Okay, so I got a Barnes and Noble gift card for Christmas, and I am wanting to buy a LOTR book. The problem is.... I can't decide on what to get. They all look so good! I have the Hobbit, the trilogy, and just bought the Tolkien reader. I'm kind of going back and forth between either getting the Silmarillion or The Book of Lost Tales part 1. Which one do you guys think I should get, or do you think I should go with another book altogether?

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if I were you, I'd get the Silmarillion. I liked it (and consequently read it) more than the Book of Lost Tales. But that's just my opinion.

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Married Edmund Pevensie January 5th, 2008

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I'd go with the Sil. It can be a hard read, but it's definately worth it. The copy I got had all kinds of goodies in the back: family trees, elvish dictionaries, etc...

Is the Book of Lost Tales the same as Lost Tales of Numenor and Middle-earth? I got the latter for Christmas a year ago and it's also a great read.

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and I'm still a dreamer, a believer
I've lost my faith in so many things but I still believe in You

@Gilthoniel-Most people I've talked to have said the same thing. I think I am going to go with the Silmarillion.

@Esteleth-I don't think they are the same. I can't tell you what the difference is, but I think there is one. If I'm wrong someone please feel free to correct me.

Thanks soo much for the input, you two. Me standing with an undecided mind in a Barnes and Noble is not a good thing! I can stay there forever. Especially when I'm around Tolkien's works.

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I would go with the Silmarillion.

You could see what the Tolkien Society have to say :
http://www.tolkiensociety.org/faq01.html#order

(Book of Lost Tales part 1 is Volume 1 of the History of Middle-earth (HoME) )

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All by Bellatrix
Married Nymphadora Tonks 29/6/13

@Hravan-Thank you for that bit of information. I'll have to remember that.

I got home yesterday with my new copy of the Silmarillion in hand. Hopefully I'll have time to start reading it today! I'm so excited. Thank you all for your input. Even with your input I still stood around the fantasy section for some time. I almost bought a book of maps of Middle Earth.... that was more then what I had on my gift card. Anyway, off to start my new book.

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Good choice, Lor En Estel--The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings are the three 'core' writings about Middle-earth. If you haven't read at least The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings, none of Tolkien's other writings make very much sense, since most of them are more along the lines of Christopher Tolkien analysing what his father wrote.

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I love the book of lost tales personally, but I would recommend the Silmarillion. Itll be easier. However, I would recommend TBoLT any day. Its awesome, just is better if youhave a knowledge of the Silmarillion.

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"This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great. Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it? Or, if they are wise, why should they expect to know it, until the hour has struck? "

Yeah, that's what I mean, Mephiston--it's not that the others aren't great, but they are a little confusing if you haven't read The Silmarillion to get the basic idea down.

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Indeed. TBoLT pretty much relies on reading the Sil to understand some of the narrative, although I will maintain that some of it is actually able to be free-standing.

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"This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great. Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it? Or, if they are wise, why should they expect to know it, until the hour has struck? "

Yeah, I'm starting to get that general feeling. There is a lot of history in the Sil.

I've actually tried to read the Sil. once before, but I had borrowed the book from someone. I ended up giving it back because I have a slow reading style and didn't want to keep their book forever. Now that I have my own copy I hope I can get through it.

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