HELP!

[Lyta_Underhill]

I suppose the time and your mindset just have to be right. I tried to read the Silmarillion FIRST, before LOTR, and that was a mistake! I would suggest reading the LOTR just before it (for it does make lots of references to the histories covered in the Silmarillion, but in passing or merely by suggestion. That would help tie in the "past" to the "present" of the Third Age in LOTR. Also read the timelines and appendices of LOTR to get an idea of the time and historical relationship of the Silm. events to those in LOTR.

Another suggestion: I found that I learned more Elvish through the roots of the Elvish person and place names, etc. of the Silmarillion than I did reading some dry Quenya lessons. Savor the names and the places and look up their meanings in the appendix of the Silm...that was something I did that made it even more interesting for me, because the stems of the words repeat and add to the verisimilitude of the story as a whole. The Ainulindalë can be hard to get through, but think of it as a long song with a theme that is begun there and played out through the entire saga. That's all I can suggest, but I think each person has to approach the commitment to reading a book in his or her own most comfortable way, so it might not work for others.

I hope this helps, and I wish those of you tackling the Silmarillion for the first time many happy hours of immersion in the heart and soul of Arda!

Cheers,
Lyta