Helpful Score: 25
My husband was SO disappointed with this book. He was so disappointed that he actually had me post it here, and he's a total book hoarder! He said that it read like an outline and was completely lacking in the narrative prose that was so distinctive to Tolkien. While he was reading it, I suggested to him that we leave to go out to dinner and he said with great disdain, "Give me a few minutes. I want to see this character die. I've been anticipating it for so long." Definitely not a good sign. I gave it one star, just because he did manage to finish the book.
Helpful Score: 10
Really a lovely book, with not-at-all-cheesy, atmospheric b/w and color illustrations by Alan Lee. Worth mentioning, 'cause it's so rare to see a book with actual illustration these days it seems!
This, of course, is a story "put together" by J.R.R.'s son Christopher from Tolkien's copious unfinished writings. It's also featured in the Silmarillion, but this is a more complete version, including more details, and some revisions, about which Christopher Tolkien talks extensively.
As a novel, it's good, but not great ficton on the level of the Lord of the Rings. As Christopher notes, Tolkien's "other" tales tended to be written in a very distanced manner. They're supposed to be "ancient tales" and one gets that feeling from the story, as if a teller were relating a legend of long ago. It's similar to reading stories of the Mabinogion or the Eddas, or something from Arthurian lore.
The story itself lives up to that - it's high tragedy, and feels completely authentic. It really should be read by anyone who loves mythic fantasy. Still, it doesn't have the emotional immediacy - or the humor and charm - of Tolkien's better-known works.
My biggest gripe with this book is that CHristopher T. makes mention of the fact that Tolkien began writing two different forms of this story in verse, as well, and gives brief stanzas as examples. He says that they were unfinished - but also that they were epic-ly long. I really think that this volume should have included the poetic versions, perhaps as a long appendix.
This, of course, is a story "put together" by J.R.R.'s son Christopher from Tolkien's copious unfinished writings. It's also featured in the Silmarillion, but this is a more complete version, including more details, and some revisions, about which Christopher Tolkien talks extensively.
As a novel, it's good, but not great ficton on the level of the Lord of the Rings. As Christopher notes, Tolkien's "other" tales tended to be written in a very distanced manner. They're supposed to be "ancient tales" and one gets that feeling from the story, as if a teller were relating a legend of long ago. It's similar to reading stories of the Mabinogion or the Eddas, or something from Arthurian lore.
The story itself lives up to that - it's high tragedy, and feels completely authentic. It really should be read by anyone who loves mythic fantasy. Still, it doesn't have the emotional immediacy - or the humor and charm - of Tolkien's better-known works.
My biggest gripe with this book is that CHristopher T. makes mention of the fact that Tolkien began writing two different forms of this story in verse, as well, and gives brief stanzas as examples. He says that they were unfinished - but also that they were epic-ly long. I really think that this volume should have included the poetic versions, perhaps as a long appendix.
Helpful Score: 6
Not all that readable, alas. Much better than The Silmarillion, but there's still something about the prose here that clearly shows it was assembled from notes rather than written as a cohesive tale. I loved The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but nothing else by Tolkien has worked for me, including this one.
Helpful Score: 4
Ugh! This book is so DARK and depressing! After loving the LOTR books by Tolkien this was a complete let down. My husband read the book and disliked it also.
Helpful Score: 4
This book is a diffent turn in the typical tolkien writing. although it is good, when I didn't put into the same, exact grouping as Lord of the rings books
Helpful Score: 1
A stark and beautiful retelling of a set of tales told in shorter form in "The Silmarillion." Highly enjoyable for Tolkien fans, and possibly a good introduction to his work for any fan of mythology or heroic opera who hasn't read him (if there are any!), although probably not as likely to interest anyone who isn't otherwise a fan of either the writer or the genre.
If you like Tolkien's Silmarillion, then you will like the story. Much darker than the Lord of the Rings, and not quite as entertaining.
Nothing good whatsoever happens in this book, but even so it's beautiful in its tragedy.
Expectations are a funny thing. I didn't come into this book with high ones but came away pleasantly surprised. The Children of Hurin is not anywhere close to a perfect book. Indeed, people who like light, breezy books need not apply. The book is dark in tone throughout but, to me anyway, is much easier to read than the Simarillion. The narrative is pretty straightforward and the cast of characters is large although the story centers on Hurin and his family. They are the center of the story around which all the other characters orbit, although Tolkien has the habit of having some of the main characters have multiple names, which can be confusing at times. If you do get confused there is a list of names index that will prove helpful. The best thing I can say is Tolkien writes in such a way that I want to keep reading even though the main character is not likeable at all. If you have read and enjoyed Tolkien then you should enjoy this.
Amazing book! It's super tragic. I don't think I have ever read anything like it. It is very well written with great character development. A real piece of art. The story made me love the family and want only good things to happen, but nothing good happens. Really sad, but really worth the read.
Dense and difficult to read.
