Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

18 reviews

karlin0336's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is five stars, but that means something completely different than when I rate other books five stars.
  I was not engrossed in it the whole time (I really had to push through parts of it).  I did not love many of the characters (there were so many names, that it was really hard to keep track of everyone).  It was confusing and very, VERY slow (thank goodness for the audiobook).
  No, the reason this book is five stars is because of what it accomplishes.  It sets the groundwork for the fantasy epic that is arguably the greatest cornerstone of its genre.  It gives us a comprehensive history for perhaps the most well-crafted fantasy universe of all time (and it's one of the reasons that universe is so well developed).  The Silmarillion was confusing, yes, but that's because it is a story on such a large scale that a single readthrough just isn't enough.  I fully expect to discover something new each and every time I reread it.  What this book manages to accomplish is pure genius.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and War

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Incest, Suicide, and Grief

bone_dry's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and War

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Genocide, Suicide, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty, Child death, Confinement, Incest, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

josisteacup's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Given that it's basically a "history book" that chronicals the events from the creation of Middle-earth up until the end of Lord of the Rings its expected to be quite dense. Therefore its best to approach it like a collection of myths or folktales and read one chapter at a time. Otherwise it might be overwhelming. Especially the first chapters about the creation of Middle-earth can be a bit boring because there isn't much plot.

All in all its interesting and I'm thinking about getting the standalone stories of Beren and Luthien, The Fall of Gondolin and The Children of Hurin.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and War

Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Incest, Slavery, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Colonisation

seanml's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The Silmarillion is a majestic, winding journey through imagination. Tolkien's visions come to life in a fully realized world filled with grace, beauty, and an encroaching sadness. It is the time of the elves, and though immortal, their time rises and wanes with elegance. 9/10.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Genocide, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, and War

dreamygambit's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have never loved a book as much as I love this one, I hold it VERY dear to my heart after reading. Don’t let anyone deter you from reading this book, it is worth everyone’s time if more people would give it a chance. Tolkiens work is, to me, always compelling and complex and this is absolutely no exception. I sped through this more difficult book at break neck speed because it is so wonderful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and War

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Kidnapping

this book will make you love a man and then rip him from you arms without remorse

helenafaustina's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Wow... what an adventure. I loved this whole book, especially the beginning with the creation of Eä. Everything about this was so musical and lovely. The rise and fall of the good and the bad people, watching the characters you already knew be born, and understanding all the lore... and getting lost in the index of names (heh), was a beautiful experience. It's a fun, fictional history book, and one that LotR lovers don't want to miss!

I would not recommend this to someone new to Middle-earth, as it is pretty heavy writing. I think it would only be enjoyable by fans. Like how Lord of the Rings is one level up from The Hobbit, The Silmarillion is a level up from Lord of the Rings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Moderate: Incest and Fire/Fire injury

godraed's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It's a work that defies description, a collection of various stories presented as the mythic history of Middle-Earth. It's grand in scope, magisterial in prose, an a marvel to behold. It is Tolkien's darkest work but also contains wonderful pieces of hope that set the stage for his later works. A must-read for any fan of The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings.

This review is for the hardcover edition, which has two maps and contains illustrations from the author. It is an absolutely beautiful edition and looks wonderful on the bookshelf.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, and War

Moderate: Incest, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Deportation

seforaflorian's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

jakepasseri's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

While the prose can be almost biblical and dense, leading to a tough reading experience initially, push past it and youll genuinely find both some of the greatest writing and stories written. Truly a masterpiece

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder, and War

Moderate: Suicide, Torture, and Death of parent

Minor: Child death, Incest, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury

madamenovelist's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Racism