Author |
Topic: Currently reading Silmarillion (Read 451 times) |
|
Sarah
Administrator
member is offline
"Toss me. Don't tell the elf." -Gimli
 
Gender: 
Posts: 150
|
 |
Currently reading Silmarillion
« Thread started on: Dec 22nd, 2002, 10:55am » |
|
I just started reading this book and was wondering what the thoughts of people who have already read it were?
|
|
 Logged
|
Sincerely,
Sarah
|
|
|
AngelicMaiden
New Member
member is offline
Gender:
Posts: 71
|
 |
Re: Currently reading Silmarillion
« Reply #1 on: Dec 22nd, 2002, 3:56pm » |
|
The Silmarillion is one of my favorites! I simply adore it. How far have you read? I do not want to write any spoilers for you ^^
In my opinion, I think everyone should read this book. ^^; (Okay, it is one I greatly love; it talks about the Elves! And I just ADORE mythology and there roots.) Anyway, I feel that The Lord of the Rings depends on the Silmarillion, since certain scenes in The Fellowship of the Ring will have a different impact a person, once someone knows the meaning behind all the unfamiliar names, events, etc . (hopes that made some sense) Besides, the stories found in The Silmarillion are very powerful to me. Since I simply adore elves and their customs, etc. I enjoyed the book very much so.
However, some of the people I know did not like it very much ^^; Hope that helps. ^^;
|
|
Logged
|
"I would rather share one lifetime with you, than face all the Ages of this world alone"
|
|
|
Sarah
Administrator
member is offline
"Toss me. Don't tell the elf." -Gimli
Gender:
Posts: 150
|
|
Re: Currently reading Silmarillion
« Reply #2 on: Dec 22nd, 2002, 5:35pm » |
|
Well I'm only on chapter three about, but I know what you mean already! I read about the Valar and stuff, and then when I saw the Two Towers again today, I finally understood the line where Arwen says to Aragorn, "May the Grace of the Valar protect you", or something like that (I don't remember the exacat line). Hehe
|
|
Logged
|
Sincerely,
Sarah
|
|
|
Ithilwyn
New Member
member is offline
Without change, something sleeps inside us and seldom awakens.
Gender:
Posts: 61
|
|
Re: Currently reading Silmarillion
« Reply #3 on: Jan 14th, 2003, 3:08pm » |
|
Reading the Silmarillion is an enlightening experience. Tolkien drew so heavily on this created mythology when writing LOTR that it is an indispensable guide to figuring out all of those obscure references.
I have heard many complaints that it is difficult to read. The style is certainly very different from LOTR; it is a narrative style deviod, for the most part, of any dialog to relieve the descriptive overload. One suggestion that I have heard made is that you keep a graph or some other organizational chart of the various characters and there relationships to each other. (FYI I also heard the same said of War and Peace, and feel that this would have helped my reading of that book immensely.) My suggestion for those struggling through is to stick with it; you will definitely be rewarded.
My favorite part, though, isn't really all the stories of the various Elves and Men, but the opening section that has such a beautiful retelling of creation. The influence of Christianity in this section is apparent, yet does not limit his vision.
|
|
Logged
|
We are raised to honor all the wrong explorers and discoverers--theives planting flags, murderers carrying crosses. Let us at last praise the colonizers of dreams.
|
|
|
DarthPrion
New Member
member is offline
Gollum!! I am your Father!-Dobby
 
Gender:
Posts: 56
|
|
Re: Currently reading Silmarillion
« Reply #4 on: Aug 4th, 2003, 2:03pm » |
|
Had started reading it a few days ago (finally!) and find myself stopping here and there to check the Family Tree or to discuss with myself about from where the particular idea came from (Ooo! Greek Mythology! Oooo! Genesis!).
Am in Chapter 20 rite now and can't wait to buy the other books so I can know more about the history of LOTR.
Err, after The Silmarillion, which of the 12 History of Middle-Earth book should I get to explore more of Tolkien's world?
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Ithilwyn
New Member
member is offline
Without change, something sleeps inside us and seldom awakens.
Gender:
Posts: 61
|
|
Re: Currently reading Silmarillion
« Reply #5 on: Aug 4th, 2003, 9:38pm » |
|
The History of Middle Earth books are, of course, in order from 1 to 12, but I have heard that you do not necesssarily need to read them in order. Some of them really flow from one to the other, like the mini-series within the series on the History of the Lord of the Rings, but stuff like the two books of lost tales could probably be read at any point. I'm kind of a stickler for reading things in order, so when I finally get around to them, I'll probably start with book 1 and work my way through. I'm still kind of stuck on the Unfinished Tales. If you are going to read beyond the Silmarillion, I would really recommend taking notes; all the different characters and story lines begin to get really jumbled up.
|
|
Logged
|
We are raised to honor all the wrong explorers and discoverers--theives planting flags, murderers carrying crosses. Let us at last praise the colonizers of dreams.
|
|
|
DarthPrion
New Member
member is offline
Gollum!! I am your Father!-Dobby
Gender:
Posts: 56
|
|
Re: Currently reading Silmarillion
« Reply #6 on: Aug 6th, 2003, 10:10am » |
|
Okiday! 
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
TheMovieGuru
New Member
member is offline
Welcome to Rivendell... Mr. Anderson
Posts: 4
|
|
Re: Currently reading Silmarillion
« Reply #7 on: Oct 15th, 2003, 12:42am » |
|
Silmarillion is quite possibly one of toliens best, but definitely in its own right. It seemed to me like they were told in two different worlds and through two different authors, but then again that happens a lot. Look at Harry Potter #1, then read the latest one...
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Ithilwyn
New Member
member is offline
Without change, something sleeps inside us and seldom awakens.
Gender:
Posts: 61
|
|
Re: Currently reading Silmarillion
« Reply #8 on: Oct 15th, 2003, 11:22am » |
|
I think a possible reason for the vast difference of tone and style in the Silmarillion is simply due to when Tolkien wrote the stories. He started writing the Sil. when he served in WWI; it was an escape for him from the ugliness of trench warfare. He wrote LOTR a bit later in life, starting it just before WWII, and finishing after the war ended.
|
|
Logged
|
We are raised to honor all the wrong explorers and discoverers--theives planting flags, murderers carrying crosses. Let us at last praise the colonizers of dreams.
|
|
|
banowaith
New Member
member is offline
Gender:
Posts: 5
|
|
Re: Currently reading Silmarillion
« Reply #9 on: Oct 24th, 2003, 6:32pm » |
|
I've read the Sil 3 times and believe me, you'll have to, before you get it all. It's probably my most favorite work of Tolkien's along with Unfinished Tales. One thing that's sad about the Sil. Alot of people got into Tolkien after the movies. and after the movies, the LotR books, to alot of people, seemed really complicated and boring. Once they trudged their way through them, they decided to stick with their precious movies. Sad, really.
|
|
Logged
|
[image noborder]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/163554/Banowaith.jpg[/image]
|
|
|
Intyalin
New Member
member is offline
Oft evil will shall evil mar.
Gender: 
Posts: 1
|
|
Re: Currently reading Silmarillion
« Reply #10 on: Oct 26th, 2003, 7:11pm » |
|
The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings belong to different genres. One is a legendarium or compendium of myths & legends, the other is an heroic romance (neither of them are novels). Every genre has it own conventions. My advice to anyone struggling with The Silmarillion is to read it out loud, read it slowly, & read each chapter 2 or 3 times before proceeding to the next. 
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Banshee
New Member
member is offline
Gender:
Posts: 44
|
|
Re: Currently reading Silmarillion
« Reply #11 on: Nov 6th, 2003, 3:22pm » |
|
I have a copy of the Sil sitting on my bookcase but I've yet to actually start reading it. Prehaps when the university semester finishes I'll be able to sit down and devote some time to it.
"Alot of people got into Tolkien after the movies. and after the movies, the LotR books, to alot of people, seemed really complicated and boring."
I've come across alot of this too. Like, why bother waste our time on a boring old stale book when we could just watch the movies? That sort of attitude really makes me sad. I even had one friend who was going to take a summer school paper which analysises the books but then she decided not to because she thought that "reading the books might ruin the movies" for her. 
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
boing
New Member
member is offline
Gender:
Posts: 9
|
|
Re: Currently reading Silmarillion
« Reply #12 on: Nov 6th, 2003, 11:48pm » |
|
well, i must say that i'm one of the many that didn't read the books untill after i saw the dvd once a week for a whole year before the two towers dvd came out...
let me tell you...i read them all in about 6 weeks of non-stop reading, 6 hours a day, which isn't saying much becuase i'm a slow reader.
I'm not a book type of person but I just couldn't put them down! that's coming from a person who honestly hasn't read a book for pleasure in about 15 years! the writing is so beautiful, the descriptions so vivid. these books are truely masterpieces!
then, i read the hobbit, took about a 10 days. haven't done any more reading since, my full time job got too demanding. but i have been doing a lot of chatting, people at work are beginning to think i'm some kind of freek.
i've read the classics, the standard highschool books they make you read, and Homer's oddessy, huck finn and gatsby were the only ones i truely enjoyed. LOTR is such a book as to be ranked amongst the classics.
According to popular belief, LOTR was the most read book next to the bible when they were all first published, that's saying a lot!
I guess Sil will be next. I also hear that keeping the "Atlas of Middle-Earth" next to you while reading Sil will help greatly.
so have some faith true believers.
greener pastures!
|
| « Last Edit: Nov 6th, 2003, 11:49pm by boing » |
Logged
|
|
|
|
ancalagon03
New Member
member is offline
Posts: 1
|
|
Re: Currently reading Silmarillion
« Reply #13 on: Nov 12th, 2003, 04:03am » |
|
i have read it like 4 times, its awsome, specially because it gives you an idea of what Tolkien wanted the world to be.... pay special attention to the story of Beren and Luthien if you have any questions contact me.
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
