Books!!! Where are they??!!!
 

Hiya. My first message here. My dilemma is this: I've read the Ring Trio, Silm, and that is all. What percent of ME fun am I missing, that with me not getting hold of Unfinished Tales, and the rest of the 12? And what sites offer the sale of these other books?

I got Unfinished Tales, and Lost tales I & II from amazon.com. UT will fill in the "gaps" so to speak from The Silmarillion and LotR. Hope this helps! And...welcome to the Downs! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Our site (www.barrowdowns.com) has a book store (www.barrowdowns.com/store-front.asp). If you don't find the book you want listed, use the SEARCH feature.

Did you read 'The Hobbit'? I didn't see that book listed among the books you've read. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

If not go out and get it!!

The Hobbit and Unfinished Tales would be the next 2 to get. Then begin the Histories of Middle Earth.

Oh yes, The Hobbit of course! How could I've missed that? i appreciate the help... now for the other question... How much am I missing out on Middle Earth now that I (still) don't have the Unfinished Tales?
And is this normal for a newbie? I mean, if I'm not re-reading the books, I engage in geek speak with not-so-interested friends of mine, then the rest of my waking hours is spent well ' dreaming ' of Middle Earth... I suppose this is THE road to enlightenment? [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

If you enjoyed the Silmarillion, then Unfinished Tales is a "must-read", in my opinion. The version of the tale of Turin resented in UT is superior to that given in the Silmarillion, and you'll also get lots of info on the Second and Third Ages that appears nowhere else. Really, the book's only drawback is that most of the tales and essays are (as you would expect from the title) unfinished - would that Tolkien had had the longevity of one of his Elves, so that he could have finished more of his material!

Actually, as a newbie, I would say that you are at a very good start. I did not read The Sim. till quite a while after the LotR. I would say, to get a real view of Tolkien, you should pick up the Biography by Humphrey Carpenter too.

One of the best books to read for an insight into the inner workings of Tolkien's mind is The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Humphrey Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien.

Well, since you read LOTR and the Sil, you've got a lot of it. UT and most of the other ones get into every single detail ( well, I guess there still are a few unclearities) But for me, I like to learn everything that I can!

Though it's not Middle-Earth, I also find "On Fairy-Stories" very helpful. For me, it's nice to have some idea of the theory underlying this stuff.

--Belin Ibaimendi... thinking she really ought to get started on HoME....

I agree. I`ve just recently read Tolkien`s famous essay "On Fairy-Stories" and found it quite an eye-opener. (It`s in "Tree and Leaf",Harper Collins, London)

Thanks for all the advice given above, I can also use it, since I`ve only read the Hobbit, LotR and am just now nearly through the Silmarillion.

Suilad, Guinevere