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A review by penguin_emperor_of_the_north
The Legend of Sigurd & Gudrún by J.R.R. Tolkien
5.0
This is a book that makes me regret every other 5 star rating because I want to emphasize this more.
Is the story that great? No, it's essentially a bunch of people seeking revenge for real or imagined slights until they're out of people to kill (though I've always been fascinated by the story of Sigurd and Fafnir and thought it was interesting how understated Tolkien made killing the prototypical dragon).
But, understand, this is a work of poetry. The first time I read it I found it confusing and vague. Didn't understand what was going on. But this reread I tried something new. I read it out loud.
And it changed my experience entirely. To hear the sounds of the words strung together really illuminated the book and helped me follow and enjoy it more. I'm walking away with a renewed appreciation of the art.
Finally, Tolkien always amazes me. His works always make me stop and consider the craft and skill that went into them. This one in particular. I can't imagine how much effort went into creating this. This is the first book where I'm considering how much work and time Tolkien invested. I'm in awe.
Is the story that great? No, it's essentially a bunch of people seeking revenge for real or imagined slights until they're out of people to kill (though I've always been fascinated by the story of Sigurd and Fafnir and thought it was interesting how understated Tolkien made killing the prototypical dragon).
But, understand, this is a work of poetry. The first time I read it I found it confusing and vague. Didn't understand what was going on. But this reread I tried something new. I read it out loud.
And it changed my experience entirely. To hear the sounds of the words strung together really illuminated the book and helped me follow and enjoy it more. I'm walking away with a renewed appreciation of the art.
Finally, Tolkien always amazes me. His works always make me stop and consider the craft and skill that went into them. This one in particular. I can't imagine how much effort went into creating this. This is the first book where I'm considering how much work and time Tolkien invested. I'm in awe.