I’ve re-embarked on Silmarillion after the encouragement. In fact, I found that at some point out of memory that I’d purchased a beautiful hardback copy that I’d shelved and forgotten that I had. My first attempt at Silmarillion was years ago and apparently I’d gotten rid of my original edition. Anyway, yes, it’s still slow-going and I still find it a difficult read, but I’m definitely enjoying it more this time as long as I keep the doses small before taking a break. What’s really difficult for me is that it seems each entity has 4-5 different names, and it’s hard trying to remember who is who, so I’m making frequent forays to the appendices for clarification. It’s a lot more like studying for an exam than reading for pleasure, but it’s deepening my knowledge.
Same! I’ve been reading it but not really… I loved the LOTR read through and think I’d actually make it all the waythrough the Silmarillion with a group :)
It took me 10 years and 3 tries to get past the first couple of chapters in Silmarillion before I finally pushed through and finished - and now I've re-read it twice! What helped me finally was finding a resource of chapter summaries (from Tea with Tolkien I think) that I actually read BEFORE reading each chapter, so that I knew what the gist of the chapter was about ahead of time and what paragraphs might be okay to skim through. It does add SO much depth to everything else in Middle Earth!
I am very interested in a deep dive into the Silmarillion. I have both hard copies (one to mark and take notes, the other to keep pristine) and the Andy Serkis Audible version. Thank you for doing this!
I will always be sad that publishers only saw the Silmarillion as something marketable and worth their time in the 70s after Tolkien’s death. (And although I am aware that it wasn’t the only reason, it probably wasn’t a coincidence that the works deemed publishable in his lifetime were the ones with less or no women in them)
I’m just finishing the Andy Serkis narration of Return of the King - we’re well into the appendices at this point - and I have his Silmarillion lined up next. I read it many years ago and loved it and I can’t wait to have it read to me. Good timing that you’re about to start a re-read too.
I tried once many years ago to read The Silmarillion but put it down because it wasn’t like LOTR and I was looking for more of that, not more of the appendices. I’m willing to give it a try again. I am very curious to try the Andy Serkis narration. He did such an amazing job with LOTR.
I first read The Silmarillion in a college class with Corey Olsen, an incredibly illuminating experience! I've since reread it once and I am planning to join you in April. I think I'll listen to Andy Serkis this time, but keep my paperback copy handy for adding annotations.
Looking forward to reading The Silmarillion with you my first time!
I read it once many years ago and it was hard to get through. Would enjoy trying it out again though-especially if there is a group doing it!
I’ve re-embarked on Silmarillion after the encouragement. In fact, I found that at some point out of memory that I’d purchased a beautiful hardback copy that I’d shelved and forgotten that I had. My first attempt at Silmarillion was years ago and apparently I’d gotten rid of my original edition. Anyway, yes, it’s still slow-going and I still find it a difficult read, but I’m definitely enjoying it more this time as long as I keep the doses small before taking a break. What’s really difficult for me is that it seems each entity has 4-5 different names, and it’s hard trying to remember who is who, so I’m making frequent forays to the appendices for clarification. It’s a lot more like studying for an exam than reading for pleasure, but it’s deepening my knowledge.
Thank you so much for the shoutout, Breanne! Love that you're doing this Silmarillion read through!!
Got my copy ready to go! Can’t wait!
I’ve been hoping for a Silmarillion read through since we finished LotR. Cant wait!
Same! I’ve been reading it but not really… I loved the LOTR read through and think I’d actually make it all the waythrough the Silmarillion with a group :)
Ooooh, I’m already reading a lot of stuff right now, but I’m excited to get into the Silmarillion with you. Bring it on!
It took me 10 years and 3 tries to get past the first couple of chapters in Silmarillion before I finally pushed through and finished - and now I've re-read it twice! What helped me finally was finding a resource of chapter summaries (from Tea with Tolkien I think) that I actually read BEFORE reading each chapter, so that I knew what the gist of the chapter was about ahead of time and what paragraphs might be okay to skim through. It does add SO much depth to everything else in Middle Earth!
I am very interested in a deep dive into the Silmarillion. I have both hard copies (one to mark and take notes, the other to keep pristine) and the Andy Serkis Audible version. Thank you for doing this!
I love the Andy Serkis versions
I will always be sad that publishers only saw the Silmarillion as something marketable and worth their time in the 70s after Tolkien’s death. (And although I am aware that it wasn’t the only reason, it probably wasn’t a coincidence that the works deemed publishable in his lifetime were the ones with less or no women in them)
I’m just finishing the Andy Serkis narration of Return of the King - we’re well into the appendices at this point - and I have his Silmarillion lined up next. I read it many years ago and loved it and I can’t wait to have it read to me. Good timing that you’re about to start a re-read too.
I tried once many years ago to read The Silmarillion but put it down because it wasn’t like LOTR and I was looking for more of that, not more of the appendices. I’m willing to give it a try again. I am very curious to try the Andy Serkis narration. He did such an amazing job with LOTR.
I first read The Silmarillion in a college class with Corey Olsen, an incredibly illuminating experience! I've since reread it once and I am planning to join you in April. I think I'll listen to Andy Serkis this time, but keep my paperback copy handy for adding annotations.