Is it...........

[Frodo's Fan]

Is the book "The Silmarillion" just like a make-beleive history book or like a story? You see, I want to read it, but I want to know if it has a real story line or if it's just like reading a history book. It seems really poetic too. Tell me what ya'll think. Thanks!

[Lasgalen]

There are stories, but they are not as indepth as LotR and there is very little dialog. So in a sense it is more like a history book, but not like a text book you would read in school. It is very worthwhile reading as the history of ME during the first age is immensely fascinating.

[Periantari Andruil]

i agree... i just finished the first part of the SIlmarillion and am extremely fascinated with the stories about the Silmarils... it's a history of Middle Earth but it definitely is not like a history text book.. it's more mythological...and it's beautful launguage...
I agree that it is one of Tolkien's finest works because he introduces so many characters and geographical places...
but i definitely recommend it because it does give a lot of background and history and serves as a historical preclude to the War of the RIng in the 3rd Age...
i really enjoy the Silmarillion and recommend it =)

[Finrod Felagund]

Get the Atlas of Middle Earth, it will help with all the huge number of place names and geography.
It reads like the Old Testament in the Bible, especially Genesis and Exodus

[Lasgalen]

Its not THAT bad.
I find jotting down the names to be helpful so I can keep reading without having to flip back to the index.

[Finrod Felagund]

If you like history though it is entertaining

[Ithielnor]

I never enjoyed history but I definitely enjoyed the Sil.

I would recomend reading it real slow, as there is lots to take in there. Some chapters are easier than other such as Of Beren and Luthian. or Of Turin Turambar.. Which are pretty much short stories in the big sceme.

[Gwaihir]

The Silmarillion is a book you definitely should read in order to understand LotR better. It's a history book which contains many stories that are connected. It tells mainly about Elves, and about Men as well. It took me 2 weeks to read it for the first time, but I assure you that it was well worth it!

[Gil Galad]

its a mix of the two, but its more of a story then a history

[Estell]

Of Maeglin is the best chapter so far, IMO. I think you could read it as a story in its own right.

The Silm is made of several stories, the first being like a retelling of the Creation story. It's a little confusing, but there's an index of names. I think of it as almost like the book of Genesis, except you have tons of names and several different races to keep track of. Language harder too, unless you read King James.

[Lasgalen]

I didn't find the language hard. What I found hard was keeping track of all the names. The first time I read it, I didn't realize Elwë was the same as Thingol. Had to go back and reread before I got that cleared up.

[Tirithel]

As I've found with every Tolkien book, besides the Hobbit, that is, you have to read it a few times before you understand it. Or take good notes, one of the two. Do not be daunted! It is well worth it! My copy of the Sil is full of highliter marks and pencil lines and notes in the margins and all that. But once you get beyond the facts and the confusion, there is some real poetry in it. Beyond the memorization and the fact-twirling, it reads like an epic play, and once you take it to heart, Frodo's Fan, there is no going back.

One of my favorites, sort of a spoiler, but not really since it's pretty obvious anyway:

In the twilight of autumn it sailed out of Mithlond, until the seas of the Bent World fell away beneath it, and the winds of the round sky troubled it no more, and bourne upon the high airs abovethe mists of the world it passed into the Ancient West, and an end was come for the Eldar of story and of song.

OooooOOOoooh, shivers! Seriously I think I feel a tear coming on. *sarcastic giggle*

[Periantari Andruil]

aww Tiri! lol you're so cute...but i do agree that you quoted a great quote :thumbs:
and yes, perhaps in my second reading of the Sil, i'll keep a highlighter handy ;) =)

[Vaneldwen]

I too found it very much like the book of Genisis. At first I found it hard to read but after that I LOVED it . Tolkien just had this way with words that he could turn even a horrible story into something beautiful. I think my favorite part was of Beren and Luthien. The beauty of their love and how she was willing to die for him... *sighs* sorry I'm kind of a romantic :p But anyway that is my insite...

[Finrod Felagund]

The names is probably one of the hardest things about the Sil. Especially since several of the characters have multiple names,
I found keeping a finger/bookmark in the index helped too

[Lasgalen]

The hardest for me was Fingon and Finrod. I have them straight now, but I kept mixing them up because they sound so much alike.

[Finrod Felagund]

Me too Las, but once I associated them with something other than thier families it got easier, or maybe it was just repitition. :huh:
I can see where the Sil can be intimidating to firstime readers though

[Miriel Baggins]

If you can get through the beginning -- about the creation and all (which is very fascinating, but people do tend to get bogged down there) -- you'll be well on your way. And it definitely reads like a story for the most part. It's very interesting and heartbreaking, and joyful.

If you get bogged down by names and places and all that good stuff (like I do), just KEEP READING. I still don't have everyone straight, but I know as much as I need to, and I can refer to the Index if I'm really in trouble. It's definitely worth the read. :thumbs: I LOVED it!

[Mirkgirl]

mmm I got bored at the actual silm the first time I read that... but I was young and interested in myths at that time

[ImDaMom]

The more times you read it, the clearer it becomes. Yes, it's tough going the first time, but if you have problems, read some of the "easier" stories, like Beren and Luthien or the creation of the world (the idea of music being the creating force is fantastic)- then work on some of the other parts. I got into it more by reading it OUT of order, and now I love it IN it's proper order.

[Nienor]

Originally posted by Lasgalen
The hardest for me was Fingon and Finrod. I have them straight now, but I kept mixing them up because they sound so much alike.
That was my problem the first time I read it. Too many elves whose names begin with F. The first time I read it, I was totally confused. But after you get familiar with it, the Sil is a great book. Makes the history of LOTR make more sense.

[Mánalinya]

The first time I read the Silmarillion, I was totally lost, as far as all the names are concerned. Now I've read it a couple more times, and it all makes sense. I love this book!
It is sort of like Middle-Earth's old Testament, which I think is cool.

[Finrod Felagund]

Yep, F's and C's:
Feanor, Finwe, Fingolfin, Finarfin, Fingon, Finrod
Celeborn, Celegorm, Curufin, Curufinwe (or was that the same ??), Caranthir, Celebrimbor...

[Mirkgirl]

Curufinwe was another name for Feanor I think... meaning "something in the sense of being good at crafts or something like that" son of Finwe.

[Lasgalen]

Also 'A' names: Amrod, Amras, Angrod, Aredhel, Aegnor (not to be confused with Aeglos)
And 'A' weapons: Angrist, Anglachel, Aranruth, Aeglos (not to be confused with Aegnor).

And then there is the multiple names for the same person.
for example: Elwë was also known as Elu but everyone called him Thingol.

[Alcarohtar]

About the last one, his name was Elwë Singollo (which is Quenya). When Sindarin developed his name was translated to Elu Thingol.

[Lasgalen]

It is still a multiple name.

All the sons of Fëanor had Quenya names, too. But fortunately they did not get used in the published Sil. Could you imagine having that many more names to deal with!?

[Tirithel]

Mmm, how 'bout Turin? Turambar, Neithan, Mormegil, Gorthol, Agarwaen...he he...better write those down...;)

What's really fun is when you get into The Lost Tales and suddenly everyone has yet another name to deal with. Oh yeah. Good stuff.

[Lasgalen]

And some of the names in the History of Middle Earth books are the same as found in the Sil, but they belong to different Elves!!