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  • Subject: The Silmarillion
Subject: The Silmarillion

Everything you know is wrong.

I am thinking about picking up The Silmarillion. I have heard things about it and it sounds very interesting.

To those who have read, how does it read? Like a history book?

And also, how would you compare it to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy?

[Edited on 12.09.2012 9:14 AM PST]

  • 12.09.2012 9:14 AM PDT

"I will show you how a true Prussian officer fights!"

"And i will show you where the iron crosses grow..."

- "Cross of Iron"

It is very very in depth, the last time i read it was in 7th grade so maybe my opinion is skewed but overall it was good.

I should read it now that i am out of High School and see what i think of it.

[Edited on 12.09.2012 9:15 AM PST]

  • 12.09.2012 9:15 AM PDT
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"It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me"

- Batman

Very hard to read.

So many names are mentioned in the first few chapters that you may well be overwhelmed. Especially as the majority of them are only ever mentioned once or twice again.

It get's good at later parts, and would make a great TV series if the budget was large enough, but it took me several attempts until I could fight my way past the wall of information and into the actual story.

Not as good of a story as The Lord of the Rings, and not as easy and fun to read as The Hobbit. I didn't enjoy reading it, but I am glad I have done so.

[Edited on 12.09.2012 9:17 AM PST]

  • 12.09.2012 9:15 AM PDT

Supreme Dictator, Industrial Polluter, Megalomaniac, Corrupt Politician, Underhanded Reprobate, Rainforest Ravager, Puppy Kicker, Oil Spill Coordinator, Holiday Hater, and an Insurance Salesman.

Yeah don't go into it expecting it to be like Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit. It is very interesting though.

  • 12.09.2012 9:17 AM PDT

"It is the cruelest fate, to have written words that meant well and see them made wicked and unwise. What was meant to encourage life, used instead to justify taking it."

The Silmarillion does read like a historical account more than a story. Many immortal characters such as Galadriel, Elrond, and the five wizards are mentioned in the stories, but they are minor characters for the most part. It takes lots of patience to read through the whole thing, but discovering the history and origins of Middle-earth is worth it in the end.

  • 12.09.2012 9:18 AM PDT

tha what?

  • 12.09.2012 9:19 AM PDT
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Like the rest of Tolkein's work, it is far from a literary masterpiece, but still enjoyable. Much more so if you are a fantasy enthusiast or are otherwise passionate about the world of LotR.

  • 12.09.2012 9:20 AM PDT

Stupid ass washing machine...

If you're a huge Lord of The Rings fan and are really into all the lore and that stuff you'll cream yourself over it.

I personally found it impossible to read, as a casual fan of the series.

  • 12.09.2012 9:22 AM PDT

-blam!- Was that actually blammed out? Or did I just type it? You'll never know.

Interesting is certainly a good word for it. It's one of those fantasy novels where there are more made up words than real ones, certainly the hardest to get through of any of Tolkien's works.

  • 12.09.2012 9:24 AM PDT