Finished reading tLOTR....now what?
 

Hi, everyone. I just finished reading ROTK today, and I want to read more of Tolkien's works, but I'm not sure where(if there's a better place over another) to begin. Any help will be greatly appreciated. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

I hope this is in the right forum. I debated whether or not to post this in the Book forum, but finally decided to post it here. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I would suggest tackling The Silmarillion next, Peregrin. It will give you alot of the history and background referred to in LOTR. After that, Unfinished Tales or the Histories of Middle-Earth. For some 'lighter' reads, try Tolkien's shorter works, such as Leaf by Niggle, Farmer Giles of Ham, or Smith of Wooton Major. Have fun! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
Peace

I would have said the Silmarillion also, as that is what everyone else generally recommends. But everyone also says that it is the hardest book. Personally I prefer Unfinished Tales. It has some great information in there, especially on Galadriel and Celeborn.

I would echo the above, try to read The Silmarillion. Not only does it give a wonderful description of the creation of Eä, you also get the background to the history of the races of M.E.
If you like the Elves, then you will become immersed in their past deeds (and understand the characters of Galadriel,Elrond and co. much better)
I also like the "family trees" which help keep clear the relationships between the various Elven kindred.
I'm a big fan of the Silm...can you tell?

I also recommed Silmarillion, but (and this is just me) I read LotR a few (6) times before starting on Silm. Some of Tolkien's lighter works (Farmer Giles, Adventures of Tom Bombadil) are also good to get into after LotR. Unfinished Tales, which I haven't read much of yet, would be a good post-Silm choice.

PS-- Welcome to the Downs, Peregrin! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

I recently came across a book which works as a companion to the trilogy and could help you get through the Silmarillion which is a difficult read. Guide to Tolkien's World a bestiary David Day Thunder Bay Press www.advantagebooksonline.com
San Diego CA [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

you know what?! you should read the book smith of wooton major/farmer giles of ham and sir gwain and the green night/pearl/sir ofreo... it's really nice [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] although it's not based on middle earth [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/mad.gif[/img] but it's fairly great [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

also the silmarillion.... i guess everyone already told you that.... but if you are not in the mood of reading the books... just read the fanfics [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Again, the Silmarillion is good, but the language is a bit dodgy unless you speak fluent Elizabethan (ie it's good but there are loads of Thee and thous

Also you may want to check out The Lost Tales, there okay. A really great non-Tolkien book is Artemis Fowl, it is about fairies and and evil master mind. It is really neat! And I also recommend The Unfinished Tales and the Silmarllion, but it is a little hard with all the names.
~*Elle*~ [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

What about the Hobbit? If you haven't read the Hobbit I reccomend it! It's brilliant.

Yes, I forgot; the Hobbit is great too, even if you've read it already. Also, if you want there are numerous fanfics out there that are actually worth reading. Check out mine (pen name SapphireMeriadocTook) and Helka's (pen name Helkahothion) at Fanfiction.net. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

And, of course, fanfiction is always good. I write on fanfiction.net (pen name Daisy Brambleburr). There is quite a lot of rubbish floating around, but if you are willing to sift through them you can find lots of gems here and there. It's a question of finding what you like and finding authors that you think are good. I love fanfiction, it fuels my Tolkien obsession suitably!

Read the Hobbit and the Sil, and if you're still looking for stuff to do after that, I suggest writing obscene fan-mail to Viggo Mortensen as a worthy way of spending your time.

Hardy har har.

The part about Beren and Lúthien in the Lost Tales is particularly worthy of your time, especially if you like the way Tolkien writes about love.

You should read the hobbit before you read the silmirillion ( if you haven't read the Hobbit yet). After the silmirillion it is best to read the unfinished tales then the history of middle earth which includes the lost tales part one and two, the lays of beleriand, the shaping of middle earth, and the lost road and other writings.

In my opinion, read the hobbit if you haven't already. Otherwise, after you read all the other complex ME books, you'll wonder how he could do a children's tale. ~_^

After that, I know that the only book I could find was the Sil. I suggest reading it anyway, because it's about the *very* beginning, the way everything was made.

And then after that, you'll have to ask someone else. Prolly start HoME.

Very best.

This is how I did it and it worked very well for me: Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, The Silmarillion, then either the Lost Tales or Unfinished Tales. I tried to read the Lost Tales before the Silm and came to the realization very quickly that it was in my best interest to understand the silm first because the lost tales just explore topics and stories mentioned in the silm. So happy reading; I am sure you will enjoy it no matter which you read next. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I would highly recommend reading the Silmarillion first, then the Unfinished Tales, and then the History of Middle-earth series. That way, you will gain a better understanding of Middle-earth's history as you go along.

I finished RotK a while ago but just finished the appendices. So I started Silm I am trying to read the preface it is like some 15 page letter J.R.R. wrote to some dude

I know, most of the letters are quite boring. But once you get to the actual Silmarillin, you'll start enjoying it even more, I can assure you.

one of the books has a list of other books about LOTR in the front and in the back

I suggest that you read all the books starting with The Silmarillion and go on by the line of time of the Middle- Earth. have fun!! [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

Well, I made the LARGE mistake of reading Unfinished Tales before The Silmarillion. Do not do that... I love The Silm., and although everyone else had already recommended it, I will, too. But there are a few other books that I am surprised have not been mentioned yet. Among these are Roverandom, which is an excellent story originally written for Tolkien's son, Letters of JRRT, for those who wish to delve deeper into the Professor's mind, and any of the numerous biologies if you are interested in his life. That, along with everything everyone else has said, should do quite well for a start! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I asked the same question when I finished the hobbit to the ROTK and for a while I did nothing about it but re-read them countless times, and each time I read them I got more info and it made more sense. So first I suggest re-reading. Next I read the UT but it didn't make any sense to me. I bought the Silm. and read, didn't make sense, so I re-read it till It did. I've also read the letters of Tolkien and that was very useful, now I'm trying the UT again. Also, I'd like to get my hands on some the Chris's other books "The histories of Middle-Earth" or whatever.

hey, like everyone i would recommend the Silmarillion but as i was very young when i first read LOTR i read a few of his works such as Farmer Giles of Ham, Leaf by Niggle. I admit tho that the Unfinished Tales is fantastic if u r not ready for the Silmarillion yet.

Don't forget the appendices!!!! LOts of good information relating especially the the books!!!