Considering how much I love elves...I feel a bit foolish admitting I've never [completely] read the Silmarillion. I started it several years ago and LOVED it - the first part about the creation was just gorgeous...but then I moved back to the states and lost the book in the process. Looks like I need to hunt down a copy! Thanks for reminding me!
I love Silmarillion. It's a beautiful, heartbreaking story. The only piece I didn't like at first was the
Tale of Turin Turambar, but even that grew on me - especially after I read
The Kalevala, which was the source-myth for that particular story.
I now own a beautiful copy of the Silmarillion, purchased after a possible mental breakdown (it cost $35, but it's so worth it.) It has pictures done by Ted Nasmith, probably my favorite Tolkien illustrator... anyway, go buy the six-dollar paperback and read, it's worth the time and effort!
The SilmarillionI can't get this to link, for some reason...here's the link...
http://www.half.com/search/search.jsp?ad=null&product=books&search_by=keyword&query=Silmarillion&x=9&y=11