Why is it so difficult?

[Galadriel]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by rriebsomer

Hi. I'm new here.

Welcome to the Downs

It's very dark and tragic. It's a complex legendarium beginning with a creation story and a fall out of paradise. There is not as much dialogue.

I do mourn the lack of dialogue, but then again, the book would cover five thousand pages or more if Tolkien had entertained that idea.

Tolkien started writing this while in the trenches at the Battle of the Somme in WW I. I'm not sure that it's as mature a creation as the Lord of the Rings.

It is younger, yes, but I find it infinitely more mature than LotR either way, aside from a few paragraphs/chapters.

For me the most interesting story is Beren and Luthien.

Really? I hated that one

I think many readers find it pessimistic and would prefer the eucatastrophe of the Lord of the Rings, the happily ever after ending.

I really do not think that LotR had a 'happily ever after' ending, and am duly grateful for that. It left a bittersweet aftertaste that I could digest more easily than a sickly sweet one.