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A Tolkien Virgin: Of the coming of Men into the West by Mark-Edmond The Journey ContinuesDestruction, Destruction, Destruction. I'm worn out after reading this chapter. Tolkien has made no secret about the evil to befall the Noldor and Beleriand, and I know it gets worse, but his account of the Fall of Beleriand is absolutely devastating. So many Elves and Men die it's not comprehensible. Morgoth's forces detroy entire regions before they are (temporarily) stopped. I was most taken by the account of the fall of Fingolfin. I couldn't believe when he went as far as the very gates of...

A Tolkien Virgin: Of the Flight of the Noldorby Mark-Edmond The Journey ContinuesHere we go. Tolkien really does a brilliant job in this chapter. Evil knows not its own face. It's incredible the turns the story takes at this point. That Feanor would be so utterly blind to his own folly and evil deeds because of his hate for Melkor is immensely affecting. In my heart I'm pleading, "don't do it Feanor, don't do it! Can't you see you're becoming the thing you hate most!" At first, Feanor broke my heart, but as his deeds became progressively more evil, I...