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jls6283's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This is slow (I don’t know if I could’ve read the printed version despite loving LotR), but Andy Serkis’s narration definitely brings it to life!
I definitely had to consult a genealogy tree (thank you reddit) and a map a couple times while listening 😅
I am excited to read or listen to Beren and Luthien now! Their story was the most interesting to me!
I definitely had to consult a genealogy tree (thank you reddit) and a map a couple times while listening 😅
I am excited to read or listen to Beren and Luthien now! Their story was the most interesting to me!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and War
kmaffett's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
pretzemilia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Torture, War, and Injury/Injury detail
vikingschism's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is not a traditional novel however the entire thing forms a single cohesive narrative of the conflict over the silmarils and leads into the War of the Ring described in The Lord of the Rings. It contains a multitude of tales. Many have described it as dry but I personally found it incredibly engaging outside of one chapter (Of Beleriand and its Realms). In fact, in many ways it is a lynchpin that underlies both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, painting a rich tapestry of myth and history that informs the other works
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Incest
aseel_reads's review against another edition
Unfortunately I just keep zoning out and not taking anything in. Also, all the elvish names being read aloud make it hard for me to know the difference (seeing them on paper would help)
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Violence, and War
ayamawa's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence and War
hollewade's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is a gem and I flew through it. So many stories so rich and lovely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Minor: Incest