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“It is kind of difficult to review all of LotR plus the...”

written by Velaineil. on 19/02/2003

Good Points
History. The Lord of the Rings and Related works were not some shallow figment of an imagination. Tolkien decribes and brings the reader into Middle-Earth, where they can learn of ancient things that few still remember. The Silmarrilion and the book of Lost Tales (both parts) are brilliant and interesting.

Bad Points
There are none, other than it is really too bad that Tolkein didn't belive anyone would read his books.

General Comments
It is kind of difficult to review all of LotR plus the related works, but I will try...
The Silmarrilion: Is the complete history to Middle-Earth, tells of the coming of the elves and their exile from Valinor. What would have happened, I wonder, if they hadn't been banished? Perhaps they would have gone on living forever with and beside the Valar. When would Morgoth rerise? What would have happened to the Silmarrils? Would there even be Silmarrils? The war of the ring probably never would have occurred, and the world would go on peacefully. I think that Tolein wanted us to think of that when he was writing, so that we would appreciate his effort more. This book sets up the setting for the Hobbit, and the Lord of the Rings.
The Book of Lost Tales (both parts): I am currently reading these books, they are very, very intriguing. Basically, it is an earlier version of the Silmarrilion, the commentary by Christopher Tolkein enriches the journey, providing an almost over the shoulder view of Tolkein while he wrote.
The Hobbit: In a hole, in the ground, there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, wet hole, filled with ends of worms, nor yet a dry sandy hole with nothing to eat or sit down on. ~The Hobbit The hobbit is a excellent book, accounting for who Bilbo found the ring. This book is, like many of Tolkeins, musical in the sense that Bilbo and his hobbit and dwarf friends enjoyed singing. They used it to their advantage on several occasions. I feel that this greatly enriches the book.
The Lord of the Rings: Brilliant! Beyond all doubt, these are the best books I've ever read! There is nothing wrong with them. Several times elves begin to speak their own tongue, sindarin mostly. However, the elves occasionally speak Quenyan, though, it is very much like Latin today. Quenyan is dying out, it is only used as a language for special occasions. I find this very interesting and wonderful, I find myself longing to translate it. That very instant! I don't though. These books are brilliant and (in the immortal words of Samwise Gamgee) "beyond my likes and dislikes, if you take my meaning." There is nothing that anyone can do to alter these books in anyway. I don't see why anybody would want ot anyway!
Thanx for listening
~Velaineil