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DanielLB
Immortal
Jul 27 2012, 2:58pm
Post #51 of 75
(558 views)
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Are you enjoying reading it DesiringDragons?
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I love the first half the book (not that I don't like the other half  ). It's just so (cliche I know) "magical". Love it!
Your making me want to re-read it! I still have The Hobbit to re-read before the films though! 
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DesiringDragons
Lorien
Jul 27 2012, 3:04pm
Post #52 of 75
(544 views)
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and I'm so glad you all encouraged me! There are passages that are tough going (mostly those thick with new names) but the prose is incredible. Magical is a great word for it. I keep coming upon sentences or descriptions that I read three or four times just for the beauty of the words. :)
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Ethel Duath
Half-elven
Jul 27 2012, 4:26pm
Post #53 of 75
(536 views)
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For me, I read it like the Odyssey
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in a way. I didn't expect everything to hang together perfectly, and just enjoyed the sweeping visions and terrors and fabulous deeds of each "myth" and enjoyed them all the more when they did link up. I did get awfully confused at times, but I just looked up what I had a mind to, and didn't worry too much about the rest of my confusion. The second read was a lot better.
Thingol finding Melion is one of my favorite parts.
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Ethel Duath
Half-elven
Jul 27 2012, 4:27pm
Post #54 of 75
(529 views)
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Reading passages over and over, just because of the language. I do that in LOTR too.
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DesiringDragons
Lorien
Jul 27 2012, 4:35pm
Post #55 of 75
(546 views)
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I loved Thingol and Melion too!
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I can't remember how I approached The Odyssey - I had to read it for college so all I recall is a lot of highlighting and note-taking and being surprised when I actually enjoyed the story!
...and then I wrote part of my final assignment on it in a pastiche of Homeric style, which makes me cringe to think about, but luckily my professor had a sense of humor. :)
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DesiringDragons
Lorien
Jul 27 2012, 4:36pm
Post #56 of 75
(539 views)
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and even in The Hobbit sometimes. No one uses language like Tolkien. :)
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Ethel Duath
Half-elven
Jul 27 2012, 4:47pm
Post #57 of 75
(530 views)
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Sounds like a great professor!
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It reminds me of how my brothers Middle English professor made his class learn to pronouce it as well as learn to read it. You were just trying to enter the world, and I'm sure your prof. appreciated that!
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Elizabeth
Half-elven
Jul 27 2012, 5:45pm
Post #58 of 75
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Tips I found very helpful the first time:
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1. Make copies of the maps and genealogies. Make them on full-sized paper (enlarge if necessary). Put them in plastic page protectors, and refer to them as often as necessary to keep track of where you are and which F-elves you're reading about at the moment.
2. Skip the first two sections and start with the Quenta Silmarillion, unless you have a high tolerance for mind-bending concepts expressed in "biblical" language. You can always go back and pick it up later.
Personally, I think the opening sections (the "creation myth") are wonderful, but they're very heavy going for the average reader.
Join us NOW in the Reading Room for detailed discussions of The Hobbit, July 9-Nov. 18!
Elizabeth is the TORnsib formerly known as 'erather'
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DesiringDragons
Lorien
Jul 27 2012, 6:21pm
Post #59 of 75
(550 views)
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I love that first idea especially!
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This sounds like a WONDERFUL idea to make reference easier. Thank you so much!
I've already made it through the first two sections, but I can definitely see why you advised against it. They were probably the toughest part so far to read...but on the other hand, it was nice to get the background for the main action, and to be introduced to the Valar. So now that I've actually done it I'm kind of glad. And the part about the singing in the beginning was beautiful.
Thank you again!
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DesiringDragons
Lorien
Jul 28 2012, 12:22pm
Post #60 of 75
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(Or rather Night 3, since I read in the evening - I hope no one minds these little updates, btw, I'm just trying to keep track of my own progress. I will probably stop after a few days.)
I only managed 20 pages last night, but between the Olympics coverage and Fridays generally being my busiest, I had to get some Silmarillion time in. :)
So far:
Day 1 - 30 page
Day 2 - 40 pages
Day 3 - 20 pages
Highlights (lowlights?) of last night's read:
- Ungoliant. I am such an arachnophobe and there are giant evil spiders in every book I love!
- The fate of the trees. :(
- Adieu, Finwe :(
- Feanor, I am not sure what I think of you at all!
- Malkor is now Morgoth and has the Silmarils. Boo hiss.
I'm continually amazed by how much happens on every page. I'm so glad you all encouraged me; this is an incredible read so far.
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Arandiel
Grey Havens
Jul 29 2012, 5:12am
Post #63 of 75
(547 views)
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Okay, so I have a tolerance for mind-bending concepts, but alas...
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I actually make it through the creation story without too much difficulty; it's the more 'historical' sections I have trouble with. To this day, I haven't been able to make it through the whole book, despite having started it the first time over a couple decades ago - and having a history-heavy Master's degree in religion. One of these years...
Actually, your reference to 'biblical' language is pretty accurate; the chapters of the Silmarillion do bear some resemblance to different books of the Bible - histories, theology, stories of individual figures. I just can't get them to stay in order in my head as easily as biblical accounts!
Walk to Rivendell: There and Back Again Challenge - getting thirteen rowdy Dwarves, one grumpy Wizard, and a beleaguered Hobbit from Bag End to the Lonely Mountain by December 2012; and that same much enriched Hobbit back to Bag End by December 2013
Join us, Thursdays on Main!
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SF
The Shire
Jul 29 2012, 10:51pm
Post #64 of 75
(505 views)
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I found having Karen Wynn Fonstad's Atlas of Middle-Earth to be useful while reading The Silmarillion. Helped me keep track of who and what was where, and also provided a refresher on character names.
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DesiringDragons
Lorien
Jul 30 2012, 12:05pm
Post #65 of 75
(505 views)
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Someone else recommended this, too - I do have a copy somewhere but I have to go dig through the boxes of books I didn't have shelf space for after my last move. :)
I really will have to do that now. Though the index at least makes all the similar elf-names a little bit easier to remember.
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DanielLB
Immortal
Jul 30 2012, 10:46pm
Post #66 of 75
(490 views)
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How have you been getting along the last couple of days? :-) /
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DesiringDragons
Lorien
Jul 30 2012, 10:59pm
Post #67 of 75
(498 views)
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My pace has slowed a bit, because I've been busier than usual in the evenings lately and that's when I usually read.
I also wasn't sure whether it was all right to keep updating this thread?
I've been keeping at it, and enjoying it far more than I ever expected. I'm so glad you all encouraged me! Once I started to remember who the characters were, the book began to read much faster. I think the best way to read it is straight through, rather than dipping into it as I'd done previously.
I think I'll post an update in a few days if no one minds. :)
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Magpie
Immortal
Jul 30 2012, 11:59pm
Post #68 of 75
(509 views)
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you can post and update as much as you want
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...but once the thread falls to the second page, it becomes pretty much invisible and people won't catch new posts in it. It's the way these boards are set up and it has a purpose. If you'd like to know more about that... ask on the Feedback board.
Once a thread has fallen to the second page, it's perfectly acceptable, should one wish to keep talking about the topic, to post a new thread. If you think it useful, you can link to the preexisting thread(s).
LOTR soundtrack website ~ magpie avatar gallery
TORn History Mathom-house ~ Torn Image Posting Guide
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DanielLB
Immortal
Jul 31 2012, 7:57am
Post #69 of 75
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As Magpie says, you can make another thread if you like :-)
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I suppose you didn't get much reading done last night after all the news came out?
Good to see you are still enjoying it though. Has anything particularly caught your eye - a favourite storyline, or character?
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DesiringDragons
Lorien
Jul 31 2012, 12:51pm
Post #70 of 75
(484 views)
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thank you very much for the information!
I like the way the threads scroll...it keeps the conversation fresh, even if it does mean occasionally looking for old threads But the Search feature is handy for that.
I might start a new thread, then, in a day or two. :)
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DesiringDragons
Lorien
Jul 31 2012, 1:07pm
Post #71 of 75
(492 views)
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And no, last night was mainly spent reading reactions and articles! I did get a few pages in, though. :)
Let's see...I've made it past Mickleburg (which I mentioned wanting to do early on in the thread when Smeagirl's hilarious post was linked), and I was delighted to find it was a dwarf city.
Some reactions in a very small nutshell:
Dwarves are back in the picture now and Men will show up soon. Feanor is being a huge jerk. Galadriel and Celeborn have appeared. Beren and Luthien's story is coming up, but not just yet. (I flipped ahead.) And we have dragons (well, fire-drakes)! I know Glaurung is Bad, but - dragons.
And the descriptions continue to amaze me. I love the Necklace of the Dwarves, but the index says it's doomed.
...these make more sense when I type them out as I'm reading.
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DanielLB
Immortal
Jul 31 2012, 1:16pm
Post #72 of 75
(487 views)
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Seeing what chapters are coming up, or finding out that the Necklace of the Dwarves becomes important later on, is no bad thing. It makes you want to read on, and finish the story.
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QuackingTroll
Valinor
Jul 31 2012, 1:28pm
Post #73 of 75
(494 views)
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I tend to read a few chapters at a time and leave it for a while, I'll read some different books until I feel the interest again and then pick up where I left off. If you're beginning to lose interest then you're not going to enjoy the book. 
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DesiringDragons
Lorien
Jul 31 2012, 1:30pm
Post #74 of 75
(493 views)
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Sorry if I gave the wrong impression!
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I'm not losing interest at all; I've just had trouble fitting in much reading time for a few days because of Life Stuff. :)
But thank you very much for the suggestion - if I do find my interest waning, I will take your advice.
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Elizabeth
Half-elven
Aug 1 2012, 7:42pm
Post #75 of 75
(537 views)
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That's why the genealogies are helpful!
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Keeping track of all the F-elves is tough. And then there are the Sons of Fëanor: C-sons are bad; M-sons less so, A-sons largely irrelevant.
Join us NOW in the Reading Room for detailed discussions of The Hobbit, July 9-Nov. 18!
Elizabeth is the TORnsib formerly known as 'erather'
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