"The Children of Húrin" by J.R.R. Tolkien

[SuperJay]

I just finished this book last night, aside from the appendices, and wow... it's really pretty great. Extremely sad, but I knew that going in, since I'm familiar with the stories in The Silmarillion.

Just thought it was incredible to delve into this era that's ancient history by the Third Age (the current day in the LOTR trilogy) with such immediacy, and see some of these characters firsthand, rather than recounted in old stories passed down among the Eldar and the Edain.

For some context that might help those who've only seen the movies: the Húrin referenced in the title of this book is the brother to Elrond of Rivendell's great-grandfather. Elrond himself is over 6,000 years old by the time he meets with Frodo, Gandalf, Boromir, and others at council in The Fellowship of the Ring.

So yeah, "old school" indeed. :)

Anyone else read this yet? I'm interested to hear others' thoughts, as I've barely gotten my head around some of this yet.

[hitemhigh]

i almost picked this up, since i didnt want to read it quite yet. but if its really that good i might go ahead and get it this week.

[Eleazar]

I have 4 to 6 other Tolkien books to get through before I even think about reading this one, but I'll get to it eventually.

[SuperJay]

Just out of curiousity, which ones Eleazar?

If The Silmarillion is one of them, I might recommend reading this one first, but obviously that's a personal choice.

[Zeppelin Aloft]

Just out of curiousity, which ones Eleazar?

If The Silmarillion is one of them, I might recommend reading this one first, but obviously that's a personal choice.

Is the Silmarillion difficult to read, because I have been thinking about reading it, but my dad says i would get bored and frustrated with it because its really confusing. I read The Children of Hurin and really enjoyed it, so I was just wondering.

[Maawdawg]

since I'm familiar with the stories in The Silmarillion.

I picked that up this past weekend at a bargain book sale for 25 cents, along with Michael Drosnin's Bible Code, a couple Grisham novels, and a couple more Clancy books. A very good haul for $2. :D

[Shaynard]

Is the Silmarillion difficult to read, because I have been thinking about reading it, but my dad says i would get bored and frustrated with it because its really confusing. I read The Children of Hurin and really enjoyed it, so I was just wondering.

Its awkward.. Not difficult.. Sort of like reading a book alike to the Bible... May seem scattered at first but by the end all the pieces fit.

[Eleazar]

Just out of curiousity, which ones Eleazar?

If The Silmarillion is one of them, I might recommend reading this one first, but obviously that's a personal choice.

No, I read the Silmarillion a long time ago. I'm talking about "The History of Middle-Earth" series of books.