Rating: 
Summary: Plowing through the mud of the Middle Earth
Review: I am absolutely certain that this is the greatest fantasy epic poem ever written in the English language. I have enjoyed Tolkien books for years. I have attempted to finish this one for years. I cannot get through it. It is an epic poem, and like most straight men, I simply cannot get excited about the epic poetry literary form. There are great stories of the Middle Earth embedded in this thing, probably as good as if not better than "Lord of the Rings", but it's like a gold coin in the middle of a snake infested swamp - highly valuable, but not worth the effort to recover. Those among us who love poetry will love this book. The rest of us will find something else to read.
Rating:
Summary: Plowing through the mud of the Middle Earth
Review: I am absolutely certain that this is the greatest fantasy epic poem ever written in the English language. I have enjoyed Tolkien books for years. I have attempted to finish this one for years. I cannot get through it. It is an epic poem, and like most straight men, I simply cannot get excited about the epic poetry literary form. There are great stories of the Middle Earth embedded in this thing, probably as good as if not better than "Lord of the Rings", but it's like a gold coin in the middle of a snake infested swamp - highly valuable, but not worth the effort to recover. Those among us who love poetry will love this book. The rest of us will find something else to read.
Rating: 
Summary: Intoxicating treat for Tolkien lovers
Review: It is not easy to enter into the world underlying the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings books. I read both of these many times before I found the ability/courage/stamina needed to traverse the Silmarillion. Then a few more re-readings before I could make it through the Unfinished Tales. But once you probe deeper - assuming you have a love of the books and not a love of the bastardized version shown in the Peter Jackson movies - you'll find that the History Of Middle Earth series is simply intoxicating. The poems including in this volume are ambitious, lyrical and exciting. And they deliver so much more detail to the tragic story of Turin Turambar and the tale of Beren and Luthian, you will wish they had been completed and published during Tolkien's lifetime. The scope of Tolkien's genius is in full display. And it will take your breath away. His mind worked on so many more levels than I can comprehend, it is simply humbling.
Rating:
Summary: Intoxicating treat for Tolkien lovers
Review: It is not easy to enter into the world underlying the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings books. I read both of these many times before I found the ability/courage/stamina needed to traverse the Silmarillion. Then a few more re-readings before I could make it through the Unfinished Tales. But once you probe deeper - assuming you have a love of the books and not a love of the bastardized version shown in the Peter Jackson movies - you'll find that the History Of Middle Earth series is simply intoxicating. The poems including in this volume are ambitious, lyrical and exciting. And they deliver so much more detail to the tragic story of Turin Turambar and the tale of Beren and Luthian, you will wish they had been completed and published during Tolkien's lifetime. The scope of Tolkien's genius is in full display. And it will take your breath away. His mind worked on so many more levels than I can comprehend, it is simply humbling.
Rating: 
Summary: FOR DIE HARDS ONLY
Review: like i said, the material in this book is only a detailed version of the war of the rings as well as some reminiscences of the silmarillion. the book also contains lots of poetry (which, personnally, i find pointless). but the bright side of it is the awesome details that answers to a lot of questions initiated while reading the LOTR or the silmarillion.
Rating: 
Summary: ACTUALLY 4 AND A HALF STARS.
Review: So why am I stripping off half a star for the Lays of Beleriand? His poetry is by far some of the best fantasy poetry ever written--mostly because it rhymes. Robert E. Howard was also good at poetry, but he wrote nothing near as long as the poems in this book. The one problem that I have with Tolkien's poetry is that his sentences are too long, causing the reader to have to read the passage a time or two before getting the idea of what is going on. Also, I sometimes feel that his stories don't move fast enough. Of course, Tolkien was a writer back in the days when people accepted writing like that. But nowadays lots of people simply don't have the time or patience to read 4 line, comma-laden sentences describing the landscape, despite its poeticness. Sometimes Christopher Tolkiens notes are a bit annoying. I'd like to read the poems straight through without having to flip past the notes every ten pages or so. BUT, apart from that, the book is great in every way. If you want to learn how to write poetry, or get inspired to write poetry, read this book by all means.
Rating:
Summary: The Poems of Middle-Earth
Review: The Lays of Beleriand is basically a book of poems that J.R.R. Tokien wrote about the tales of the Silmarillion. Poems such as that of Turin Turambar, as well as a few other noteworthy works. It's probably best to have some background on the Silmarillon before reading this.
Rating:
Summary: The Poems of Middle-Earth
Review: The Lays of Beleriand is basically a book of poems that J.R.R. Tokien wrote about the tales of the Silmarillion. Poems such as that of Turin Turambar, as well as a few other noteworthy works. It's probably best to have some background on the Silmarillon before reading this.
Rating:
Summary: Wander off of the beaten path!
Review: This book is simply wonderful! It contains magic imho. If
you liked the middle earth series, or simply wish a break
from all the movie hoopla, try yet another magnificent work
by Tolkien - i.e., this book! The breadth and depth of his
creativity surely must humble virtually all.
Rating:
Summary: Wander off of the beaten path!
Review: This book is simply wonderful! It contains magic imho. If
you liked the middle earth series, or simply wish a break
from all the movie hoopla, try yet another magnificent work
by Tolkien - i.e., this book! The breadth and depth of his
creativity surely must humble virtually all.
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