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le_corbeau_romantique's review against another edition
5.0
WOW! Not for the faint of heart- what an intense book to read! So insightful with good bits of bio and literary info. Because it's so hard to take everything in, I think I will use the index more often than not during my rereads of Tolkien (has also re-sparked my interest in doing a Silmarillion reread). Loved reading the old "fan letters" and the professor's responses.
yperio's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
massmassmarket's review against another edition
informative
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
5.0
syliu's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
A sequel or successor to The Hobbit is called for. I promise to give this thought and attention. But I am sure you will sympathize when I say that the construction of elaborate and consistent mythology (and two languages) rather occupies the mind, and the Silmarils are in my heart.
An emotional roller coaster…reading this collection I’ve laughed, been awestruck and moved to tears.
Tolkien’s ‘everyday’ writing is unsurprisingly beautiful. He pokes fun at research students and his own drawing ability and makes hilarious quips at Nazis. He writes clear and engaging passages on etymology and philological inspiration. He’s heart-warmingly sincere about his love for creation, nature, and his family; and one of the most humble people I feel I've ever come close to knowing.
This is an underrated read for those deep in Tolkien’s work — yes it’s valuable for Rings and Hobbit fans, but it reveals a deeper feeling for me as one most enamoured with the Silmarillion.
It’s such a great shame Tolkien never published the Silmarillion in his lifetime — I would’ve loved to read letters addressing questions regarding the Greek tragedy of Fëanor and his sons, his thoughts about Sauron’s admiration of Tengwar or the Valar’s misdeeds. But if reading Tolkien has taught me anything it’s to be extremely grateful for what does exist. I just wish he could see the praise and love others feel for the work closest to his heart.
I’m very glad I read this, and I do not rate it higher simply because it was great when it was good, but some inclusions felt irrelevant and unnecessarily prolonged. That said I’m sad there was an ending, and one so abrupt too.
(Many quotes because deserved)
(Many quotes because deserved)
She was my Lúthien…But the story has gone crooked, and I am left, and I cannot plead before the inexorable Mandos... For ever we still met in the woodland glade, and went hand in hand many times to escape the shadow of imminent death before our last parting.
This empty year is fading into a dull grey mournful darkness: so slow-footed and yet so swift and evanescent. What of the new year and the spring? I wonder.
lycanjamie's review against another edition
4.0
This was honestly very interesting to read, sometimes a little dry but generally intriguing. It's incomprehensible to me, how much work and effort Tolkien put into his work, language and passions. Even though he is recognised as one of the great modern English writers, I still think that his inventions and output are completely underrated, as the casual audience neglects to go deeper under the surface.
It is also ironic that he talks about his disappointment, distress and disgust of being subject to fan societies etc. and now we (the Tolkien nutjobs) can read through a bunch of his letters! Take that!
It is also ironic that he talks about his disappointment, distress and disgust of being subject to fan societies etc. and now we (the Tolkien nutjobs) can read through a bunch of his letters! Take that!
julicke95's review against another edition
4.0
For those who (like me) wished to have been able to ask Tolkien himself about the Entwives, the Blue Wizards, Tom Bombadil, where Elves go after they die in battle, the major themes of LOTR, the particularities of Quenya and Sindarin, or so many other questions, this is the book for you. Letter 131 alone is extremely informative and quotable in that regard.
But aside from being a dragon-hoard full of lore, these letters also tell the story of a man with the simple wish to write legends (initially) for his own amusement, who finds himself continually restricted in this endeavour by endless work and other hardships. Even after a storied academic carreer and surprising literary success, the story ends rather tragically and suddenly when Tolkien passes away without having been able to publish the story that was the core of the entire legendarium and the most personally important to him: The Silmarillion.
After reading an incredible story, one can't really help becoming interested in the mind from which it originated, a fact that Tolkien resented most bitterly, because it distracted from the story. Nevertheless, I quite enjoyed getting to know him a bit through his letters, which ranged from scathing remarks to publishers who dared to misspell "dwarves" as "dwarfs" to grateful and elaborate responses to reader's enquiries about Hobbit customs. You can't help but develop a fondness for this incredibly erudite, humble, particular, peculiar, hobbit-like, and outspokenly Catholic man.
But aside from being a dragon-hoard full of lore, these letters also tell the story of a man with the simple wish to write legends (initially) for his own amusement, who finds himself continually restricted in this endeavour by endless work and other hardships. Even after a storied academic carreer and surprising literary success, the story ends rather tragically and suddenly when Tolkien passes away without having been able to publish the story that was the core of the entire legendarium and the most personally important to him: The Silmarillion.
After reading an incredible story, one can't really help becoming interested in the mind from which it originated, a fact that Tolkien resented most bitterly, because it distracted from the story. Nevertheless, I quite enjoyed getting to know him a bit through his letters, which ranged from scathing remarks to publishers who dared to misspell "dwarves" as "dwarfs" to grateful and elaborate responses to reader's enquiries about Hobbit customs. You can't help but develop a fondness for this incredibly erudite, humble, particular, peculiar, hobbit-like, and outspokenly Catholic man.
tarugani's review against another edition
4.0
Generally fascinating and a ton of interesting/touching tidbits, but also sometimes repetitive and incomprehensible to anyone without a philological background. Maybe the last is just a good reason to go learn something about philology.
fallingletters's review against another edition
5.0
Review originally posted 4 January 2013 on Falling Letters.
I thought I would breeze through this book and finish it in two days maximum. Not because it would be an 'easy' read, but because I had lots of time to read and I am highly interested in the subject matter. Not so! The book contains 430 pages of letters so dense and filled with so much that it took me much longer to read. This is not at all a complaint. I was absolutely delighted to have so much to sink my teeth into.
I don't read books about Tolkien to think 'Oh, so that's why he wrote it like this!' I agree with him (in this instance, at least) that an author's life should not be examined with intention of gaining insight with regards to authorial intent (have I phrased this sentence correctly?). I simply find him a fascinating person, for having created such a detailed and vast mythology. It really does delight me to read about someone so seemingly normal and yet so extraordinary. To be able to read hundreds of his letters, to read his thoughts, is a treat in itself. I would have read them even if they had been more dull! But this collection is not at all boring, it is a treasure trove. The letters cover so many topics, from troubles with translators, family matters, C.S. Lewis, religious debate, and of course, much on The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and Middle-Earth lore in general.
I didn't make any notes while reading this. I was wholly absorbed in letting Tolkien's words wash over me. Note taking will come on the reread. But there are a few letters that still stuck in my memory, such as an unsent response (Tolkien sent two versions to his publisher to forward; they did not use the one that appears in the book) to a publisher looking to do a German translation of The Hobbit inquiring if Tolkien is Aryan. He writes a clever and pointed response, not confessing any Aryan lineage and refusing publication. Of course, the lengthy letter he wrote to another publisher who expressed interest in publishing The LotR and The Silmarillion, was fascinating. I also especially enjoyed the letters he wrote to inquiring fans - I doubt there any authors today who would put so much thought into their responses (let alone have that much information to impart about their imaginary worlds). These letters are chockful of highly valuable information to any fan of Middle-Earth I do have to add a caveat - I've not yet read any of Tolkien's writings besides the LotR and The Hobbit, so I can't say how much of this information is exclusive but to read Tolkien's own words feels very special indeed.
This review consists mostly of me gushing...I might be a bit of a fangirl. But really, needless to say, this tome is a highly valuable read for anyone interested in Tolkien or his works.
[Originally read 20 Dec 2012 to 3 Jan 2013]
I thought I would breeze through this book and finish it in two days maximum. Not because it would be an 'easy' read, but because I had lots of time to read and I am highly interested in the subject matter. Not so! The book contains 430 pages of letters so dense and filled with so much that it took me much longer to read. This is not at all a complaint. I was absolutely delighted to have so much to sink my teeth into.
I don't read books about Tolkien to think 'Oh, so that's why he wrote it like this!' I agree with him (in this instance, at least) that an author's life should not be examined with intention of gaining insight with regards to authorial intent (have I phrased this sentence correctly?). I simply find him a fascinating person, for having created such a detailed and vast mythology. It really does delight me to read about someone so seemingly normal and yet so extraordinary. To be able to read hundreds of his letters, to read his thoughts, is a treat in itself. I would have read them even if they had been more dull! But this collection is not at all boring, it is a treasure trove. The letters cover so many topics, from troubles with translators, family matters, C.S. Lewis, religious debate, and of course, much on The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and Middle-Earth lore in general.
I didn't make any notes while reading this. I was wholly absorbed in letting Tolkien's words wash over me. Note taking will come on the reread. But there are a few letters that still stuck in my memory, such as an unsent response (Tolkien sent two versions to his publisher to forward; they did not use the one that appears in the book) to a publisher looking to do a German translation of The Hobbit inquiring if Tolkien is Aryan. He writes a clever and pointed response, not confessing any Aryan lineage and refusing publication. Of course, the lengthy letter he wrote to another publisher who expressed interest in publishing The LotR and The Silmarillion, was fascinating. I also especially enjoyed the letters he wrote to inquiring fans - I doubt there any authors today who would put so much thought into their responses (let alone have that much information to impart about their imaginary worlds). These letters are chockful of highly valuable information to any fan of Middle-Earth I do have to add a caveat - I've not yet read any of Tolkien's writings besides the LotR and The Hobbit, so I can't say how much of this information is exclusive but to read Tolkien's own words feels very special indeed.
This review consists mostly of me gushing...I might be a bit of a fangirl. But really, needless to say, this tome is a highly valuable read for anyone interested in Tolkien or his works.
[Originally read 20 Dec 2012 to 3 Jan 2013]
ekortunov's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
This is a unique possibility to glimpse into Tolkien life and thoughs. The collection is not ideal and i would gladly learn more about his life and views, about his time at war and many other things instead of reading that Shire was in fact in England for fith time.
Some of his views of course are pretty wierd, his relativelly early letter to one of hos sine about women and love is cringworthy. From some of his letters you can think he is some english lord with tons of oldmoney and long bloodline, not in fact pretty poor orphan.
Tbc
Some of his views of course are pretty wierd, his relativelly early letter to one of hos sine about women and love is cringworthy. From some of his letters you can think he is some english lord with tons of oldmoney and long bloodline, not in fact pretty poor orphan.
Tbc