[Books] Questions about The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion and other works by Tolki

Unluckyalf · 4 Apr 2013 at 08:29

You missed out The Children of Hurin. A much easier read than the Silmarillion

CLAWS · 4 Apr 2013 at 10:28

Haven't read Lost Tales or Unfinished Tales. Any mention or elaboration on the Tom Bombadil character in any of these?

aardvark · 4 Apr 2013 at 12:05

hola_adios said:
It is a long wrap up I wouldn't class as bad, but it is colours.

My recomendations would be:

Silmarillion > Hobbit > LOTR

I wish I had read them in that order.

thats a bad idea imo - if i started with the silmarillion i doubt i would have read the rest - its like a history textbook and not a novel at all.

Bubo · 4 Apr 2013 at 12:20

I have had three goes at reading The Silmarillion over the years, the best I could manage was 3/4 of the way through. It is like studying for an exam.

mrthingyx · 4 Apr 2013 at 12:59

Hobbit, then LOTR.

If you are clamouring for the rationale behind the world, then Tolkein provided it through the Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales in a way unlike any other author out there.

Silmarillion is actually my favourite as the stories in there are just - quite literally - epic, and potentially much more interesting than the current film library of Tolkein stuff. But, sadly, absolutely impossible to commit to film .

DarkLordStevoII · 4 Apr 2013 at 21:50

Sauron seems like a butler to the big bad that was Morgoth. Silmarillion is a must read for any tolkien fan.

Xordium · 5 Apr 2013 at 22:59

Children of Hurin is actually my favourite it is almost Shakespearian in it's tragedy at times.

Shamikebab · 5 Apr 2013 at 23:04

Is it actually worth reading Children of Hurin if you've read The Silmarillion? Is the tale any different from the one in The Silmarillion?

Xordium · 6 Apr 2013 at 09:37

Shamikebab said:
Is it actually worth reading Children of Hurin if you've read The Silmarillion? Is the tale any different from the one in The Silmarillion?

Yes, very much so it is very much centred on the one character. I actually found it one of the darkest books I have ever read. It is an amazing book but well let's say it won't leave you with a happy feeling at the end of it. It's kind of like watching say Irreversible or Requiem for a Dream - you know what you've watched is quality but you do feel though like someone has smashed a brick in your face you are that stunned at how hopeless it all is. I found it to be a very powerful book.