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Summary: The Simarillion of biblical resonance
Review: The book is without doubt my favourite in Tolkien's landscape. It completes the epic with biblical resonance. Moreover, those familiar with Old Testament theology will quickly spot the parallels between the Fall of humans from paradise (Eden) and subsequent cycles of pride, sin and tragedy and the world Tolkien paints for the relationship between the Elves and their sub-creators (the Valinor). Ultimately the Elves are restored in their relationship with the Valor through the heroism of humans (the "lesser" race). In this quest the centrepiece of the book contains the most dramatic piece of romantic adventure I have read; the Beren, Lutherien and Huan epic.The later part of the book describes the Fall of the humans and leads into the Lord of the Rings. Of course here the humans are ultimately saved by the hobbits (the "lesser" race). My only gripe with The Silmarillion is the direct cut and paste of the unique biblical phrase "hardening of hearts" to describe the Fall of humans (the context is exactly identical). My reasoning is simply that up to this point in the book the Old Testament was ever present but never spoken,... In the same context that the bible describes complete logic in God's relationship with creation from Genesis to Revelation, e.g. unity, rebellion, eternal re-unity, Tolkien attempts the same, giving his work a sense of greatness. Tolkien used many influences beside the bible to shape his world e.g. Finnish, Icelandic and Germanic sagas hence the "polytheism" of the Valor. The central plot however and thus my great liking for this book is undisputedly biblical. Further supporting evidence is not stated here. Michael
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Summary: Hopeless
Review: The worst book i have ever read , it is no book but abosulout rubbbish
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Summary: Better than Lord of the Rings?
Review: I finished The Silmarillion last month and it's right there with the Lord of the Rings if not better. I've come to respect Tolkien more through reading it and come to understand that this was a prolific man and a genius in is own way. The Silmarillion reads a little like Greek mythology and a little like poetry. It's a definite must have for lord of the rings fans and gives a lot of background info on the rings of power and of Gandalf and Sauron and the elves. Excellent book and for fantasy fans, addictive reading!
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Summary: awesome
Review: i first tried to read this when i was home sick one day and i do admit that i had to try once or twice before actually getting all the way through the book. it is much different from the lord of the rings, but that doesnt make it bad. although it is hard to get through it is very rewarding when you finally finish. if your favorite characters were the elves in LOTR or you just want to know more about some of the things in LOTR (like why the elves are leaving middle earth), then you have to read this book. it is really worth it.
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Summary: An amazing novel
Review: This novel is the best Tolkien novel and one of the best works of literature I have read. The Silmarillion is the best tradgedy, better than Shakespeare, that I have read. The Silmarillion lacks the same tone as the Lord of the Rings since the novel was compiled by JRR Tolkien's son. His son, however, still did a masterful job. The Silmarillion is the history of Middle Earth. The adventures take place when Sauron is but a servant of one more powerful and more evil. In the beginning there was one who created the Ainur. Of the Ainur, Melker was the greatest, but he fell from his high position. Then some of the Ainur came to Middle Earth to shape the creator's vision. Melker seduced some of the Ainur to his side and was at strife with the others, the Vala. The Vala chained Melker to protect the Elves. Then there was bliss until Melkor was released. Feanor was the greatest of all the Elves, and created the three Simarils. These Melker stole, and the tragedies that befell the Nolder (Feanor's race) make the Silmarillion. In addition to the wonderful stories, this illustrated hardback copy is very nice. I already owned the first edition hardback, but I also bought this version. Tolkien was an awesome author, and this novel does him tribute.
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Summary: Our Mythology
Review: Tolkien is the definitive author of fantasy literature period!
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Summary: Amazing book!
Review: I've fallen in love with Middle-Earth and all it's interesting places and peoples. This book gives LOTS of history and background to the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit. If you like fictonal history or just the Lord of the Rings and want more, this is the book for you! This hard cover, illustrated edition is beautiful!
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Summary: Long Ago In A Far Off Land....
Review: The Silmarillion is not the easiest book to read, but it contains a wealth of information about Middle Earth and the ancestors of those characters we have grown to love in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. One gets a sense of reading an actual history and not a work of fiction. The scope of this book is astonishing. Anyone who loves The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, will appreciate the depth that Tolkien has gone to in writing The Silmarillion. My approach to reading this book was to treat it as an actual history, rather than a work of fiction; in doing so I found it totally believable and enlightening. I feel I know so much more about the world that Tolkien created, and the wonderful (and sometimes terrible) beings that enhabited it.
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Summary: Difficult read, but very worth it
Review: Like most people, I have read The Hobbit and The LOTR several times. Last year, I finally decided to give The Silmarillion a go. I'm glad I did; it is actually a better book than either The Hobbit or LOTR. I'm just really glad I had the other books under my belt first. This is a difficult book to follow, and you will find yourself flipping back several times throughout. It is completely worth it.
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Summary: the life of middle earth
Review: of all tolkiens books , the silmarillion was by far my favorite. After seeing the movie i began reading the series.Once i heard of the silmarillion i was dying to buy it for the elves were so mysterious and i wanted to know of their past and their origins.
i was captivated by the tales of the elves never had i thought that their history was so filled with sorrow, war, and happiness.
i sort of knew why the elves didnt do anything during lord of the rings, they were simply tired of all the wars that they had suffered that they could now leave behind, and compared to the wars that the elves had endured ,the war of the rings was nothing.i loved hearing of the old elven kingdoms that would rival lothlorien making it seem like a normal forest.i never knew that the elves were such a diverse people.they were divided into so many groups the high races of elves and the lower races of elves all of which were divided into groups themselves.to think of all the ruins that were found in lotr were active places in the silmarillion.well i hope that u enjoyed this book as much as i did and would give this book a chance cause it may have been slow at times but it was well worth it.
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