[Bear_in_RoseBear]

didn't Herman Melville write a story earlier this century (or was it last century?) about a man's mad quest for a white whale and how that quest was his ruin?

This century, last century, what's a hundred years matter more or less?

Help me out, all you Silmarillion lovers, what is it about the Silmarillion that draws you to it?

Sometimes grand tragedy can make our own problems seem tiny in comparison.

The next Tolkien Virgin article continues with The Silmarillion: Of Turin Turambar

Oh, boy, if he didn't like the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, the story of Turin Turambar is just gonna sink him.

[HairOfTheDog]

Heh. Well, he was told not to read Silmarrillion first.

As for what makes people want to read it.... It is for people with established love for the world of Tolkien, who have a longing for more.

It is not the kind of story one puts on the table on the first date. Rather, the stuff that falls into the "for better or for worse" category, once commitment is already promised.

[delapaz]

yep Turin was a sad case, and the fall of Gondolin is even worse.