The Histories of Middle Earth, Volumes 1-5 by J.R.R. Tolkien
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Book Reviews of The Histories of Middle Earth, Volumes 1-5
Book Review: Lord of the Rings
Summary: 5 Stars
The merchindise for the Lord of the Rings is SWEETBook Review: The Lay of the Histories
Summary: 4 Stars
Now before I sing the praise of this series
A warning must be given,
You may find yourself hopelessly weary
If this is your first look at J.R.R. Tolkien.
These books were compiled by that great master's son
As a glimpse into his father's deep mind.
These tales never could claim being 'done',
And thus are a motley combine.
Yet for all of you who have read that master's works
And wish that more about Middle-Earth could be,
Behold! Here it is, down to the origin of Orcs
And the singing of the Ainu in sweet melody.
The great elves in battle against Morgoth and Sauron;
Men of the West in their earliest days.
Battles with dragons--like the mighty Glaurung.
A multitude of tales told in multiple ways
Many of these tales are in a more coherent book--
The Silmarillion is its name.
Yet though it is beautiful; more fluid to look,
It does not delve as deep, page upon page.
There is the Lay of Leithian
In its poetic might,
Unlike the version in the Silmarillion,
Which does not pierce the heart with a sword so bright.
And so you come to ask me,
'Why four stars, not five?'
I must give you my answer,
And be honest--not lie.
The Histories of Middle-Earth, I must confess--
As enjoyable as they may be--
It is, for the most part, an utter mess
That often confused and baffled me.
Tales told by the old, the young, and aged scribes
Each varying by telling;
Difficult on the mind,
Sending my head spinning, like the tide swelling,
Like the Earth rending, in fire and ice.
And yet still an entertaining
Legend-revealing device.
Post Poem Script:
Forgive my poor meter--
It's so very drear.
You can watch it peter
Out there and out here.
I am no Longfellow,
Nor Edgar A. Poe
Yet rhyme is like bellows
That makes the fires go.
Once I have started
I can't even think to quit.
I feel lighthearted,
Though my poems be poorly writ.
Ryan Robledo
Author of the Aelnathan:
Book Review: Not for the casual fan, a tall glass of limpe for devotees
Summary: 4 Stars
I first feel the need to level a good-natured attack at the reviewer who claimed that Christopher Tolkien spent uncounted exhausted hours reviewing and annotating his father's mountains of notes and manuscripts to "line his pockets." The very notion is ludicrous. The publication of the Histories was a labor of love, nothing more, and I for one appreciate it immensely."The Histories of Middle-Earth" is an invaluable collection for anyone who would know the process behind the creation of a literary world as vast as Tolkien's. For someone who has read "The Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit," and "The Silmarillion" (I recommend also reading "The Unfinished Tales" first) and is interested in knowing more about the origins of Middle-Earth and Valinor, these volumes are fascinating. For someone who simply loves the story of LOTR and sees the greater history of Middle Earth as nothing more than a setting, these books probably aren't for you. Hence the four stars rather than five.
Book Review: Histories of Middle Earth
Summary: 4 Stars
These books provide insight into the development of the "legendarium" of Middle-earth - from the basic cosmology of Tolkien's invented universe to the plot development threads of the back story to Lord of the Rings, which include the Silmarillion and the Akallabeth (Downfall of Numenor). There are also tales attempting to link Middle-earth to European history, which illustrate Tolkien's desire to create "a mythology for England". Readers with an intense interest in Tolkien's works should find the material worthwhile. Those not so interested may be bored with the continual re-working and re-presentation of the stories as they (often practically imperceptively) evolved.Book Review: Not for the casual reader
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is definitely not for a casual reader. It was a compilation of random notes and documents that Tolkien left scattered at his death. Even so, Christopher Tolkien did a fine job of trying to organize this and I got a real in-depth view of how the Lord of the Rings COULD have turned out.