h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'd been meaning to read The Silmarillion for years, being a major Lord of the Rings enthusiast. My brother had a copy and I'd glanced through it a few times and each time I though nah, later maybe. I thought the archaic style of it looked turgid and uninviting so doubted that I'd have the self-discipline to finish it. I finally borrowed it and took the plunge a few months ago (even though it had a dead earwig embossed on its back cover). To start with it was heavy going but somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 way through I started enjoying it without even noticing I had. After finishing it, I bought my own copy and started again because I enjoyed it so much. Now I'm reading Lost Tales (edited by JRR's son Christopher) and the language is even more archaic but I've become accustomed to it. Give Silmarillion a bash. The stories are good and the language gets more comfortable the more you read.

Shorn

Thanks for the encouragement Shorn. You're making me want to fetch the book from under the bed where it's been sitting since I last tried to read it. I do find the somewhat stiff and overformal writing style difficult - although given that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading many ancient legends and heroic tales it annoys me that I can't make it through Tolkein's attempt at constructing this type of lierature. Next time I will perservere. Promise.