OK,So I Kind of Love The Silmarillion.
I bought it shortly after it was published in 1977, because I was a repeat reader of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and especially loved the appendices. (In fact, back in 1971 or so, I was in the process of writing Tolkien a letter about what I thought was an error in the appendices when I learned he had died. I'm so glad he died before I had a chance to embarrass myself like that, she said shallowly.)
When I first read the book, I was disappointed that it wasn't written in novel form, like LotR. Over the years, however, I found myself returning to it repeatedly, especially for the Ainulindale, the tale of initial creation. I also loved the Akkalabeth, the story of Numenor and its downfall, and I loved parts of the Quenta Silmarillion, the stories of the first age and the Silmarils, although the stories of Turin Turambar and his family were too dark for me.
Imagine my delight just last night, when something I was reading included a link to this: read it, all you fellow Tolkien lovers (and the many who are far more immersed in Tolkien scholarship and fandom than I am), and enjoy.![[personal profile]](https://imgprx.livejournal.net/7761d71b3816628bd76a650055a3796ead6f7939/eTzvBskzvYFb5GMLGqVg2K6cuRJkoHTF4nNN96btfdBHlLbY75nHCtilvFKNpOA-ZoPZQLne6RqWibDKHARAEK47xFEX_pgFu44CqaLM1-A)
camwyn wrote it back in 2004, and it deserves to be re-discovered on a regular basis, because it is high and brilliant silliness. Also, it's a great way to understand the Silmarillion, while snorting in laughter.
Wow, a post in which I can take delight in something - hurrah! This entry was originally posted at https://kaffyr.dreamwidth.org/683214.html?mode=reply, where there are currently
comments. You can comment there or here, but prefer to read over on DW. You can comment there using open ID if you don't have a DW account.
I bought it shortly after it was published in 1977, because I was a repeat reader of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and especially loved the appendices. (In fact, back in 1971 or so, I was in the process of writing Tolkien a letter about what I thought was an error in the appendices when I learned he had died. I'm so glad he died before I had a chance to embarrass myself like that, she said shallowly.)
When I first read the book, I was disappointed that it wasn't written in novel form, like LotR. Over the years, however, I found myself returning to it repeatedly, especially for the Ainulindale, the tale of initial creation. I also loved the Akkalabeth, the story of Numenor and its downfall, and I loved parts of the Quenta Silmarillion, the stories of the first age and the Silmarils, although the stories of Turin Turambar and his family were too dark for me.
Imagine my delight just last night, when something I was reading included a link to this: read it, all you fellow Tolkien lovers (and the many who are far more immersed in Tolkien scholarship and fandom than I am), and enjoy.
Wow, a post in which I can take delight in something - hurrah! This entry was originally posted at https://kaffyr.dreamwidth.org/683214.html?mode=reply, where there are currently
- Current Location:the living room
- Current Mood:
amused
Comments
The only thing to keep in mind is that it isn't done in novel form, but more like a collection of fairy tales and legends.
I started reading The Silmarillon about twenty years ago, but gave up after a hundred pages or so. I had expected it to be written in novel form, and all those names I had never heard before had me confused rather quickly. I was about seventeen, and decided to read Stephen King instead. But one of these days (when the baby finally sleeps through the night and I can concentrate properly again) I'll give it another try.