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tarostar's review against another edition
5.0
Of all of Tolkien's wonderful works The Silmarillion is to me the most magical and spellbinding. I love the epic sweep of this book and it is a book that rewards repeated readings. It is not an easy read, but then Tolkien is not about light reading, but rather about creating a beautiful, believeable and consistent world that transports the reader to an alternate reality.
kdrhoton's review against another edition
5.0
Reading this will probably be my biggest accomplishment of the year. It took A LOT of work to get through, but it was so worth it.
kellyrenea's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the book but not as much as The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The story read like the Bible when it would tell the genealogy of different families. I found myself getting lost in the story. I did enjoy the descriptions used in the creation stories.
jpw's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
barkshark's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
dizzy_reception's review against another edition
5.0
If you want a very thorough understanding of Tolkien's world, I would highly recommend this book. Once you get past learning all the names and places, it actually becomes a very fascinating read. I have a much more comprehensive knowledge of other works by Tolkien such as The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings now that I read the Silmarillion.
Be sure to use the index at the back of the book because it is very helpful. I would also recommend having Guide to Tolkien's World: A Bestiary by David Day and The Atlas of Middle-Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad on hand while reading The Silmarillion. It is not necessary, but having a visual of the lands of Aman and Beleriand is extremely helpful. The bestiary is also helpful to reference when reading about the different types of elves, the Valar, the Maiar, the dwarves, and the different groups of Man.
Be sure to use the index at the back of the book because it is very helpful. I would also recommend having Guide to Tolkien's World: A Bestiary by David Day and The Atlas of Middle-Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad on hand while reading The Silmarillion. It is not necessary, but having a visual of the lands of Aman and Beleriand is extremely helpful. The bestiary is also helpful to reference when reading about the different types of elves, the Valar, the Maiar, the dwarves, and the different groups of Man.
chasep's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
_hex_libris's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0