The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Silmarillion
Book Review: A review from a 14 year old...
Summary: 5 Stars
The Silmarillion is definately one of my favorite books. The characters are so determined and loyal to their cause, however hopeless it may be. It had me quite depressed for a while because most of the stories are very tragic.The book isn't confusing at all in my opinion, it's just written like the bible. If it wasn't written like that it wouldn't have half the depth and beauty that it had.
JRR Tolkien would be proud.
Book Review: A thrilling and deeply beautiful book
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is a masterpiece of epic fantasy. It has a rythme of its own that is both deep and beautiful. I suggest reading it aloud; the moving language and many strange (but wonderful) names are a pleasure to speak and hear.
Book Review: Absolutely Amazing
Summary: 5 Stars
There are few words that can describe the immense nature of this novel. Spectacular, magnificent, grandiose...I do not have the skills to shower my praise in words. This is not for the regular reader either, this is for those who are truly interested and willing to sift through all the information of Middle Earth. For starters, the beginning is wholly beautiful and interesting, yet its boring. The creation of Middle Earth is one of the most intriguing and beautiful ideas that Tolkien ever had. Yet just the way it's presented can make any reader weary. After the creation, it only gets better. The treachery of Melkor in the beginning lays the foundations of the evils of The Lord of the Rings. The history of the Elves is by far the most interesting aspect. From their early days in Middle Earth to the Noldor uprising to the destruction of Gondolin, this will enchant any reader. The story of Luthien and Beren is spectacular to read. Then comes the early history of Men and their dealings with the dread of Morgoth in the East and in the West. Then the dealings with Sauron and the forging of the great rings provides a spectacular prelude to the Lord of the Rings books.
If only Tolkien had lived long enough to finish this, then it could've been a 10 out of 5 stars. Definetely a classic read.
Book Review: Akallebeth=Atalante=ATLANTIS!
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased the paperback because they were out of hardcovers. The hardcover appears to have pictures. I have not yet read the Hobbit or the LORs. I intend to read them as well. I do own the extended DVD version of the LOR. I was told by many who have read the Hobbit and the LOR to NOT waste my time or rack my brain trying to read the Silmarillion. I tend to agree with them: however, for different reasons. Let me start by saying that this piece of literary work is simply a JRR Tolkien Masterpiece. It is clearly a mind expanding experience to read this book. But why would I not read it if I could go back in time before I made the choice to read it? The reason is that JRR Tolkien starts out painting such beautiful planes of existence of unbridled bliss! Places that the reader can go to! Places created by the Valar, the Maiar and later the Elves. Then at the noon tide, Melkor, a Vala later called Morgoth chooses to destroy it all? The majority of this book is devoted to this downward spiral into unrecoverable darkness. I actually experienced a sense of depression while enduring the absolute hopelessness of it all. With the coming of men celebrating and actually championing ignorance and darkness, it becomes a marathon Shakespearian tragedy. So to sum up it up, while I didn't mind the fact that JRR Tolkien will change the name of a person, place or thing as many as a dozen times and then choose to randomly refer to the one of dozen names during the reading experience since I love to decode, I did not care for the painful downward spiral into the pits of darkness that go deeper than Hell itself.
Given that; I now understand the LOR movies. Watching the movies are a blast but it is hard to follow them. For instance I could never understand how Sauron came into existence. Now I know he was a Maia that specialized in Smithing. In the first age Sauron was lured by Melkor, a Vala, to serve him. When Melkor was rechained by the Valar and sent to the void, Sauron was left as the highest ranking dark lord. Since Sauron was a Maia that was gifted in Smithing, he created and enchanted the Ring to rule them all. For me this is the true gift of information from this book.
Of greater interest is the Second Age, where Middle Earth was ruled by the Numenoreans. Again the same cycle of tragedy. The Valar create the Garden of Eden called Numenor for men located east of Valinor. Then after twenty some Kings, the Numenoreans decide to worship Sauron!!!!? What? The Numenoreons wage war on Valinor and say good bye to paradise. This becomes the JRR Tolkien version of Atlantis.
Like I said at the beginning, this is a book of unbridled contrast of good vs evil or duality with evil being the greater of the polarities. Evil is ignorance. In this book evil becomes the predictable wrong choice of Elves and men.
Book Review: An excellent book for the diehard Tolkien fan
Summary: 4 Stars
If you are a serious fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's other books and you want to learn more about the history of middle earth, then you will find this book fascinating. One word of warning however; It is not a story in the sense that the Lord of the Rings trilogy is. Yes, it does explain many of the myths and stories from the past hinted in LOTR, but it a series of stories rather, that all happen to be a part of the history of middle earth. It is also easy to get lost with all of the strange names and unfamiliar places, but it is rich in detail and well worth reading if you want to delve into the events that led up to those in LOTR.