Book Review: Silmarillion

The Silmarillion

By John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

By Miguel

Probably the best book I have ever read!  5 out of 5 stars.  BUT READ THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE HOBBIT, THE CHILDREN OF HURIN, AND SOME OTHER BOOKS THAT  TOLKIEN HAS WRITTEN OR ELSE YOU WILL REGRET IT!!!  Literally called the story of the creation of middle earth, The Silmarillion is the story of the creation of middle earth and its realms.  It doesn’t really have a main character, but if there had to be a main character, it would probably have to go to Iluvatar, the creator of Arda and of the Elves (he later creates Men and Middle earth).  The first part of the book is about the creation and sort of setting the first group of characters.  Iluvatar has children, who are immortal (unless they are gravely wounded).  One of the children of Iluvatar is called Melkor.  Well, so in Iluvatars kingdom, Iluvatar has a really nice song that everyone likes-except for Melkor.  Melkor departs Iluvatars Kingdom, and renames himself Morgoth.  That goes on to the second part of the book, Valaquenta.  

    So now it goes into the third part of the book, Quenta Silmarillion.  Iluvatars sons and daughter have sons and daughters, and now the story goes to Feanor, Fingolfin, and all of the princes of the Noldor (the Noldor were powerful Elves).  Feanor has seven sons.  Feanor makes three jewels called the Silmarils, and right after he makes them, he and his sons swear an oath that changes the story of Arda.  He swears that whoever dare TOUCH or STEAL ANY of the three Silmarils, they will get punished.  But right after that Morgoth steals the three jewels (remember that oath!).  But who ends up with the Jewels?

    The next part of the book, called Akallabeth (which means SPOILER ALERT!!!   [covered up for spoiler alert reasons] in Adunaic, the tongue of the west), describes how the the title of this part comes to be plotted.  

    Now, in the final part of the book, those of you that have read the first book of the Lord of the Rings will recognize these characters (Elendil, Isildur, Sauron, Frodo, Mithrandir, and  Elrond are examples).  It is called Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age.  

Well, I hope you read The Silmarilion.  By the way, it was edited by Christopher Tolkien, J. R. R. Tolkiens son.