Just as the title says - If you've read a book, feel free to post here and write a review about it and whether or not you're recommending it. Be sure to include the title, author, volume and date of publication (1st Ed.). Fiction or non-fiction is up to you.
The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien/Christopher Tolkien (Published 1977)
For enthusiasts of Lord of the Rings, footnotes at the end of the third book - Return of the King - might not sate their lust for the lore that JRR Tolkien has given them. Enter the Silmarillion, which is essentially Middle-Earth's version of the Creation Myth, detailing the time before men came to power and the hardships of the emissaries of the Middle-Earthen equivalent of the Judeo-Christian God to combat their erstwhile foe - and former friend - Melkor, whose name later is converted into Morgoth ("The Enemy").
The Silmarillion features as a series of intertwined short stories and summarized adventures by its wide cast of characters, each contributing to one historic event after another in the history of Tolkien's World, in particular, the history of the Elves - their culture, their attitudes and why they are the way they are by the time Bilbo discovers the One Ring. It provides surprising depth in addressing each character's motivations and fallacies as they perform the deeds that put them into legend, while fleshing out how the Valar - the emissaries of the God analogue, Eru - are closer to being human characters than at first implied.
What it truly excels at, though, is, yes, World-Building. The Silmarillion explores the world of Middle-Earth and its rich history to give a wider perspective to its readers; a more precise understanding. The Silmarillion is a great book to get into for those who want a clearer picture of Middle-Earth and the deeds and legends mentioned in The Lord of the Rings.
It's not a perfect book, though. Because of its at times, biblical style, the narrative of the stories do not go to deep into character building, but rather playing an 'as you know' while read due to the sheer magnitude of some events - some character development is just referred to as footnote, while others remain as flat as they did from the start.
Forgivable. It's a great read for people looking to get into the Tolkien-verse or seeking to explore its legends - and history - further. I highly recommend it.
The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien/Christopher Tolkien (Published 1977)
For enthusiasts of Lord of the Rings, footnotes at the end of the third book - Return of the King - might not sate their lust for the lore that JRR Tolkien has given them. Enter the Silmarillion, which is essentially Middle-Earth's version of the Creation Myth, detailing the time before men came to power and the hardships of the emissaries of the Middle-Earthen equivalent of the Judeo-Christian God to combat their erstwhile foe - and former friend - Melkor, whose name later is converted into Morgoth ("The Enemy").
The Silmarillion features as a series of intertwined short stories and summarized adventures by its wide cast of characters, each contributing to one historic event after another in the history of Tolkien's World, in particular, the history of the Elves - their culture, their attitudes and why they are the way they are by the time Bilbo discovers the One Ring. It provides surprising depth in addressing each character's motivations and fallacies as they perform the deeds that put them into legend, while fleshing out how the Valar - the emissaries of the God analogue, Eru - are closer to being human characters than at first implied.
What it truly excels at, though, is, yes, World-Building. The Silmarillion explores the world of Middle-Earth and its rich history to give a wider perspective to its readers; a more precise understanding. The Silmarillion is a great book to get into for those who want a clearer picture of Middle-Earth and the deeds and legends mentioned in The Lord of the Rings.
It's not a perfect book, though. Because of its at times, biblical style, the narrative of the stories do not go to deep into character building, but rather playing an 'as you know' while read due to the sheer magnitude of some events - some character development is just referred to as footnote, while others remain as flat as they did from the start.
Forgivable. It's a great read for people looking to get into the Tolkien-verse or seeking to explore its legends - and history - further. I highly recommend it.