5 ms·

I love the Silmarillion. It's the Old Testament Bible of an alternate universe. It's not a novel so much as a collection of mythological stories and a narrative

I love the Silmarillion. It's the Old Testament Bible of an alternate universe. It's not a novel so much as a collection of mythological stories and a narrative history, very much in the style of medieval literature.

stult 9y ago
It requires a different kind of appreciation than Tolkein's other works. It's more like reading poetry than a novel. You have to focus on the sounds of the names and invented languages and the archaic and mystical feel of the archetypes represented, rather than character or plot.
- namarie 9y ago
  I disagree completely. I love the characters of Fëanor, of Beren and Lúthien, of Elu Thingol, of Tuor, of Elwing... Also, the plots of the stories hold a lot of the attention (at least for me).
infimum 9y ago
i'm always a bit unhappy with the comparison to the old testament. it think it turns people off unnecessarily. having read both, i reassure everyone that the silmarillion is way less tedious to read than the old testament (even if they're similar in their narrative structure).
drzaiusapelord 9y ago
I don't understand how people can even find the Silmarillion but somehow don't understand what it is. Its just pieced together mythology. Its not some lost LOTR sequel. Its a bit like saying, "So I ran out and bought Infinite Jest. No one told me it was long and ponderous!" Uh, who is recommending these books to these people and why aren't they at least reading the descriptions?
- Steuard 9y ago
  I used to sometimes see random volumes from the middle of The History of Middle-earth series sitting in airport bookstores. I'd look at that and just feel sorry for anyone who thought "Oh, I loved The Hobbit! I'm looking for something to read on the plane: maybe this book The Shaping of Middle-earth will be fun." Even Unfinished Tales or The Silmarillion could be more or less reasonable there, but this felt like tricking people into buying a specialized third-year college textbook.
  - duskwuff 9y ago
    Part of the problem -- in my opinion -- was that the publisher treated The History of Middle-Earth like a typical fantasy series. Mass market paperback edition, cover art, the works. A different presentation might have made it more clear that it was a scholarly work, not a novel. (Or perhaps that was the intent. Sigh...)
- nmeofthestate 9y ago
  Nobody recommended the Silmarillion to me - I bought it when I was a teenager, after reading LotRs. People buy it looking for more material from someone they enjoy reading. (and yes I found it a boring slog)
qznc 9y ago
I also love the Silmarillion and have no idea why some find it hard to read. It is so much more epic. Did you find the Balrog in LotR impressive? Imagine a hundred balrogs riding on dragons storming the the elven city Gondolin. You find Sauron an impressive evildoer? He was only the Lieutenant to Morgoth. You can argue that this is just inconsistent unedited early material, but I don't care. ;)
- craigching 9y ago
  I think I understand why the Silmarillion is so hard to read. The first time through, it's as has been said, the stories aren't very detailed, they're more like old testament books. You definitely have to use your imagination. Also, more and more of the lore is revealed here as well. And then there are the names. Oh, the names! So many to keep track of! I think I really started to get the Silmarillion on maybe the third read. After that it gets easier and easier the more you retain of the stories. It is certainly my favorite Tolkien book after probably five reads or so and I find the stories to be really rich and interesting now. You're right, though, Sauron? But a servant of Morgoth! The stories regarding the Silmarils are my favorite of all of Tolkien's stories, which, of course, span many stories. And don't forget Ungoliant for pure unbridled evil!
Maultasche 9y ago
I first read the Silmarillion when I was about 15, and I found it a terrible boring slog. I concluded it was absolutely terrible. 10 years later I came back and read it again. This time I had read more mythology and understood the Silmarillion as a book of mythology. I very much enjoyed it the second time. I think age, experience, and expectations had a lot to do with how I viewed it that second time. It's a totally different book than the Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Anyone who isn't expecting that will end up disappointed.

stult 9y ago

It requires a different kind of appreciation than Tolkein's other works. It's more like reading poetry than a novel. You have to focus on the sounds of the names and invented languages and the archaic and mystical feel of the archetypes represented, rather than character or plot.

namarie 9y ago
I disagree completely. I love the characters of Fëanor, of Beren and Lúthien, of Elu Thingol, of Tuor, of Elwing... Also, the plots of the stories hold a lot of the attention (at least for me).

infimum 9y ago

i'm always a bit unhappy with the comparison to the old testament. it think it turns people off unnecessarily. having read both, i reassure everyone that the silmarillion is way less tedious to read than the old testament (even if they're similar in their narrative structure).

drzaiusapelord 9y ago

I don't understand how people can even find the Silmarillion but somehow don't understand what it is. Its just pieced together mythology. Its not some lost LOTR sequel. Its a bit like saying, "So I ran out and bought Infinite Jest. No one told me it was long and ponderous!" Uh, who is recommending these books to these people and why aren't they at least reading the descriptions?

Steuard 9y ago
I used to sometimes see random volumes from the middle of The History of Middle-earth series sitting in airport bookstores. I'd look at that and just feel sorry for anyone who thought "Oh, I loved The Hobbit! I'm looking for something to read on the plane: maybe this book The Shaping of Middle-earth will be fun." Even Unfinished Tales or The Silmarillion could be more or less reasonable there, but this felt like tricking people into buying a specialized third-year college textbook.
- duskwuff 9y ago
  Part of the problem -- in my opinion -- was that the publisher treated The History of Middle-Earth like a typical fantasy series. Mass market paperback edition, cover art, the works. A different presentation might have made it more clear that it was a scholarly work, not a novel. (Or perhaps that was the intent. Sigh...)
nmeofthestate 9y ago
Nobody recommended the Silmarillion to me - I bought it when I was a teenager, after reading LotRs. People buy it looking for more material from someone they enjoy reading. (and yes I found it a boring slog)

qznc 9y ago

I also love the Silmarillion and have no idea why some find it hard to read. It is so much more epic. Did you find the Balrog in LotR impressive? Imagine a hundred balrogs riding on dragons storming the the elven city Gondolin. You find Sauron an impressive evildoer? He was only the Lieutenant to Morgoth. You can argue that this is just inconsistent unedited early material, but I don't care. ;)

craigching 9y ago
I think I understand why the Silmarillion is so hard to read. The first time through, it's as has been said, the stories aren't very detailed, they're more like old testament books. You definitely have to use your imagination. Also, more and more of the lore is revealed here as well. And then there are the names. Oh, the names! So many to keep track of! I think I really started to get the Silmarillion on maybe the third read. After that it gets easier and easier the more you retain of the stories. It is certainly my favorite Tolkien book after probably five reads or so and I find the stories to be really rich and interesting now. You're right, though, Sauron? But a servant of Morgoth! The stories regarding the Silmarils are my favorite of all of Tolkien's stories, which, of course, span many stories. And don't forget Ungoliant for pure unbridled evil!

Maultasche 9y ago

I first read the Silmarillion when I was about 15, and I found it a terrible boring slog. I concluded it was absolutely terrible. 10 years later I came back and read it again. This time I had read more mythology and understood the Silmarillion as a book of mythology. I very much enjoyed it the second time. I think age, experience, and expectations had a lot to do with how I viewed it that second time. It's a totally different book than the Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Anyone who isn't expecting that will end up disappointed.