The Silmarillion

[Vinnie]

Anyone read it? I started it but never got into it. Its kind of a prequel to the LotR. I think it takes place in age one while the LotR takes place in age three towards the end and beginning of age four.

Thoughts on it if you have read it?

[butterfly]

There's a prequel to Lord of the Rings? I've never even heard of it! Is this supposed to be before the Hobbit or between the Hobbit and the fellowship of the ring?

[Vinnie]

Its way before the Hobbit in another age.

[Pelvidar]

Like you, I "started", but then didn't finish. I think I tried reading it after finishing the trilogy, and just found myself "overstuffed" with Tolkien :)

[Orpheus42]

I hear you there. I mean, it's great stuff but wow it takes longer than I had allowed time for to digest the book properly....

Peace, Love, and Jesus Christ,

Jason

ps. Nickel Creek has this great tune called "House of Tom Bombadil". It's fascinating. Bluegrass mixed with Irish music in 7/8 time.

[J. Mordecai Pallant]

Originally posted by ilgwamh
Anyone read it? I started it but never got into it. Its kind of a prequel to the LotR. I think it takes place in age one while the LotR takes place in age three towards the end and beginning of age four.

Thoughts on it if you have read it?

I first read it, oh, over twenty years ago it must be now. Since then I've read it numerous times though it's been over ten years since the last time. It was, I think, better than the Lord of the Rings.

[Vinnie]

Heck, after a review like that I might just have to attempt to read it again :)

All I remember is there was a guy named Turin and something about stolen or lost Silmarils I think. Was Turin a dwarf, elf, or man?

[J. Mordecai Pallant]

Originally posted by ilgwamh
Heck, after a review like that I might just have to attempt to read it again :)

All I remember is there was a guy named Turin and something about stolen or lost Silmarils I think. Was Turin a dwarf, elf, or man?

It's been ten years, my friend. The Silmarillion was a complex story wheras the Lord of the Rings was not...or at least not as complex. I've read neither story in a decade. Details, unfortunately, escape me. Regardless, of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion, the latter I regard as being his most "mature" work, even if my recollection reminds me that it is a rip-off of the Old Testament.

[ZeroDivide]

From p423 of "The Silmarillion"

Turin (no, I'm not going to do the accents, because this keyboard is American, so its horrible) - Son of Hurin and Morwen; chief subject of the lay named Narn i Hin Hurin from which chapter XXI was named. For his other names, see Neithan, Gorthol, Aharwaen, Mormegil, Wildman of the Woods, Turambar.

I'd probably rate Silmarillion as being better than LotR. But it is very heavy going. It took me almost three weeks to read it (by contrast - it only took me three hours to read George Orwell's 1984 for the first time today...). Its most entertaining though. Its actually five stories, not just one. "Quenta Silmarillion" is the main story though, and takes up most of the book.

[Tricia]

The Silmarillion is pretty heavy, but I think I'm past the major heaviness.

I thought about giving up, but I'm glad I haven't because it sounds prett good and a lot of famous authors have rated it high on their scales.

[Vinnie]

I'm definately going to have to go through it....

I just need to get the book out of storage :(

[Pelvidar]

Ha ha, got you beat, I'm pushing through the first story in Silmarillion now :)

[Pelvidar]

Have you started this yet Vinnie? I'm really enjoying it (but it is wordy at times).

[Tricia]

I have finished.


It is really good, especially the last part about the rings.

The ending satisfies more than the return of the kings. :rolleyes:

WHERE THE HECK DID FRODO GO!?!?!?!?!

[Pelvidar]

I'm only on page 70, don't post anything that would spoil it for me (unless you put a warning at the start of a post. k?

Thanks!

[Tricia]

Originally posted by Pelvidar
I'm only on page 70, don't post anything that would spoil it for me (unless you put a warning at the start of a post. k?

Thanks!

No, I was referring to the return of the kings, not the Silmarillion.