The Silmarillion

[Glanecia]

I quickly picked up The Silmarillion in the bookstore, the other day. I read maybe three sentences, and then it was time to go...

anyways, I'm wondering, can anyone tell me...how would you rate this book? I loved the trilogy...would I like this one too?

[Lotesse]

Ciao, Glanecia! You're brand-new here, huh? Welcome 2 the Moot! The sil is one of those tomes that one really has to make themselves get into, because they want the history & background and details of Tolkien's fantasy world. I have a hard time really wading through it, too, sometimes, I mean I bought the Sil like almost a year ago and still haven't read but a few chapters. But if you truly love Tolkien, it's a gem, to be sure. There's a lot of Silmarillion nutz here in the Moot who could give you better answers than I.

[Elanor]

It took me 3 tries to read this book. I love the beginning, but I kept getting bogged down right after Feanor swears his oath and the Noldori go to Middle Earth. But if you can slog through the war stuff, it gets interesting again.

[Arien the Maia]

I second what Elanor said...it takes about 3 times to really LOVE it...at least it did for me...it's now my favorite of Tolkien's works. I would plow through it ten go back and read LotR again then the Sil then Lotr then the Sil again...with enough time in between that you can really enjoy reading the books each time

[Earniel]

The Silmarillion is very different from the Lord of the Rings (LoTR) trilogy. It is more fragmented and written in a different style, more like an anthology of short stories. The Silmarillion also spans a lot more time than the LoTR, and deals with a lot more characters (some also have similar names) so sometimes it can be difficult to keep up. You need to keep your head with it.

Whether you will like the Silmarillion is completely up to personal preference. Personally, I had no problem with getting through the book, although it took me at least another re-read to fully grasp all the characters and events.

I can tell you this, though: If you liked the Elves in LoTR and the Hobbit, be prepared for a surprise!

[brownjenkins]

the best book ever written!

i'm a big fan of mythology (greek, norse, hindu, christian, etc.), and it is very much in that style... grand tales that are far less personal than the lotr

i think it is very rewarding, but it certainly takes some time (and re-reading) to fully appreciate

if you are having a hard time, i suggest skipping forward and reading the tale of beren and luthien... it is one of the best in the book and might get you interested enough to want to read the rest

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Originally Posted by Elanor

It took me 3 tries to read this book. I love the beginning, but I kept getting bogged down right after Feanor swears his oath and the Noldori go to Middle Earth. But if you can slog through the war stuff, it gets interesting again.

I found it the other way round. It was harder for me to read up to 'Of Fëanor' but after that I loved it. Then again, I was only 11 when I first read Ainulindale!

Glanecia, IMO it's better than the trilogy. When I first read it I couldn't remember much of what happened, but when I re-read it I fell in love with it.
I also agree with Rian. There is a period of about five chapters, beginning with Beren and Luthien is that is my favourite part of anything I've ever read.

[Rían]

And you have a lovely quote from the Sil in your sig, TD! (and so do I - from a few pages before yours)

Wow, you got thru the Ainulindalë at 11? I adore that part, but whew! I'm impressed with you!

Have you read any HoME (History of Middle Earth) books, TD? I don't remember if you have or not.

[Wayfarer]

I always found the Silmarillion to be a mixed bag, at best, but you really can't expect a whole lot from a volume that was cobbled together from the (sometimes Illegible, frequently multi-draft) notes of the author after his death. Overall I am forced to agree with much of the criticism that has been leveled against it (even CJRT has said that he screwed up some of it), but it's still worth reading for those sublime moments, ocassional passages that are just achingly, heart stoppingly beautiful and are worth reading again and again.

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Originally Posted by RÃ*an

And you have a lovely quote from the Sil in your sig, TD! (and so do I - from a few pages before yours)

Wow, you got thru the Ainulindalë at 11? I adore that part, but whew! I'm impressed with you!

Have you read any HoME (History of Middle Earth) books, TD? I don't remember if you have or not.

I have read the last three (Morgoths Ring, War of the Jewels and Peoples of Middle Earth) and the first two (Book of Lost Tales 1 and 2 IIRC) and am planning on finishing the rest soon.