Book #038: J.R.R. Tolkien - The Children of Hurin...*
Synopsis: "Tolkien fans are sure to treasure this tale of Middle-earth's First
Age, which appeared in incomplete forms in the posthumously published The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales.
Those earlier books, also edited by Tolkien's son, Christopher, only
hinted at the depth and power of the tragic story of Túrin and Niënor,
the children of Húrin, the lord of Dor-lómin, who achieved renown for
having confronted Morgoth, who was the master of Sauron, the
manifestation of evil in the Lord of the Rings. The lengthy and
fatiguing battle against Morgoth forms the backdrop for the moving
account of the life of Húrin's eldest son, Túrin, a valiant but proud
warrior whose all too human frailties augur an unhappy end. Perhaps
Tolkien's most three-dimensional figure, Túrin flees from the elven
kingdom where he has grown into manhood, sheltered from the forces of
evil, after he's unjustly judged responsible for another's death. He
hides his true identity as he begins a new life as leader of a band of
outlaws, a choice that has dire consequences when he crosses paths with
a family member after many years of separation. Deftly balancing
thrilling battles with moments of introspection, Tolkien's vivid and
gripping narrative reaffirms his primacy in fantasy literature." (from Publishers Weekly)
Impressions: Wow! I had no idea going in what Tolkien's latest book was going to be about. I am very surprised by what I just finished reading. I never imagined that I would read something tragic by Tolkien.
It seemed at times like a overly-melodramatic Romeo & Juliet story set in an archaic era. Turin was far too brash and hot-headed. His sister was the very example of a "damsel in distress." I thought that his mother had the most depth as a character. And what of Hurin? After his imprisonment we never learn of his fate, save his ultimate end. Most likely that is a by-product of throwing together much of Tolkien's unfinished work.
Perhaps the... tale(?) didn't quite live up to LOTR (of course) but as a story to tell to children at bed time, or as a stand-alone novel, it had all the works of a classical fantasy book.I shouldn't criticize too much. After all the fact that Tolkien's children are even allowing this work to be exposed after their father's death is... um, well, I don't know... Good for readers but... what it does to his works... maybe it doesn't really harm them at all. In fact I don't think it really does. It simply adds more and more levels to the story. In my mind it is like this big jenga puzzle built upon itself and there are pieces in the story missing everywhere on each shelf below. Only if we could possess Tolkien's own mind when he told these stories to his children in their youth could we have seen the whole puzzle as it were..
The Children of Hurin was much easier reading than Silmarillion! I could hardly read Silmarillion and I feared that this book would be the same.
Despite that, the next book is Harry Potter! Can you tell that I'm excited? Well I am. I'm excited. (*Good God! *cringes at the nearly-800 page, 4-ton brick*) Very excited. Truly.
Rating: 4 of 5 stars.
Impressions: Wow! I had no idea going in what Tolkien's latest book was going to be about. I am very surprised by what I just finished reading. I never imagined that I would read something tragic by Tolkien.
Perhaps the... tale(?) didn't quite live up to LOTR (of course) but as a story to tell to children at bed time, or as a stand-alone novel, it had all the works of a classical fantasy book.I shouldn't criticize too much. After all the fact that Tolkien's children are even allowing this work to be exposed after their father's death is... um, well, I don't know... Good for readers but... what it does to his works... maybe it doesn't really harm them at all. In fact I don't think it really does. It simply adds more and more levels to the story. In my mind it is like this big jenga puzzle built upon itself and there are pieces in the story missing everywhere on each shelf below. Only if we could possess Tolkien's own mind when he told these stories to his children in their youth could we have seen the whole puzzle as it were..
The Children of Hurin was much easier reading than Silmarillion! I could hardly read Silmarillion and I feared that this book would be the same.
Despite that, the next book is Harry Potter! Can you tell that I'm excited? Well I am. I'm excited. (*Good God! *cringes at the nearly-800 page, 4-ton brick*) Very excited. Truly.
Rating: 4 of 5 stars.
