Book Review: The Silmarillion

This year I'm keeping track of what I read. Whether I enjoy the book or not, I'll post a blurb and brief review. Most will be speculative fiction in some form—genres I gravitate toward in my own writing. Today, it's The Silmarillion by legendary fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien:

Three Silmarils were jewels created by Fëanor, most gifted of the Elves. Within them was imprisoned the Light of the Two Trees of Valinor before the Trees themselves were destroyed by Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. Thereafter, the unsullied Light of Valinor lived on only in the Silmarils, but they were seized by Morgoth and set in his crown, guarded in the impenetrable fortress of Angband in the north of Middle-earth. This is the ancient drama that took place long before The Lord of the Rings, events in which Elrond, Galadriel, and Sauron took part.

I've been meaning to read this one for a while now. I tried a couple decades ago, but I couldn't get through the first chapter. Expecting the engaging narrative style of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, I was obviously disappointed by Tolkien's history text—or Bible, if you will. Because that's what this is: the origin story of J.R.R. Tolkien's world. It's grim and dark at times, but the final chapter, tying everything from The Silmarillion to LOTR, was the best part. Reading about the characters I know and love (Gandalf, Elrond, Galadriel, and the halflings) was enough to bring a tear to my eye. After so much darkness, I appreciated this much-needed light at the end of the tunnel. 4.5 stars out of 5.