I thought of the Silmarillion as a collection of ideas rather than complete stories per se. It’s the kind of stuff I write when I’m doing the backstory. Doesn’t mean it isn’t brilliant or worth the read, but I am sure it contributes to its lack of popular appeal. The vocabulary is also troublesome, yes, and it’s a lot of “tell, not show,” which is exactly the opposite of what modern experts tell you to do when writing a novel. All the description also slows the story down immensely. I still think any true fan of literature should read it, however! It’s probably one of the best examples of world building in existence.
WHY IS THE SILMARILLION SO CHALLENGING TO READ?
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