Notion club papers

[Beleg]

Notion Club Papers: One of Tolkien’s much hyped about work.
But when I started it I found it difficult to follow the story. It seems so boring and so complicated that it is difficult to understand it some phases. Any advice upon how to read and understand Notion club papers, specially the Old English he uses in some of his poems?

[Aulë]

lol- I knew that I shouldn't have supplied you with all those HoME e-copies ;)
lol

Ane yes, I found the Notion Club papers to be one of the most difficult things to read in the latter HoME's.
These mysterious papers report the discussions of an Oxford club in the years 1986-7, in which, after a number of topics, the centre of interest turns to the legend of Atlantis, the strange communications received by other members of the clubfrom the past, and the violent irruption of the legend into North-west of Europe.
The Atlantis part was especially difficult to read, and I just really couldn't 'get into it'.
And when it started on possibilities of travel in space and time- Bleh. :(

I suppose that you must just realise that it isn't a published story, just a collection of unpublished work. Just stick to it, and re-read it a few days after you read it for the first time.

[FoolOfATook]

Beleg- have you read "The Lost Road"? It might help to start there, and then move on to "Notion Club". I can't think of any tips to help with the Old English- I'm a lit student with four years of studying German, and I have trouble with it from time to time.

[Elfarmari]

I finally bought myself copies of the History of the Lord of the Rings books, and read the Notion Club Papers first. I knew it was unfinished (or it wouldn't be in the book), but I was so disappointed when it ended. I know that a lot people dislike that kind of story, but I love the convoluted plot, the intrusion of the story into reality. The discussions about time travel, memory, and having a good frame for a story are the kinds of things that me and my equally insane friends enjoy discussing, except we aren't ridiculously creative linguists.
Has anyone else read the Notion Club Papers? (or any of the other LotR history books?)

[Gordis]

Has anyone else read the Notion Club Papers? (or any of the other LotR history books?)

I have read the Notion Club papers. It is the only place when one can find some Adunaic! Also, I have read many times in various places that ME is our Earth, only much earlier. But the NCP is the only book that makes this real somehow.

[Arvegil]

I have read The Notion Club Papers.

I have often wondered about how many aborted efforts Tolkien made to connect Middle-Earth to our world (Aelfwine), and yet they were all abandoned in the end.