I should point out that I also wrote “reviews” of Unfinished Tales and Children of Húrin on the blog. I’m too lazy to link them here, but you should be able to find them easily with the site search.

I actually saw the FOTR and then read TTT and ROTK before the films came out. I proceeded to read FOTR afterwards, and enjoyed it. It was probably around the time when TTT came out in the theatres that I was given a paperback copy of “The Silmarillion” with the cover depicting Tolkien’s beautiful painting of the mountain, Taniquetil. However, I was probably 13 or 14 and honestly had very little or no interest at all. I’d never even heard of the book, but my parents bought it for me anyways. I actually did open the book though, tried to read it and almost immediately shut it!

It wasn’t until I turned 16 that I conjured up the curiosity and will power to try and read it. David, I read it - and was dumbfounded! At the time I could say truthfully that it was by far the best fictional book I’d read yet! (and very probably still is)

I can honestly say that while reading the Silmarillion, my imagination EXPLODED! I actually enjoy reading those first few chapters, “Ainulindale,” and “Valaquenta,” (before the actual Silmarillion proper), because they added a whole new dimension to the Tolkien mythology which I’d not been aware of before: Mankind’s, or rather, Elfinkind’s relationship with spiritual entities. And after these chapters it only got better and better.

To any who are interested in J.R.R. Tolkien, I would HIGHLY recommend this book, as it provides (although in an extremely summarised version) the backdrop to LOTR, but also the voluminous History of Middle Earth. In the Silmarillion, I was delighted to meet a few characters in LOTR such as Galadriel and Sauron. In fact, I don’t know if anyone else agrees, but the fact that Galadriel and Sauron were in the Silmarillion added to the wonder of reading the book; the sheer fact that there were characters in LOTR that had been in existence for aeons - and it was written without sounding corny!

There are, however SEVERAL more textual treats by J.R.R. Tolkien which I probably wouldn’t have read had I not read the Silmarillion. I would also highly recommend one read “The Unfinished Tales of Numenore and Middle Earth” which includes fascinating accounts from the First, Second, and Third Ages on Middle Earth. The title of the book, admittedly may not be appealing, as the thought of a Tale abruptly coming to an end can be a BIG letdown - but PLEASE hearken and just read it, as not all stories do abruptly end. But read the Silmarillion BEFORE you read this book.

Last but not least comes “The History of Middle Earth” series, spanning 12 volumes edited by Christopher Tolkien. I recently started this series at the beginning of ‘07, but have so far only read the first two, and into the third one - that is, I have read ‘The Book of Lost Tales,pt. I,’ ‘The Book of Lost Tales, pt. II,’ and am currently reading ‘The Lays of Beleriand’.

Let me vouche for Christopher Tolkien. He is truly the steward of his father’s estate. The man has quite successfully put together “The Silmarillion,” “The Unfinished Tales of Numenore and Middle Earth,” “The Children of Hurin” (Also an Awesome book), and so far, I’m THOROUGHLY enjoying “The History of Middle Earth” series.

Without J.R.R. Tolkien, and his son acting as the steward of his estate, the reaches of my imagination would not be very far at all. Upon reading the Silmarillion, a Big Bang went off in my brain. Now, it may not be for everybody, so I’ll stop getting everybody’s hopes at a par above the clouds. Yet I know I can say with confidence that “The Silmarillion” is truly an enjoyable read, and I think everyone (truly) interested in Tolkien should give it a go!

http://www.americantolkiensociety.org/photogallery2/tombstone.jpg