4 ms·

Skip the first 50 pages or so. The rest is golden.

defen 7y ago
I've tried to read it 3 times and have always given up after about 30 pages. Gonna give this a shot tonight, thanks for the advice.
- jfengel 7y ago
  If I can offer some advice and plug my own work, I did a blog that breaks it into tiny pieces, helping put them into the Lord of the Rings context, and clarifying what you actually need to remember and what you can just let wash over you. The book is a slog for everybody the first try, and I was trying to help people through that. https://www.quora.com/q/cowpyhwvlbspffvw?sort=top https://www.quora.com/q/cowpyhwvlbspffvw?sort=top The blog is a rough draft of what I'd hoped would some day be a completed work, so it's not everything I'd like it to be. But I do think people will find it helpful nonetheless.
- em500 7y ago
  Don't try to read it in book order/chronological order. Instead, start with "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age" (which has a brilliant short retelling of LOTR), then "Akallabêth", then "Quenta Silmarillion" and only then "Ainulindalë". They are all largely self contained, and it's much easier to go through in quasi-reverse order. Just use the Wikipedia synopsis to get up to speed on the chronologically preceding section first. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillion#Synopsis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillion#Synopsis)
ReidZB 7y ago
Oh man, I have to disagree. I love the Ainulindalë. Plus, without it, I imagine you'd have a difficult time figuring out who exactly the Valar are or what their role is. That said, my advice would be to not get too caught up on the names and places and details — just let the story sort of wash over you. Many, many, many names are only said exactly once in The Silmarillion; if you try to remember them all, you'll go crazy. If you see a name 3+ times, that's when it's time to track them down on the family tree, probably. I'd also recommend making sure you reference the map when a place keeps being mentioned. It's helpful to know the vague locations of Doriath, Nargothrond, Gondolin, etc.
- moomin 7y ago
  It’s easy to say “don’t get caught up in the names and places” but there’s literally chapter devoted to geography.
  - senderista 7y ago
    I highly recommend the Atlas of Middle-Earth.

I've tried to read it 3 times and have always given up after about 30 pages. Gonna give this a shot tonight, thanks for the advice.

jfengel 7y ago
If I can offer some advice and plug my own work, I did a blog that breaks it into tiny pieces, helping put them into the Lord of the Rings context, and clarifying what you actually need to remember and what you can just let wash over you. The book is a slog for everybody the first try, and I was trying to help people through that. https://www.quora.com/q/cowpyhwvlbspffvw?sort=top https://www.quora.com/q/cowpyhwvlbspffvw?sort=top The blog is a rough draft of what I'd hoped would some day be a completed work, so it's not everything I'd like it to be. But I do think people will find it helpful nonetheless.
em500 7y ago
Don't try to read it in book order/chronological order. Instead, start with "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age" (which has a brilliant short retelling of LOTR), then "Akallabêth", then "Quenta Silmarillion" and only then "Ainulindalë". They are all largely self contained, and it's much easier to go through in quasi-reverse order. Just use the Wikipedia synopsis to get up to speed on the chronologically preceding section first. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillion#Synopsis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillion#Synopsis)

ReidZB 7y ago

Oh man, I have to disagree. I love the Ainulindalë. Plus, without it, I imagine you'd have a difficult time figuring out who exactly the Valar are or what their role is. That said, my advice would be to not get too caught up on the names and places and details — just let the story sort of wash over you. Many, many, many names are only said exactly once in The Silmarillion; if you try to remember them all, you'll go crazy. If you see a name 3+ times, that's when it's time to track them down on the family tree, probably. I'd also recommend making sure you reference the map when a place keeps being mentioned. It's helpful to know the vague locations of Doriath, Nargothrond, Gondolin, etc.

moomin 7y ago
It’s easy to say “don’t get caught up in the names and places” but there’s literally chapter devoted to geography.
- senderista 7y ago
  I highly recommend the Atlas of Middle-Earth.