Reviews

The Nature of Middle-Earth, by Carl F. Hostetter, J.R.R. Tolkien

aoutramafalda's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

lightning_revolver's review against another edition

4.0

An interesting look at very late notes and scraps from Tolkien’s reflection on Middle Earth. Some of the sections are more worthwhile than others, but the whole is a good look at the depth of thought that went into Tolkien’s creative process (even if the innumerable changes, alterations, and editions of texts introduce headache-inducing complexity trying to understand it all).

karidyae's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

badger1984's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

stewart_monckton's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

3.25

I think you will need to be a Tolkien 'completest' to really enjoy this book.  It's fascinating to think that JRRT actually worried about things like the exact nature of the length of a year in his works - but its another thing to read about it!

Some interesting little sections - but that least satisfying Middle-Earth book I have read.

SM

saansilkiin's review

informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

This is a textbook more than anything else. Informative for the physical (and biological) nature of Tolkiens world. 

averamo's review

informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

bookaholic_in_wonderland's review against another edition

challenging informative slow-paced

arthurbdd's review against another edition

2.0

This is essentially a continuation of The History of Middle-Earth, continuing the same approach, presenting yet more dregs of Tolkien's unpublished notes. Absolutely inessential and for only the most hardcore completists for whom even The History of Middle-Earth was not enough - and if you're that sort of reader, you don't care about reviews anyway. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2021/09/05/mini-review-the-dregs-of-middle-earth/

writerstears's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5