-06-2003, 10:24 AM	#1
Opan Enting Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rivendel........i wish Posts: 57	Which one first? I was just posting to ask u all... Did u read the Silmarillion BEFORE LOTR or after.....? And which one would u read first now if u wanted to read them both again? Just a question of interest thats all because i havent yet read the S - and was wondering would the trilogy have been better if i had read it before hand?

06-06-2003, 10:32 AM	#2
Arien the Maia Fëanáro's Fire Mistress Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Indiana, USA Posts: 1,423	Re: Which one first? I read the Sil after I read Lotr and the Hobbit....the Sil is my favorite book but I think I liked reading Lotr first b/c there's alot of mystery there still regarding the elves' history and such

06-06-2003, 10:47 AM	#5
Melko Belcha Elven Warrior Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Behind the Walls of Night Posts: 286	I read LotR first. The Silmarillion is my favorite though. The Silmarillion really enhanced my love for LotR. __________________ "....rapturous words from which ultimatley sprang the whole of my mythology" - JRR Tolkien Hail Earendel brightest of angels, over middle-earth sent unto men Crist by Cynewulf (lines 104-5)

06-06-2003, 11:01 AM	#6
Lalaith The Elvish Temptress Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 3,055	I think reading LotR first is the best choice. Then the Silmarillion and then the Unfinished Tales. I prefer the UT to the Silmarillion. If you have read these three books you could start with the HoME series. __________________ What I am and what I would are as secret as maidenhead.

06-06-2003, 04:35 PM	#9
LutraMage Elven Warrior Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Tolkien's England where the tale grew in the telling... Posts: 330	Same here, first LoTR, then TS. In fact, first The Hobbit. I think I would recommend that as the order to read the books, but with a warning to any adults reading Tolkien for the first time that TH is a fairy story for children, but well worth the read, whereas LoTR is definitely for children and adults. __________________ "Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need. And he has been well rewarded, Frodo. Be sure that he took so little hurt from the evil, and escaped in the end, because he began his ownership of the Ring so, with Pity." "Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." "Very well,' he answered aloud, lowering his sword. 'But still I am afraid. And yet, as you see, I will not touch the creature. For now that I see him, I do pity him."

06-06-2003, 10:34 AM	#3
Opan Enting Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rivendel........i wish Posts: 57	Thats what i was thinking.......because i definately want to read more about the elves....i'm in love with that race lol

06-06-2003, 01:42 PM	#7
Opan Enting Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rivendel........i wish Posts: 57	yeah...i've flicked through the Silmarillion and there seems to be a HUGE amount of info with names and p[laces etc..... It seems quite daunting but.....hey....i think i'll give it ago seeing allt he praise thta it has got

06-06-2003, 04:26 PM	#8
Silpion Elven Warrior Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 103	I read Lord of the Rings then The Silmarillion. When I read The Silmarillion, I then read Lord of the Rings again and it was a richer story.

06-06-2003, 11:21 PM	#10
Anglorfin Alasailon Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: college Posts: 861	When I was little my dad read me the Hobbit. As I got older I read LotR by myself a few times before my dad got me the Silmarillion for my birthday or something. I then read that once, then LotR, then Sil, then LotR, and so on,...recently I have been reading UT and BoLT. WHen I got my friends into reading Tolkien I told them to start with the Silmarillion. The movies had already come out and I didn't want to wait a long time for them to finish LotR and constantly talk about book vs. movie related stuff, so I just explained the story to them as they read the Silmarillion. I figure tackling the Sil first would prove to me their devotion to the actual world of Tolkien istead of them just going "mainstream" and picking up LotR and forgetting about it. Now that they have read both Sil and LotR they are glad that I made them read Sil first. __________________ "and then this hobbit was walking, and then this elf jumped out of a bush and totally flipped out on him while wailing on his guitar." "Anglorfin was tall and straight; his hair was of shining gold, his face fair and young and fearless and full of anger; his eyes were bright and keen, and his voice like music; on his brow sat wisdom, and in his hand was great skill."

06-07-2003, 08:04 AM	#11
Linaewen Fair Dinkum Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,319	I read LotR before the Silm. And I like that I read it that way- not entirely sure why. Sometimes it's more interesting to read things out of chronological order, IMO anyway. The 'Rings of Power...' chapter was very enjoyable for me, simply because it related to the events of the WotR. It just made things clearer- and if I could go back in time, and read the Silm first, I wouldn't.

06-07-2003, 08:16 AM	#12
*Fat middle* Mootis per forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Spain Posts: 61,439	it seems i'm the one that read first the Silm. A friend made me a briefing of its story and i decided i had to read that book. when i finished, i read TH and then LOTR. and then Sil. again... you know... __________________ Do not be hasty. That is my motto. Now we'll have a drink and go to the Entmoot.

06-07-2003, 08:32 AM	#13
Elf Girl Lurker Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Lothlórien Posts: 3,419	If you read the Sil first it gives away LotR's ending. __________________ There's antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium...

06-07-2003, 09:28 AM	#14
gollum9630 Canadian Guy. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The true North Strong and Free Posts: 1,513	i read LotR first, then the Sil. next time, i will read the Sil first __________________ "Canadians are so apathetic, but, what are you gonna do about it" -Glen Foster Wierd Harry Potter quotes the old nintendo duck hunt game Lemmings Swron Random Homer Simpson Quotes

06-07-2003, 01:09 PM	#16
Anglorfin Alasailon Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: college Posts: 861	It doesn't really matter anymore with the movies coming out now. Besides when my friends read the Sil first they felt great that they weren't just part of the movie fanclub that flocked to LotR books right away. They had a bit more knowledge to wave over everybody else's heads. __________________ "and then this hobbit was walking, and then this elf jumped out of a bush and totally flipped out on him while wailing on his guitar." "Anglorfin was tall and straight; his hair was of shining gold, his face fair and young and fearless and full of anger; his eyes were bright and keen, and his voice like music; on his brow sat wisdom, and in his hand was great skill."

06-08-2003, 08:03 PM	#17
Ornelírë Mistë Elven Warrior Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 482	I read the Hobbit, then Two Towers, then Silmarillion, then Return of the King, then Fellowship. But I wasn't confused about what happened because I listened to the Fellowship on tape before I read TTT. __________________ "Lot of people say this city looks like Hell," Allie said. She took a long drag from her cigarette. The glowing tip burned a hole in the darkness. "Most people never been to Hell," Jacob said. She looked at him and he could hear the smile in her voice. "And I suppose you have?"

06-09-2003, 03:27 PM	#20
LutraMage Elven Warrior Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Tolkien's England where the tale grew in the telling... Posts: 330	First TH, then LoTR, then TS __________________ "Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need. And he has been well rewarded, Frodo. Be sure that he took so little hurt from the evil, and escaped in the end, because he began his ownership of the Ring so, with Pity." "Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." "Very well,' he answered aloud, lowering his sword. 'But still I am afraid. And yet, as you see, I will not touch the creature. For now that I see him, I do pity him."