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A review by speculativeshelves
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So glad I decided to revisit this for the first time in seven years because my reread (and putting the effort in to annotate, despite not being an annotation person) solidified The Silmarillion as one of my favorite books of all time (and perhaps my favorite of Tolkien's Legendarium).
The Silmarillion is a strange book to describe - it's not quite a novel, but not quite a collection of short stories (and yet at the same time it is both of those things). In a lot of ways, the closest thing I can compare it to is The Bible, particularly in terms of writing style. This can make the reading experience somewhat challenging but it is absolutely worth the effort - make use of reading guides, take notes, and remember to look back on the glossary when necessary. There's a point when reading that everything just clicks (especially because there's plenty of repetition/recap that you'll notice if you read multiple chapters at a time) and the experience becomes easier.
The worldbuilding in here is extraordinary, the story is incredibly epic, and I was surprised with how attached I got to various characters despite the fact that the writing style keeps them at a distance. I was also impressed with how much this story made me feel on the edge of my seat despite knowing what happens. It gets quite dark but, as expected from Tolkien, there is never a complete absence of hope. I do have to say though that Melkor and Sauron are two of the greatest villains in literature and capture the idea of "evil" perfectly. They truly set the standard for fantasy villains.
Some chapters I enjoyed more than others but all served the greater story being told of the First and Second Ages. The stories of Ainulindalë, Beren and Lúthien (my favorite when I read this seven years ago and still my favorite now...truly a perfect story), Túrin Turambar, the War of Wrath, and Akallabêth were particular standouts for me.
Now I have to fight the overwhelming urge to do a full reread (and rewatch) of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as I do not have the time right now but at least The Rings of Power Season 2 is on the horizon!
The Silmarillion is a strange book to describe - it's not quite a novel, but not quite a collection of short stories (and yet at the same time it is both of those things). In a lot of ways, the closest thing I can compare it to is The Bible, particularly in terms of writing style. This can make the reading experience somewhat challenging but it is absolutely worth the effort - make use of reading guides, take notes, and remember to look back on the glossary when necessary. There's a point when reading that everything just clicks (especially because there's plenty of repetition/recap that you'll notice if you read multiple chapters at a time) and the experience becomes easier.
The worldbuilding in here is extraordinary, the story is incredibly epic, and I was surprised with how attached I got to various characters despite the fact that the writing style keeps them at a distance. I was also impressed with how much this story made me feel on the edge of my seat despite knowing what happens. It gets quite dark but, as expected from Tolkien, there is never a complete absence of hope. I do have to say though that Melkor and Sauron are two of the greatest villains in literature and capture the idea of "evil" perfectly. They truly set the standard for fantasy villains.
Some chapters I enjoyed more than others but all served the greater story being told of the First and Second Ages. The stories of Ainulindalë, Beren and Lúthien (my favorite when I read this seven years ago and still my favorite now...truly a perfect story), Túrin Turambar, the War of Wrath, and Akallabêth were particular standouts for me.
Now I have to fight the overwhelming urge to do a full reread (and rewatch) of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as I do not have the time right now but at least The Rings of Power Season 2 is on the horizon!