Rating: 
Summary: awesome
Review: i first tried to read this when i was home sick one day and i do admit that i had to try once or twice before actually getting all the way through the book. it is much different from the lord of the rings, but that doesnt make it bad. although it is hard to get through it is very rewarding when you finally finish. if your favorite characters were the elves in LOTR or you just want to know more about some of the things in LOTR (like why the elves are leaving middle earth), then you have to read this book. it is really worth it.
Rating:
Summary: An amazing novel
Review: This novel is the best Tolkien novel and one of the best works of literature I have read. The Silmarillion is the best tradgedy, better than Shakespeare, that I have read. The Silmarillion lacks the same tone as the Lord of the Rings since the novel was compiled by JRR Tolkien's son. His son, however, still did a masterful job. The Silmarillion is the history of Middle Earth. The adventures take place when Sauron is but a servant of one more powerful and more evil. In the beginning there was one who created the Ainur. Of the Ainur, Melker was the greatest, but he fell from his high position. Then some of the Ainur came to Middle Earth to shape the creator's vision. Melker seduced some of the Ainur to his side and was at strife with the others, the Vala. The Vala chained Melker to protect the Elves. Then there was bliss until Melkor was released. Feanor was the greatest of all the Elves, and created the three Simarils. These Melker stole, and the tragedies that befell the Nolder (Feanor's race) make the Silmarillion. In addition to the wonderful stories, this illustrated hardback copy is very nice. I already owned the first edition hardback, but I also bought this version. Tolkien was an awesome author, and this novel does him tribute.
Rating: 
Summary: Our Mythology
Review: Tolkien is the definitive author of fantasy literature period!
Rating:
Summary: Amazing book!
Review: I've fallen in love with Middle-Earth and all it's interesting places and peoples. This book gives LOTS of history and background to the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit. If you like fictonal history or just the Lord of the Rings and want more, this is the book for you! This hard cover, illustrated edition is beautiful!
Rating:
Summary: Long Ago In A Far Off Land....
Review: The Silmarillion is not the easiest book to read, but it contains a wealth of information about Middle Earth and the ancestors of those characters we have grown to love in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. One gets a sense of reading an actual history and not a work of fiction. The scope of this book is astonishing. Anyone who loves The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, will appreciate the depth that Tolkien has gone to in writing The Silmarillion. My approach to reading this book was to treat it as an actual history, rather than a work of fiction; in doing so I found it totally believable and enlightening. I feel I know so much more about the world that Tolkien created, and the wonderful (and sometimes terrible) beings that enhabited it.
Rating:
Summary: Difficult read, but very worth it
Review: Like most people, I have read The Hobbit and The LOTR several times. Last year, I finally decided to give The Silmarillion a go. I'm glad I did; it is actually a better book than either The Hobbit or LOTR. I'm just really glad I had the other books under my belt first. This is a difficult book to follow, and you will find yourself flipping back several times throughout. It is completely worth it.
Rating:
Summary: the life of middle earth
Review: of all tolkiens books , the silmarillion was by far my favorite. After seeing the movie i began reading the series.Once i heard of the silmarillion i was dying to buy it for the elves were so mysterious and i wanted to know of their past and their origins.
i was captivated by the tales of the elves never had i thought that their history was so filled with sorrow, war, and happiness.
i sort of knew why the elves didnt do anything during lord of the rings, they were simply tired of all the wars that they had suffered that they could now leave behind, and compared to the wars that the elves had endured ,the war of the rings was nothing.i loved hearing of the old elven kingdoms that would rival lothlorien making it seem like a normal forest.i never knew that the elves were such a diverse people.they were divided into so many groups the high races of elves and the lower races of elves all of which were divided into groups themselves.to think of all the ruins that were found in lotr were active places in the silmarillion.well i hope that u enjoyed this book as much as i did and would give this book a chance cause it may have been slow at times but it was well worth it.
Rating:
Summary: simply astounding
Review: It's impossible to see how anyone could give this masterpiece less than a five...unless they don't understand it. It is not meant to be a novel per se; it is more of an anthology, doubly removed from the reader. The stories that make up the Silmarillion are considered history to Frodo and Sam, so to the reader they seem like biblical text. However, in this relatively short book are assembled some of the most powerful stories of all time. The story of Turin Turambar interweaves some of the greatest story lines into a lyrical tour de force. He is the classic tragic hero, reminiscent of Oedipus in more ways than one. The elves-men dynamic also allows for great romance and poignancy, as in the story of Beren and Luthien. Possibly the greatest aspect of the Silmarillion is that it can portray classic gods, pitched battles between good and evil, as well as many other cliches, yet still maintain an undeniable believablity. All the small stories are just abridged sagas of equal breadth to LOTR that will surely delight both new readers and diehard Tolkien fans alike.
Rating: 
Summary: Tolkein almost got me a detention
Review: Yes, Tolkein almost got me a detention, if I recall correctly. I was roused up by my study hall teacher for falling asleep yet again for reading Silmarillion. I have fallen asleep during other times, but especially when reading Silmarillion. I did not want to touch it constantly. Finally, with a deadline approaching, I went to the library (and had to sleep once while there) and read a lot of it. It was there that I ran into the tale of Beren and Luthien, a love story in which Luthien, a Valar, determines to give up her eternal life to be with the mortal Beren. Charming. Epic. I loved it. Stories like this gave the book redeeming value. But you pretty much had to wade through it. I can't recall the details of any of the book that well, because it is told in historical form, the reader assuming an omnipotent god-like view. I guess this could have its merits. This book seems more for the die-hard Tolkien fan, willing to sacrifice his time for each tidbit. Not me. I read this book as a precursor to the rest of the series (which I still have yet to touch). Since it's been some time since I've read this (about two months), maybe I should forebear, but considering what this book did to me (and considering I can't remember the details that well...) for now it gets two stars. Maybe when I read it again someday (if I read it again someday) this review might improve. But as for now, it gets two stars.
Rating:
Summary: Unparalleled imagination...
Review: At the core of The Silmarillion, as well as LOTR is a very simple plot, but the characters, environment, and drama Tolkien weaves is truly mind boggling. Tolkien considered The Silmarillion his finest achievement, and I can't agree more. The Silmarillion was released posthumously by his son, Christopher Tolkien. The scope and grandeur of the story behind The Silmarillion is hard to describe. If you're familiar with LOTR, let's just say that the Sauron is a mere sidekick of the big bad guy in The Silmarillion. In fact, Sauron gets his butt kicked big time by a human King, who unfortunately gets brainwashed by him later and invokes the wrath of god-like beings called the Valar. You learn how Sauron was able to escape with his deceits, to come back to Middle Earth. With this book, you come to learn the background on Elves, Dwarves, and Humans. You'll learn about the Undying Lands in the west where the Elves sail to. You will learn Gandalf's past, Sauron's past, how Orcs were once Elves. The tragedy of the love between Beren and Luthien is enough to make a grown man cry. The Silmarillion is biblical and mythical in breadth and really takes your breath away. It can therefore be intimidating to a casual LOTR reader. What I can say is that if you really, really loved LOTR, you will absolutely love The Silmarillion. The Silmarillion can be hard to follow because there are so many different characters with unusual, hard-to-pronounce names. But if you can get over this "difficulty", the reward is great. It truly is one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read in my life. As an aid to reading this book, I used "The Complete Guide to Middle Earth" by Robert Foster and also read along with an unabridged reading on CD by Martin Shaw (Bantam Double Day). Martin Shaw has a great voice reading along with him was extremely helpful. The CD helped me get past the difficult names of the characters and places, and the Guide was a fantastic reference book. The Silmarillion is by no means casual reading for most people, but if you don't mind putting a little mental effort with remembering names, you will find it extremely enjoyable and rewarding. Recommended to "hard-core" LOTR fans.
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