Wow...I actually finished it!!!

[Renille]

After many many months of picking up the Silmarillion, putting it down, taking it back to the library, checking it out again, I FINALLY finished it! And it was SO GOOD! It's my favorite book of all time now. It was so sad, hopeful, joyful...everything all at once. It only strengthened my belief that Tolkien is the genius of the millenium!

[Kirinki54]

Congrats, Renille!

It actually took me years to really enjoy the Sil, although I used it for reference and sources. Still like LotR best as a book, though. But the Sil is also terrific! :)

(Sister Golden Hair; don´t trash it! :D )

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Kirinki54


(Sister Golden Hair; don´t trash it! :D ) Oh Kirinki, you know that I could never do that. It is just that the HoMe and all the different versions can be frustrating. I won't trash it. I promise:) It's my very favorite.

Renille, now you know what all the fuss is about.:)

[X^X]

Yes. I agree, the Silmarillion is my favorite as well. The way that Tolkien constucted his world is really in all it's full glory in this compilation of odd and ends, in my opinion anyway. He created a world, then populated it, then gave the critters cultures and such, then made some tales that transpire within that world. Ah, it is truely a great work in my eyes, surpassing in depth even the LOTR itself! Nothing can compare uless you dig out some Viking sagas or even some classical greek neato myths and things! It's the good stuff.

If somebody out there hasnt read it, I hightly recommend it, that is if you have a hankerin' for all things Middle-Earthish.

BTW, nice board all!

[Thorongil]

yeah I agree, though I still get Bogged down in the first couple of chapters, As soon as Aule creates the Dwarves I cant put it down. and don't you DARE talk to me while I'm reading Beren and Luthien, Coz I'll get all sulky and might cry

[bropous]

I agree. The Silmarillion is a work of unbelievable depth, incredible detail, and it is so very sad. Seems to be so few parts that are uplifting, unlike Lord of the Rings. The tale of Turgon Turambar rips me heart out, and I almost wail at the fall of mighty Gondolin and the ruin of Nargothrond. A masterwork beyond comparison.

[bropous]

Dagnabit, Correction: TURIN Turambar. :p Shows I had Gondolin on the brain...next thing I know I'll be calling Ancalagon the Black "Angbad"...

Well, I WAS wondering what I was gonna read after re-reading Lord of the Rings again...guess this little slip made up my mind for me...

[Reverie]

I'm half way thru the Sil...I started it yesterday:o I read pretty fast in general and I just couldn't put it down! I love tragedy and prolly would've started it sooner if I'd known how truly heartbreaking it is. Pretty sick, eh?

[Gandalf the White]

Yeah, I read the Silmarillion in my first sitting - its absoloutely amazing. Such depth, such history, stories, its just got everything ... I loved it!

I found that reading the Lord of the Rings after reading the Silmarillion was good as well since it added a lot of depth to it for me - you knew the history of things and understood the meanings of a lot more statements and events! :)

I am currently reading through HoME, which is pretty decent also. Unfinished Tales was good too.

Tolkein was truly a genius - what a world he thought of!

[X^X]

Ah yes... It is good to see others share the opinion that you have! You know, the Sil really is very tragic, and very realistic in many a way.
Ive read The Hobbit about 5 times now, the LOTR 2 times, and I am working on the Sil for my second go round as I speak. This time I read The Hobbit (just two days ago, and that is all it really took as well) and now Im doing the Sil, then maybe unfinished tales, then Morgoth's Ring, and then perhaps LOTR again after all of that! I guess I'm hoping to "understand" Tolkien's world this time rather than just read a good story, you know what I mean? I mean, I'm no Tolkien scholar at all, nor would I claim to be, but man, it is just great stuff!:)
What do You All think?

[CardenIAntauraNauco]

Ive read The Hobbit about 5 times now, the LOTR 2 times, and I am working on the Sil for my second go round as I speak.


Amazing...You can speak,type,and read at the same time! :D

[X^X]

:p
erm,
Eh, it was just a figure of speech. NOw a figure of speech so to speak may well be just a sort of non-literal sort of comparison as it, where, to your surprise, I'm sure, does not mean that literally, I am doing the very thing that I say at the exact moment as such. Often times when grownups say things it is a gesting and/or figurative manner as the give the listener a general idea of what he/she is/was/maybe/hasbeen doing as such in recent ammounts of nondescript time, not unmeasured, mind you, if you have one, and or not to totally dissuade nor completely frazzle the idea of complete and utter literalsy as such, in such short incements of time, and/or, possibly longer intervals as yet unknown to the reader/listener. First, take part A and insert it into part B with screw J, then insert part C to part D and use screw J as well, or was that screw G? NOw... oops I got the topppppic. Take cable F1 and cross it over cable S45, now take, DOH! Uh, Pi R^2 is the area of...
oh nevermind, I'll never expain this properly, confound it!

All in good fun ;)

[bropous]

X^X, although my eyes sorta glazed over at your last post, welcome to the Moot! And what is this bit about "grownups" and "gesting", or "mind you, if you have one"....???

By the way, we all have minds here, my friend, that is, with the exception of the "Doctor of English", the linguistically-challenged "Gollum"! And if you were referring to either gandalf the grey or carden, I can attest BOTH have rather well-developed minds.

All the best, and enjoy the Moot, X^X! ;)

[X^X]

Lol!
Now, I must say. Again. all in good fun ole chap. Don't get mad, for I was not insulting you nor any of your peers at this nice board in any way whatsoever. Only gesting as such, in return to your gesting, that is all. No way would I say that anyone here has no mind, or is not intelligent at all, again a gest, one of them there figures of speech, a doohickey, a verbal doodle, nothing more. It is obvious to me that you all are quite the contrary to unintelligent indeed! So cheer up! I seek your opinions and advisory on things that I dont grasp about Middle-Earth, or other affiliated readings, or choices in reading, or other stuff. I will never be vehement toward any of you's in any way whatsoever, EVER. It is much easier to be mean, athouritative, and insulting, than it is to be easy going:) as it is human nature to display stature and athourity. So, what is your favor-i-te Tolkien writing, or is there one that I should read that I may find what I mentioned in the second to last post, that I am ignorant of?

Your humble guest,
X^X

[bropous]

Well-spoken, X^X, and no offense taken!

[bropous]

X^X, I think The Silmarillion is a good read, and an excellent source to "fill in the gaps", although in other posts I have kind of hinted it may not be absolutely authoritative, as it was edited by Christopher Tolkien, and not "Ronald", as J.R.R. called himself. I just think that since it did not get the grace of Ronald's editing and re-editing, then re-editing, then re-editing, it may not be the nicely tied-up package that LotR is. However, like the argument left us as to whether Tom Bombadil or Treebeard/Fangorn is the "Eldest in Middle-Earth", LotR STILL has a couple of inconsistencies, which I feel were probably left in by Ronald to see if we are paying attention. And we are, O Master!

By the way, my good hobbit, you ain't a guest, you earned your feet-hair, you's family now! At least in the big happy occasionally scrappy family of the Entmoot...

[Renille]

Just wondering, bropous, what on earth does your new title stand for?Call me stupid, but it makes no sense to me.

[emplynx]

Originally posted by Renille
Just wondering, bropous, what on earth does your new title stand for?Call me stupid, but it makes no sense to me.
I love the new title bropous!!!! Read this http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2740 to find out what it is all about!

[CardenIAntauraNauco]

LOL! we should give Gollum his own title,I guess we would need an administrator.....

[X^X]

Hey, sorry for the confusion. I dont speak as clearly as I should i recken, but it is my way, If you grasp what I am a-say'in to ya. I dont write "straight" unless I am angry or in another "serious" mood. So if you are confused by my words, it is safe to say that I am surely not flaming anyone or being an ass of any kind. Honest.

This read of the Sil, am finding such great symbolisms and doo dads for life and love, being human. I havent payed much attention to the inconsistencies as such in my past readings of LOTR, I admit, and I probably will find them in the next read since you all have brought them to my attention. I am very excited at seeing what my perception of the trilogy will be after the reading of the Sil just before I start it. Ittle probably seem a new world to me! Have you read Morgoth's Ring? I have read snippets and tidbits, but not much to speak of. The same goes for Unfinished Tails as well. Are one or both of those full of "myths" and origins as well. I understand thay MR was edited and assembled by The Master's son, but his mind dreamt the stuff up so I am a happy camper with that.

Later:
I Come In Peace

[Sister Golden Hair]

Like you X^X, I have read bits and pieces of the HoMe. Morgoth's Ring is great so far. Have you read the Athrabeth? It is my favorite of that book. I also love the Laws and Customes of the Eldar. Very informative. Unfinished Tales is also a good one. It elaborates on stories that have all ready been told in the Silmarillion.

[bropous]

Renille, I've read your other posts, and you're anything but stupid.

Thanks, emplynx, and thanks for posting the link [I like the new title too!], and in the spirit of full disclosure, EIDRIORCQWSDAKLMEDDCWWTIWOATTOPWFIO is an abbreviation for:

"Extremely insightful and deeply reflective individual of rare character and quality who shares a deep and abiding knowledge of literary masterworks of extreme detail and delightful creativity, without whom the incredible works of a tremendously talented Oxford professor would fade into obscurity"

This was my answer as to what we Tolkien fans should be called in response to another thread [in plural form, however]...and the Site Gods apparently liked it!

Who said administrators and moderators had no sense of humor...;)

[emplynx]

Administrators and moderators have no sense of humor...

[Nariel Starfire]

It was really stuffed full of, well, stuff! I love the elements of Quenya and Sindarin names part. GREAT!:cool:

[X^X]

No, Sis Golden Hair, I am not familiar with the Athrabeth. Is that part of, or included within the pages of Morgoth's Ring? Or is it another book alltogether? Ill be sure to read that right after the Silmarillian if I can get my hands on it! I have a copy of Morgoth's Ring laying about someplace, I just have to find it. I think.
Thanks

[Sister Golden Hair]

Yes X^X it is within the pages of Morgoth's Ring. Quite a bueatiful, but sad story.

[X^X]

Great! That is exactly what I am looking for! Much thanks for the info
:)

[bropous]

A hearty "welcome to the Moot" from the Welcome Wagon, Nariel Starshine!

[markedel]

If Lotr is a bittersweet epic, the silmarillion is high tragedy.

HoME is an essay source epic. Though I haven't read the lays-which are supposed to be fine poetry.

[Ñólendil]

If Lotr is a bittersweet epic, the silmarillion is high tragedy.

That's a great quote! I like that.

[eowyn144]

relating back 2 original post-
i've just finished reading it too!it took me ages!hate to say that i've forgotten a lot of it already but what i can remember was great.i just get a bit confused with all the similar sounding names and places.
will now continue with my tolkien reading quest and search for the unfinished tales
wish me luck!

[Elbereth Gilthoniel]

I wish you lack!:)

I read the silmarilion few mounth ago but not in english.
I want to read the unfinished tails but there arn't in the labrery (in hebreu I cant read them in english)

[markedel]

LOL I could imagine trying to read UT in Hebrew. A hebrew story I'd want to read! LOL

[eowyn144]

i'd just like to say that i think its really cool that there are people from all over the world in here. it makes the world seem just that little bit smaller.
also- the unfinished tales in nowhere to be found!have searched my library and 3 neighbouring libraries and even checked the library computer and there are none anywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
will have to reread lotr again at this rate.

[Celebripaur]

I think that once you've read the Sil, then go back and re-read the LotR, it gives a lot of meaning behind some of the actions that didn't make a lot of sense the first time around.

It certainly made my heart stop when re-reading LotR when Frodo offers Galadriel the One Ring in the scene at her mirror! Talk about karmic payback, she had desired the One Ring for so long and there it is, hers for the asking.

It also makes the farewell of Arwen and Elrond that much more difficult.

The Sil isn't an easy read by any stretch, but it add so much depth that it really is worth it.

[Celebripaur]

I think that once you've read the Sil, then go back and re-read the LotR, it gives a lot of meaning behind some of the actions that didn't make a lot of sense the first time around.

It certainly made my heart stop when re-reading LotR when Frodo offers Galadriel the One Ring in the scene at her mirror! Talk about karmic payback, she had desired the One Ring for so long and there it is, hers for the asking.

It also makes the farewell of Arwen and Elrond that much more difficult.

The Sil isn't an easy read by any stretch, but it add so much depth that it really is worth it.

[Laurelyn]

Originally posted by Celebripaur
I think that once you've read the Sil, then go back and re-read the LotR, it gives a lot of meaning behind some of the actions that didn't make a lot of sense the first time around.

Yes, definitely!! It does indeed add much depth to LotR.

[Finrod Felagund]

Congrats Renille, it takes a hard-core Tolkien fan to finish the Silmarillion

[Renille]

You just said I was a hard-core Tolkien fan!!! Thank you so much, Finrod, that's the best compliment anyone's ever given me.:D Now I should really go find where I buried UT...

[eowyn144]

me too!i've never been called a hard core tolkien fan before!just "that weird girl who's always reading lotr"
it makes me fell kinda....well.....i dunno.special.
i'm off on a search of bookstores this weekend and i WILL find UT even if it kills me.