Rating: 
Summary: A full and beautiful work
Review: I have talked to a few people who said they thought the story was choppy, or the narrative hard to follow, but I personally loved the story. The complex history, and intricately woven tales were wonderful. I've read it no fewer than four times, and enjoy it incredibly every time. The background provided here opens the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings to an entirely new level of intimacy.I would suggest this book to any fan of the Lord of the Rings, or fantasy stories in general.
Rating:
Summary: The Old Testament of Middle-Earth
Review: Ok. For most people their opinion of The Silmarillion, I think, depends on one specific question. Do you like reading history? Now I'm not saying that you have to like history, but if you are a person who likes history you will love this book. It begins with the creation of the world. Titled Ainulindale. It was very original for the time(and still is), and many writers have leaned heavily on it for their own creation stories. It continues with the Valaquenta which is an account of the major gods and lesser gods of middle earth. The book then proceeds with the Quenta Silmarillion. Now to me, the Quenta Silmarillion is the most original collection of essays/literary works that I have ever read. Except for a small portion, it covers the events of the first age. During which it concerns mostly the creation and history of the elves. I won't go into details because that would take up too much space. There is just too much knowledge in this book. If that is possible. If you have read The Lord of the Rings and want to know more about the elves this book is for you, because this is their story. Later in the Silmarillion the race of men come into the picture. My personal fav is the essay on Turin Turambar. In many ways these stories are very tragic, but that is what makes it all the more real. You become immersed in the story because the tragedy of it reminds you of your own lives and world. The book ends with geneologies, an index of names, and an appendice on the different elements of Sindarin and Quenya names. Of all the books I own. This is one that I read over and over again and never get tired of. It is a wonderful work of art. However, don't expect another Lord of the Rings. It is a work in its own class. Enjoy it as such.
Rating:
Summary: Definetly one of the best books I've ever read!
Review: I love all of J.R.R. Tolkien's books, and when I found this one I had to read it. It was a little hard to get started on it because it involves the entire history of Middle Earth, but in the end it turned out to be one of if not the best book I have ever read. I never dreamed that someone could write a book so complicated and intricate just using their imagination...I would recommend it to any and every Tolkien reader and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: Cool book
Review: The Silmarillion is, well, Elvish (duh)- it is "the epic history of the Elves in middle earth". However, if you are loyal to Legolas only, this book is probably not for you, being as he isn't in here. Galadriel is, and Earendil is, as are Turin, Tuor, Elros and Elrond. Frodo is mentioned on the second-to-last page of the story *grins* , and Sam is indirectly mentioned *cracks knuckles*, but other than that, no hobbits (drat). Includes a rather incomplete Elvish dictionary at the end.
Rating:
Summary: Quinta Quendi
Review: J.R.R. Tolkien has respectively created such a unique and complex world or worlds as I might quietly add to the huge pile of information. The object that draws my to this account of the Quenta Silmarillian is the gargantuan capacity of events that happen in such minute space. The thoughts of this biosphere that Tolkien is in the " winners circle of Mythology, with all its controversy among the valar and the miar. The best qualities of his books are he recites the epic tale of good versus evil in an interesting manor, and the fact of Tolkien's consistency there are not flaws in this neo-classic. But his greatest accomplishments have to be the languages. The languages that Tolkien mustered up for his works are all self derived; he was a linguist and a powerful one at that. He devised 16 full languages and they all differ immensely. Tolkien is a genious leave it there and do not touch it.
Rating:
Summary: The history of Arda begins
Review: Tolkien has, beyond any doubt, created the most extensive fantasy world, Arda, in wich Middle-Earth figures. This book is highly recommended to any Tolkien reader, it counts the beginning of the days, how the songs of the Ainur created all things , how the elves made the Silmarils and were stolen by Melkor the Vala, the wars of the ancient days and many important things of the past of Arda, including the forging of the rings of power. Another admirable masterpiece of J. R. R. Tolkien, Author of the Century.
Rating:
Summary: Completely Excellent
Review: This is the first book I have read since this entire craze about Lord of the Rings began. I haven't read the Hobbit, the Fellowship of the Ring, etc. Technically, I haven't even completed the LOTR film starring Elijah Wood. Well, anyway, I wanted to find out what it was about and you know something, from reading this I have realized that there is no way that someone can state that there is no Chrisian symbolism in LOTR. In fact, AINULINDALE, the first chapter of Silmarillion almost exactly paints the same picture that one finds in God's Word, concerning the fall of Lucifer and his followers when Lucifer, the greatest angel that God created, tried to be like God. He and his followers were then flung from Heaven to live in eternal damnation.
There is a lot more to this book that meets the eye. :)
I highly reccommend reading it.
Rating:
Summary: Elvish Phone Book
Review: It's hard to believe that only a year ago I became enthralled with Tolkien, LOTRs, and "The Hobbit" but alas, it is true. DH bought me this book as he grew weary of watching me read and reread my "Hobbit" and LOTR books. After viewing the movie "Two Towers", he realized that the year 2003 was going to be a long one until "Two Towers" Special Edition DVD comes out in NOVEMBER 2003 and the last LOTR "Return of the King" premieres the following month. I love this book and the illustrations. "The Silmarillion" contains murder, incest, cruel betrayal, the story of Beren and Luthien in detail, and more murder. The book explains Orcs, Dragons, Balrogs, the creation of Middle Earth, the Numenoreans, and the relationships between Elves, Dwarves, and Men. Pretty good info for the Tolkien junkie who simply can't get enough Middle Earth. At times the chapters are disjointed. Very difficult also to keep up with who's who and how the characters relate to one another. Thankfully the book contains a large Appendix to clear up some of the confusion with the names. "The Silmarillion" briefly touches upon Wizards but lacks the detail that I would have prefered. "The Silmarillion" totally removes the veil of perfection that shrouded the Elves in the LOTR books and movies. As always, Tolkien finely attunes the reader to the idea that absolute evil shows no mercy, never truly goes away, and is indiscrimimate in whom it affects. Ultimately, mankind is connected and humans must be vigilant and unite to suppress evil. Timely ideas in a period of great chaos and change. In conclusion, if you are a huge Tolkien fan then purchase this book.
Rating: 
Summary: very boring
Review: If you've read the hobbit and the lord of the rings triology, don't expect this book to be like those. It reads more like a history book than a fantasy novel. If you've ever studied medieval english history, and had to memorize the names of kings, when they ruled, who was related to who, who married so and so, and who their brother's were, then you have a pretty good idea what this book is like. Unless you're the tolkien equivalent of a die-hard trekkie, I would not recommend reading this book. Quite boring.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Complement to Lord of the Rings
Review: The Silmarillion is a great book for those who have read LOTR. It fills in the holes left my many mysterious allusions to the previous ages of Middle Earth, such as the stories concerning Melkor, the evil out of Angband, of whom Sauron was a servant. In short, if you loved LOTR, and would like to more about the world that contains Middle Earth, The Silmarillion is for you.
| 
