The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Silmarillion
Book Review: Classic Fantasy a must read
Summary: 5 Stars
If you're a Tolkien fan, you'll love it. It shouldn't be your first read. I would start with "Lord of the Rings". It reads like mythology and not a novel. The book gives the history of Middle-Earth. There is tons of action, and many characters with interesting names. It can be a hard read. Tolkien has many names in his Elvish language. If you're not use to it, try getting the audio CD. The book is so dense with information. If you want to remember all the names and places, it may make sense to read it twice. The Silmarillion has five parts. It covers the First Age and Second Age heavily while just summarizing the Third Age. If you read LOTR then this is a MUST read. It sheds some background and history to it.Book Review: Confusing... but an EXCELLENT story nonetheless
Summary: 5 Stars
As one reviewer noted, this is like Tolkien's bible and can only be appreciated by the hardcore Tolkien fans. It starts out as a creation story, detailing how Arda (the realm of earth) came to exist through the songs and thoughts of Iluvatar (God) and the Ainur (.....angels???). Some of the Ainur decide to go to earth, so they are then called the Valar, and prepare it for the Elves who are to be born much later. There is much trial and tribulation as one of the Valar, Melkor, becomes evil and jealous and tries to wreck everything. Theres a lengthy description of the different Vala and Valie and whos in charge of what; wind, earth, plants, stars... etc. THEN when the Elves are born theres all the different families and types of Elves, Wood Elves, Green Elves, Dark Elves. BUT they have names like Moriquendi, Noldor, Teleri, Umanyar... etc, depending on whether they made this journey and saw these trees.... AND THEN theres all the different sons and daughters who are descended from this guy whos descended from that guy who was married to this woman who was descended from this king who perished in that war.
My advice is to photocopy the family trees and maps in the back of the book so you can use them as an easy reference (I know... it's kinda dorky, but for those of you with short attention spans this WILL prevent massive headaches). There is just so many different people and descendants... it can be confusing. But once you have a good idea of who the main characters are and what they are doing it becomes an incredible tale in which you can get to know the older characters that are usually only briefly mentioned in the LOTR series, or their histories aren't entirely given; like Galadriel, Elrond, Mithrandir (Gandalf), Morgoth, Sauron, even Shelob. Tolkien's style of writing is incredible and his stories should not be missed. If you REALLY loved the LOTR series (not the movies either, which are good too, but im talking about the BOOKS)then go on and read this book!
Book Review: Definitive Tolkien Work!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Silmarillion is not for the neophyte or faint of heart. It is the core of the mythological world created by Tolkien. In fact, Tolkien began this work well before he began to weave it into the more familiar Middle Earth of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. He dispaired of its ever being published, and yet desired its publication more than any of his other works. It was not until LOTR achieved greatness that this could be released to an audience already demanding more of Hobbits and the Middle Earth.
Few but the most die hard fans are aware of the background of how Tolkien created this world. A philologist, (study of language development) Tolkien took the Elven language he had created as a young boy and teenager and determined that no language could truly develop without a corresponding mythology. The two were inseperable in his understanding.
The Silmarilian is that Mythology. It is a labor of love and one, while no doubt influenced by the Norse mythology and life long pursuit of Sir Gawain and the Green Dragon, as well as Beowulf, it is more than that. A work of genius by one of the greatest and most influential writers of the 20th century, it demonstrates the love and attention to detail that have set apart the works of Tolkien from all others in the Genre.
Buy it, read it and marvel at the creativity and machinations that most readers are introduced to in the narrative greats of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. You'll come to understand why those stories, monumental as they are, are only the tip of the iceberg waiting to be discovered.
After you've read the LOTR and Hobbit and other of Tolkien's smaller works, come to this work and when you've read it, you'll read the other again with greater understanding, appreciation and even a sense of awe that were not there the first time. You'll have the pleasure of reading these great books like you read them the first time!
Book Review: Epic!
Summary: 5 Stars
I fell in love with Tolkein's work when I first read The Hobbit as a child. Since then, I've read many of Tolkein's novels, but I read The Silmarillion only recently. And boy was I awestruck! Tolkein weaves a master tale of beauty, valor, faith, and courage of the Children of Illuvatar against the relentless assault of the Great Enemy, Morgoth, and his servants. The epic proportions of the battle between Good and Evil reminds one of an even greater work - the Bible - and Tolkein appears to have been inspired by the language of the Old Testament. The Silmarillion will always be one of my most favorite books of all time.Book Review: Fascinating Middle Earth history book
Summary: 5 Stars
Tolkein expertly combines part history and part mythology to make this brilliant book.Even by itself it is fun to read.It is indispensible to anyone interested in the Lord of the Rings.It answers so many questions such as
-what's across the sea
-how did all the different peoples of Middle Earth come into being
-what's Sauron's story
-what's the elves' story
There are so many seperate adventures and the whole book is so interesting.The only problem is that at times it seems dauntingly unending.But don't quit.The last half of the book is the most fascinating.
This book will give you a much deeper and more comprehensible knowledge and appreciation for the Lord of the Rings.If you're going to take the time to go in depth and read the books,then you absolutely have to read this book.It sort of completes the series-like a puzzle.