Does Silmarillion get more entertaining as it progresses?

GRONK!!! · 10-07-2002, 08:36 PM

Ahh... maybe its just GRONK, but reading this book seems like reading a dictionary. GRONK thought the hobbit and LOTR trilogy were good, but he can't even start this book. As it progresses does it get more interesting, or if the start of the book is too much for GRONK should he drop it?

entss89 · 10-07-2002, 08:54 PM

i totaly agree with you i could not finish it because i was in bore city so i just thrue it in my trashcan! i guess some day over the rainbow i will try to read it? (maybe)!

Sminty_Smeagol · 10-07-2002, 09:05 PM

yeah it isn't very entertaining (well maybe just for Real Addicts who just want to read it for information on middle earth and knowledge, not really to be entertained). Although some parts are very good, I especially loved the tale of Turin Turambar (now reading in Unfinished Tales... much better!) and the last 2 chaps where it got to stuff I was familiar with (i.e. sauron's beginnings and pre-lotr workings of sauron). The Unfinished Tales and Histories I find to be much more... emotional since they go in to the characters more.

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 10-07-2002, 09:37 PM

I think that the Silmarillion is hard the first time you read it. I know it was for me, and it was a virtual struggle to force myself to continue. After I reached the chapter of Beren and Luthien, I knew it was well worth it and it was much smoother going to the end. Also, it awoke a great interest in the First Age for me and made me really thirst for more knowledge of the Elves and that time period. But for the Silmarillion, I would have never picked up any of the HoMe books, and they have so much to offer. All my reads of the Silmarillion after the first one was for enjoyment and appreciation of the poetic narrative that Tolkien uses, and sure the Sil is a narrative, but in all that, are some beautiful and sad stories to be read.

GRONK!!! · 10-08-2002, 04:14 PM

Hmm... not sure bout this. GRONK liked LoTR and Hobbit a lot because they were good stories but hes not exactly fascinated by learning every little detail about elves and hobbits. If GRONK was to skip through Silmarillion to the stories that sound more entertaining would he lose anything in the process?

***Rían*** · 10-08-2002, 04:28 PM

Hi GRONK! I see you're new, so let me say "Welcome", too, and I hope you like it here.

There's a similar discussion going on in a thread in this forum called "ok am i the only one who........" and you might want to look over there. Some of us who have read the Sil several times have talked about some helpful things to do while reading it, and there are several first-time readers currently going through it and talking about their thoughts. Good luck! I think it is well worth the work, but that is just my opinion - you just may not like it. If you don't, you might want to just keep it in the back of your bookshelf and pull it out again in a few years.

Dolenloteiel · 10-08-2002, 07:15 PM

I agree with Rian and I read it b/c I'm hooked on LOTR If you get through it, it's well worth reading

Shadowfax · 10-10-2002, 01:01 AM

You definately must continue to read the Sil because it will enhance your understanding of LotR and even the Hobbit. I thoroughly enjoyed the Sil, and found it so interesting. I hope that once you have read it you will read LotR again, and then maybe even the Sil once again! Both books helped me understand the other better. I love the Silmarillion.

Millane · 10-10-2002, 06:31 AM

does GRONK ALWAYS TALK IN THE THIRD PERSON???
dunno i am still halfway through and started reading the hobbit again... ill get back to it some day... anyways that is all MILLANE!!! has to say..

Sminty_Smeagol · 10-10-2002, 06:39 AM

Hehe.... Sminty thinks Gronk should finish the Silmarillion... even though Sminty kinda zoned out when reading most of it.

Misty Mountain Goat · 10-10-2002, 06:51 AM

Hi tom

someone convince me to read this book please

Millane · 10-10-2002, 06:54 AM

i accept this challenge misty mountain goat...
READ THE F@#$ING BOOK

Misty Mountain Goat · 10-10-2002, 07:00 AM

Bit more insite than that please Millane

markedel · 10-10-2002, 11:05 AM

If you don't the true power and depth of LOTR will be unappreciated, as will many parts of the book. And the Sil opens up whole vistas of Middle Earth to exploration.

Sminty_Smeagol · 10-10-2002, 03:24 PM

amen!

GRONK!!! · 10-10-2002, 03:34 PM

Umm... GRONK has the feeling that the areas of LoTR that everyone is saying would be enhanced by the silmarillion are the areas that GRONK never payed much attention to in the first place. GRONK has a bad habit of unconsciously skipping over the really wordy and detailed paragraphs of books. In Silmarillion the whole book seems to be this way. GRONK has nothing else lying around to read though so he might give Silmarillion another try. If Silmarillion doesnt get more interesting though GRONK might just stop reading for a while and devote more time to his favorite hobby, which is hitting things with big sticks.

To be honest though GRONK was hoping that people would try to persuade him to read Silmarillion beacause the stories become more fun, not because the book has a lot of interesting fictional information. This is just GRONKs opinion, but if GRONK wanted to read something for information he'd try picking up his encyclopedia and read that from start to finish. It would be long and boring but at least this way the information given pertains to real life.

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 10-10-2002, 07:11 PM

Wayfarer, I deleted your post. If you wish, you may post again without the flaming.

GRONK!!! · 10-10-2002, 08:05 PM

Thats what flaming is? GRONK thought flaming was when someone threatens to burn someone elses house down. GRONK seriously has to learn his internet lingo... Umm but if flaming is insulting someone then what is it called when someone threatens to burn someone elses house down?

Sminty_Smeagol · 10-10-2002, 08:36 PM

watering

***Rían*** · 10-11-2002, 12:11 AM

Has GRONK mosied over to the other thread in this forum that I recommended to him yet? (called "ok am i the only one who........" ) Looking thru these 2 threads, I see things like "wonderful", "blows me away", "impossible to put down", "I loved it", "thoroughly enjoyed it", "read it again and again", etc.

Now I don't know that "fun" would be the first word that pops into my head when I think of the Sil, but "beautiful" and "moving" would be up there near the top. If you want "fun", I don't know if the Sil would be your cup of tea. But if you want noble and heroic and beautiful, then keep at it, as many people here have encouraged you to. Keep us posted, and I hope you do come to enjoy it!

10-07-2002, 08:36 PM	#1
GRONK!!! Hobbit Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 46	Does Silmarillion get more entertaining as it progresses? Ahh... maybe its just GRONK, but reading this book seems like reading a dictionary. GRONK thought the hobbit and LOTR trilogy were good, but he can't even start this book. As it progresses does it get more interesting, or if the start of the book is too much for GRONK should he drop it?

10-07-2002, 09:05 PM	#3
Sminty_Smeagol Manic Cardboard-Box Dweller Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In a house Posts: 1,071	yeah it isn't very entertaining (well maybe just for Real Addicts who just want to read it for information on middle earth and knowledge, not really to be entertained). Although some parts are very good, I especially loved the tale of Turin Turambar (now reading in Unfinished Tales... much better!) and the last 2 chaps where it got to stuff I was familiar with (i.e. sauron's beginnings and pre-lotr workings of sauron). The Unfinished Tales and Histories I find to be much more... emotional since they go in to the characters more. Last edited by Sminty_Smeagol : 10-07-2002 at 09:06 PM.

10-08-2002, 04:28 PM	#6
*Rían* Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!) Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Not where I want to be ... Posts: 15,254	Hi GRONK! I see you're new, so let me say "Welcome", too, and I hope you like it here. There's a similar discussion going on in a thread in this forum called "ok am i the only one who........" and you might want to look over there. Some of us who have read the Sil several times have talked about some helpful things to do while reading it, and there are several first-time readers currently going through it and talking about their thoughts. Good luck! I think it is well worth the work, but that is just my opinion - you just may not like it. If you don't, you might want to just keep it in the back of your bookshelf and pull it out again in a few years. __________________ . I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva!

10-08-2002, 07:15 PM	#7
Dolenloteiel I elenfea Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Somewhere in the chaos between the first and second ages! (Actually, CO) Posts: 556	I agree with Rian and I read it b/c I'm hooked on LOTR If you get through it, it's well worth reading __________________ "Middle Earth is a real place. And it is New Zealand." Sir Ian McKellan **************************** QUESTION AUTHORITY Ask me anything ************************** "I have not failed, I've only found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison ************************** Visit Tolkien RP Site! Need members, RP all three Ages! (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) http://elvellon.suddenlaunch2.com **************************** "Yay, I can hear the voices in my head again!

10-10-2002, 01:01 AM	#8
Shadowfax The Fleet-Footed Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: British Columbia Posts: 913	You definately must continue to read the Sil because it will enhance your understanding of LotR and even the Hobbit. I thoroughly enjoyed the Sil, and found it so interesting. I hope that once you have read it you will read LotR again, and then maybe even the Sil once again! Both books helped me understand the other better. I love the Silmarillion. __________________ Jesus saved me "To remain ignorant of things that happened before you were born is to remain a child" (Cicero, 106-43 B.C.) "Art is a lie which makes us realize the truth" (Picasso)

10-07-2002, 08:54 PM	#2
entss89 lord of the ents Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: nc Posts: 539	i totaly agree with you i could not finish it because i was in bore city so i just thrue it in my trashcan! i guess some day over the rainbow i will try to read it? (maybe)!

10-07-2002, 09:37 PM	#4
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	I think that the Silmarillion is hard the first time you read it. I know it was for me, and it was a virtual struggle to force myself to continue. After I reached the chapter of Beren and Luthien, I knew it was well worth it and it was much smoother going to the end. Also, it awoke a great interest in the First Age for me and made me really thirst for more knowledge of the Elves and that time period. But for the Silmarillion, I would have never picked up any of the HoMe books, and they have so much to offer. All my reads of the Silmarillion after the first one was for enjoyment and appreciation of the poetic narrative that Tolkien uses, and sure the Sil is a narrative, but in all that, are some beautiful and sad stories to be read.

10-08-2002, 04:14 PM	#5
GRONK!!! Hobbit Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 46	Hmm... not sure bout this. GRONK liked LoTR and Hobbit a lot because they were good stories but hes not exactly fascinated by learning every little detail about elves and hobbits. If GRONK was to skip through Silmarillion to the stories that sound more entertaining would he lose anything in the process?

10-10-2002, 06:31 AM	#9
Millane The Dude Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: at the altar of my ego Posts: 1,685	does GRONK ALWAYS TALK IN THE THIRD PERSON??? dunno i am still halfway through and started reading the hobbit again... ill get back to it some day... anyways that is all MILLANE!!! has to say..

10-10-2002, 06:39 AM	#10
Sminty_Smeagol Manic Cardboard-Box Dweller Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In a house Posts: 1,071	Hehe.... Sminty thinks Gronk should finish the Silmarillion... even though Sminty kinda zoned out when reading most of it.

10-10-2002, 06:51 AM	#11
Misty Mountain Goat Hobbit Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 19	Hi tom someone convince me to read this book please

10-10-2002, 06:54 AM	#12
Millane The Dude Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: at the altar of my ego Posts: 1,685	i accept this challenge misty mountain goat... READ THE F@#$ING BOOK

10-10-2002, 07:00 AM	#13
Misty Mountain Goat Hobbit Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 19	Bit more insite than that please Millane

10-10-2002, 11:05 AM	#14
markedel 'Sober' Mullet Frosh Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Queen's Posts: 1,245	If you don't the true power and depth of LOTR will be unappreciated, as will many parts of the book. And the Sil opens up whole vistas of Middle Earth to exploration. __________________ "Earnur was a man like his father in valour, but not in wisdom"

10-10-2002, 03:24 PM	#15
Sminty_Smeagol Manic Cardboard-Box Dweller Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In a house Posts: 1,071	amen!

10-10-2002, 03:34 PM	#16
GRONK!!! Hobbit Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 46	Umm... GRONK has the feeling that the areas of LoTR that everyone is saying would be enhanced by the silmarillion are the areas that GRONK never payed much attention to in the first place. GRONK has a bad habit of unconsciously skipping over the really wordy and detailed paragraphs of books. In Silmarillion the whole book seems to be this way. GRONK has nothing else lying around to read though so he might give Silmarillion another try. If Silmarillion doesnt get more interesting though GRONK might just stop reading for a while and devote more time to his favorite hobby, which is hitting things with big sticks. To be honest though GRONK was hoping that people would try to persuade him to read Silmarillion beacause the stories become more fun, not because the book has a lot of interesting fictional information. This is just GRONKs opinion, but if GRONK wanted to read something for information he'd try picking up his encyclopedia and read that from start to finish. It would be long and boring but at least this way the information given pertains to real life.

10-10-2002, 07:11 PM	#17
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	Wayfarer, I deleted your post. If you wish, you may post again without the flaming.

10-10-2002, 08:05 PM	#18
GRONK!!! Hobbit Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 46	Thats what flaming is? GRONK thought flaming was when someone threatens to burn someone elses house down. GRONK seriously has to learn his internet lingo... Umm but if flaming is insulting someone then what is it called when someone threatens to burn someone elses house down?

10-10-2002, 08:36 PM	#19
Sminty_Smeagol Manic Cardboard-Box Dweller Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In a house Posts: 1,071	watering

10-11-2002, 12:11 AM	#20
*Rían* Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!) Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Not where I want to be ... Posts: 15,254	Has GRONK mosied over to the other thread in this forum that I recommended to him yet? (called "ok am i the only one who........" ) Looking thru these 2 threads, I see things like "wonderful", "blows me away", "impossible to put down", "I loved it", "thoroughly enjoyed it", "read it again and again", etc. Now I don't know that "fun" would be the first word that pops into my head when I think of the Sil, but "beautiful" and "moving" would be up there near the top. If you want "fun", I don't know if the Sil would be your cup of tea. But if you want noble and heroic and beautiful, then keep at it, as many people here have encouraged you to. Keep us posted, and I hope you do come to enjoy it! __________________ . I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva! Last edited by Rían : 10-11-2002 at 12:12 AM.

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