[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Ibrîniðilpathânezel

I presume his reference to the Jews is equating the Meneltarma with the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, and in their monotheism, not in their specific beliefs or practices.

Actually, do you know what the Meneltarma always makes me think of? The Kaaba at Mecca! And oddly, that itself is a pillar, maybe not in shape, but it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Interesting...

The Valar had no real answer to this monstrous rebellion -- for the Children of God were not under their ultimate jurisdiction: they were not allowed to destroy them, or coerce them with any 'divine' display of the powers they held over the physical world. They appealed to God, and a catastrophic 'change of plan' occurred.

My take on this is that Eru had plans, some known to the Ainur and some unknown:

Originally Posted by Sil

And many other things Iluvatar spoke to the Ainur at that time, and because of their memory of his words, and the knowledge that each has of the music that he himself made, the Ainur know much of what was, and is, and is to come, and few things are unseen by them. Yet some things there are that they cannot see, neither alone nor taking counsel together; for to none but himself has Iluvatar revealed all that he has in store, and in every age there come forth things that are new and have no foretelling, for they do not proceed from the past

And so my take is Eru changed the plan completely when he changed the world. The interesting bit is what 'the plan' was in the first place and whether it was one the Valar were party to. I strongly suspect not in this case!

If I were the editor, I would have perhaps cut out 100 or so pages (or as the Emperor said to Mozart, 'There are too many notes"). I was also bewildered that Strange brought himself to the brink of madness to save his wife, but then blithely traipsed off with that crashing boor Norrell rather than spend time with Arabella (the only settling influence he had). It was a very odd novel: so much to commend, but just as much to condemn.

I agree - a hundred or so pages less and it would have been better, though I think maybe she was trying to ape the style of the picaresque, and novels of that period did tend to wander a little (like Tristram Shandy - longest shaggy dog story ever!). I would say it's not a style necessarily to modern tastes, too, but it still sold reasonably well - maybe we like to think we are getting good value from a book?

In contrast to you, I found the latter part of the book whizzed by!

Sorry, everyone BTW for turning this into Book review corner, I was curious what Morthoron thought of it, seeing as everyone else gushes about it