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Aulė
03-03-2003, 11:58 AM
OK,
I have just bought Unfinished Tales, Roverandom and Tales from the Perilous Realm.

I have already read The Hobbit and Lord Of The Rings, but since the evil bookshop didn't have it in stock, I haven't read The Silmarillion.

Therefore, I was wondering whether I should restrain from reading any of the above books before I get hold of The Sil.

Help?
Aulė
03-03-2003, 01:25 PM
OK, Thanks
FrankSinatra
03-05-2003, 08:24 PM
Those are mainly stand alone books, you should be fine without them.

The Silmarillion is a slog however, but a rewarding one.

Not a re-readable book though i think, unlike LOTR & The Hobbit.
Ithrynluin
03-05-2003, 11:55 PM
Originally posted by FrankSinatra
Not a re-readable book though i think, unlike LOTR & The Hobbit.

I think most people would disagree with you!;) Though the Sil is considered to be a history (doesn't sound too exciting does it?), I do find it to be an amazing, fascinating and entertaining read time after time.:)
elffriend
03-12-2003, 08:22 AM
Although the sil is a slog, it does explain lots about how things came into being in middle earth. I agree that it is not a book that you re read like The Hobbit or the Trilogy of the the Fellowship of the ring. I do how ever refer back to it, to clarify certain things. I will also say that once you have read Tolkiens other books of middle earth the Sil does make more sense.
Aulė
03-13-2003, 02:49 PM
Yay!
I just bought the Sil!

What next?
HoME?
Aulė
03-14-2003, 09:17 AM
Really? I thought I'd use it as a dishcloth....:rolleyes:
Melko Belcha
03-14-2003, 08:50 PM
I read the books in the order they were published and found it pretty easily to understand. this is how I would read them.
The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings
The Silmarillion (2nd edition)
Unfinished Tales
1. The Book of Lost Tales part 1
2. The Book of Lost Tales part 2
3. The Lays of Beleriand
4. The Shapping of Middle-earth
5. The Lost Road and other writings
6. The Return of the Shadow
7. The Treason of Isengard
8. The War of the Ring
9. Sauron Defeated
10. Morgoth's Ring
11. The War of the Jewels
12. The Peoples of Middle-earth

There is also a book out called The End of the Third Age but Sauron Defeated contains all the information plus more.

Also check out Tom Shippley's JRR Tolkien: Author of the Century, the book is amazing.