The Simarillion?

[ADubiousSource]

I read the Silmarillion and I have to say it's most definately one of my favorite books. I truck one of my copie around everywhere with me and call it my survival manual. Okay, so I may be just a bit obsessed, but you never know when something will come up!

[rock_babe]

I have the same problem! got about half way through and haven't touched it for a year or so... it is very hard to read, but I'll get there!

[Amaris Morven]

For me the Silmarillion was much easier to read than the other Tolkien histories. Try reading The Book of Lost Tales 1 or 2, with all the commentary, and keeping it all straight. Takes concentration.

[ZephyrButterfly]

I read the Silmarillion because I used to be a part of a MUSH and if you wanted to play the elves well, you needed the back history. Especially since a normal aged character in Rivendell was a 1000 years old or so. xd

[Dame Edna]

I tried to read the book as well. I read the introduction, then stopped. Then I got to about page 150, and jsut skipped to the end where it talks about the rings. sweatdrop I still plan on reading the whole thing, one day.

[ADubiousSource]

Eeek! The lost tales are hard to read. i must adnmit I'm still stuggling through one. I've read a good bit of the lost road and the lays of beleriand. The lost road because it intrest me in a very odd way and The lay because I'm very fond of poetry.

[Amaris Morven]

Yes, Tolkien's poetry is absolutely fabulous.

[Fattycakes]

I've read the book, but it took me awhile to read the first time. I LOVE it! Its my favorite book that Tolkien wrote.

[Gabriela-chan]

Reading the Silmarillion is SO worth it! It took me AGES to get through it, but...it's really great. It gives you the whole backstory of Tolkien's world and hammers in the fact that Middle-Earth is NOT Generic Fantasyland (to borrow a phrase), it has its own mythology and history starting from its creation right up to the events of LotR.

It also has a lot of great stories in it (I personally think of the Silmarillion as a collection of stories rather than one whole story), from the classic Beren and Luthien to the severely twisted and rather depressing life of Turin.
You also learn about the life histories and families of the elves you see or are mentioned in LotR, which is really interesting, if occasionally REALLY complicated. (there is apparently no such thing as a remotely normal elven family tree... eek )

Also, the really great thing about reading the Silmarillion (for me, at least) is that if you're a fanfic writer, it opens up a whole new world for you to play in! (Well, not whole new WORLD, but whole new AGE, anyway. wink ) You'll discover new characters and new events all set in the same beloved world, and it's so FUN to play with them! 4laugh

[Amaris Morven]

That is so true about the Elven family trees. I took the entries I have in a reliable reference book and drew out the durn thing--there are three loops. *hangs head* They are distant, however. Turin and Nienor is the worst.

[Starlit Jewel]

thaxul

Zurgiea

Hun, there's a Silmarillion topic already on the first page.

great banner!!! whee

Too true! wink

[Starry_Kit]

It seems that except for The Hobbit, much of Tolkien's work isn't suited for light bedtime reading. No, actually I contradict myself, I spent much time in bed reading Two Towers late into the night. Anyway, my point is that it's not the easiest thing in the world to read, but it's probably the best.

[Amaris Morven]

Does anyone have a first edition copy?? One of my friends has one, and I would DIE to have one.

[Gilthoniel~Sirfalas]

The Silmarillion is my Bible. BUt anywayz. Vanya Sulie.

[Amaris Morven]

What's Sulie mean??