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Post by BigHairyKev on Aug 24, 2004 11:31:20 GMT
Anybody else read this?
I started off with the Hobbit - years ago - which was not too bad - but slightly cliched - The Lord Of The Rings books were pretty bad - and The Silmarillion was a nightmare.
"The Silmarillion is an account of the Elder Days, of the First Age of Tolkien's World. It is the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, and in whose events some of them such as Elrond and Galadriel took part. The tales of The Silmarillion are set in an age when Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwelt in Middle-Earth, and the High Elves made war upon him for the recovery of the Silmarils, the jewels containing the pure light of Valinor. Included in the book are several shorter works. The Ainulindale is a myth of the Creation and in the Valaquenta the nature and powers of each of the gods is described. The Akallabeth recounts the downfall of the great island kingdom of Numenor at the end of the Second Age and Of the Rings of Power tells of the great events at the end of the Third Age, as narrated in The Lord of the Rings. "
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Post by Susieg on Aug 27, 2004 21:22:17 GMT
I also started with The Hobbit but have never read The Silmarillion. The Lord of the Rings movies are all well presented but I think this has and always will be a very difficult transistion from book to screen. I have been told the Silmarillion is particularly difficult to get through so I would not even contemplate trying it. Personally my book of choice is still The Hobbit. Susieg
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Post by BigHairyKev on Aug 31, 2004 23:48:46 GMT
You've never read "The Silmarillion"? You LUCKY thing. It's more of a glossary than anything else anyway Nothing beats "The Hobbit" anyway.
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hawklan
Member (25-49)
Give me enough rope....
Posts: 32
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Post by hawklan on Nov 27, 2004 18:45:58 GMT
Nice synopsis BHK - I know the Sil can be shall we say " stretching " and requires some re-reads. I think if you look at it more as a history book rather than a pure fictional work , it helps. One of the factors that make middle earth unique and the stories so well rounded was the fact that JRR had a history from the year dot and languages, geography and family lines and dinasties that can be traced and believed. Well does it for me anyway. BHK - just one tiny, teeny criticism, the Hobbit and the rings set the standard for modern day fantasy, so I think it is more that other books have nicked bits of it, rather than it being cliched - just an opinion though
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Post by Piemuncher on Jan 9, 2006 15:51:22 GMT
I have tried on 5 or 6 occasions to read The Silmarillion but have failed each time. It is just like a list of names & places. You can read the section on the third age of the middle earth as that is the age of the ring and it tells the story of the ring of power.
I have read the Hobbit & LOTR several times, I also have the 13 hour BBC radio adaptation starring Ian Holm & Robert Stephens, well recommended for any LOTR fan.
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Post by pynchosalt on Jan 28, 2006 4:51:42 GMT
I actually read the whole Silmarillion a few years ago. It was sort of like sitting down to read the Bible cover to cover. Parts were very interesting in giving some back story for LOTR. I especially found the back story on Saramaun enlightening (but that might be the summary of the third age someone mentioned). Definitely a hard read, though. But now I feel so learned. From a literary critique standpoint, it was not Tolkien at his best.
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Post by Piemuncher on Jan 30, 2006 16:38:33 GMT
Having now actually heard of someone who has read The Silmarillion, I may have another go at it over the summer but do it in small chunks rather than in one go
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