toledo_jesus Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 [quote name='kenrockthefirst' post='1298903' date='Jun 20 2007, 11:19 AM']OK, I finished this yesterday. Not sure how I feel. It was readable, but unremittingly negative. I understand that the story is a tragedy, and that [b]Turin was cursed. But he was also a jerk.[/b] I'm disappointed in the fact that Turin didn't really have any redeeming qualities. I found it hard to care about him, to connect with him, and because of that I ultimately found the story a let-down.[/quote] perhaps a moral? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenrockthefirst Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 [quote name='toledo_jesus' post='1299050' date='Jun 20 2007, 03:45 PM']perhaps a moral?[/quote] What, that being cursed gives you an excuse to be a jerk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kafka Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 yeah I doubt it. I sat down to read this at a bookstore yesterday and I just couldnt get into it. I sure its good, but I guess I'm not a diehard Tolkein fan. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldbug16 Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Aha! I finally read it and loved it. : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kafka Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 does it take a while to get into? Maybe I should give it a second chance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenrockthefirst Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 [quote name='kafka' post='1299549' date='Jun 21 2007, 02:38 PM']does it take a while to get into? Maybe I should give it a second chance[/quote] I found myself picking up the book when I had a chance -- it's definitely readable, although stylistically old-fashioned (deliberately so, I'm sure), almost ponderous. My only gripe is that Tolkien should have given us something to hold on to vis-a-vis some redeeming quality in the main character, Turin. My two cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kafka Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 the release of this book has resparked my interest in Tolkein. Yesterday I learned two interesting things: He wrote an epic poem about Beren and Luthien. Its called "The Lay of Leithian." It is made up 4200 verses split into cantos. Tolkein never finished it. I read some lines and its absolutely GORGEOUS! Here is the link to wikipedia [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lay_of_Leithian"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lay_of_Leithian[/url] Also Here is what is engraved on Tolkein and his wife's grave: EDITH MARY TOLKIEN LUTHIEN 1889 – 1971 JOHN RONALD REUEL TOLKIEN BEREN 1892 – 1973 Talk about Romantic. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 I enjoyed it. It was tragic, but beautiful. I think Tolkien was drawing heavily on the Hamlet myth when he wrote the story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosieranna Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 I finally finished it two days ago. I called Turin many names that I can't repeat here. Nienor is the only one I have any sympathy for. Turin was pretty useless and endlessly arrogant. Sorry, but that's how I feel after enduring the story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tindomiel Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 (edited) Turin did have plenty of redeeming qualities at the beginning. The whole plot of the story revolved around his unwillingness to try to conquer his faults and his resulting destruction of himself and those around.... that's how the curse was fulfilled: through Turin's own free choices rather then through any inexorable events. Even if Morgoth would have killed him anyway, the tragedy of the curse wouldn't have been so complete if, for example, Turin had died but died as a hero. I found the book very interesting precisely because Turin's pride and antagonism fulfilled the curse. The book had the tone of a Norse epic, but does not share such an epic's fatalistic view of life. Edited August 8, 2007 by Tindomiel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now