Why is it so difficult?

[Puddleglum]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

So true! You can't understand The Sil if you don't love the world of LOTR (not only ME, I mean the whole world).

Absolutely. And I think appreciation of Sil is also impacted by the ways in which LOTR touched you.

To use my experience as an example of what I mean... I fell in love with not just the story, but with the rich depth behind and surrounding that story. Tolkien was constantly throwing in tidbits that hinted at a full history and life underlying, surrounding, upholding, and informing the world we were experiencing with Bilbo, Frodo and his friends. For example:

• Elrond tells Bilbo & co. that the sword Gandalf took from the trolls had been owned by the King of Gondolin.
• Gimli, in his chant about Kazad-dum refers to "Elder days before the fall of mighty kings in Nargothrond and Gondolin that now beyond the western seas have passed away".
• Faramir recounts Gandalf talking about "my youth in the west that is forgotten".
• Aragorn sings about Beren and Luthien.
• Bilbo sings about Earendel (knowing he is Elrond's father).

The Appendicies were rich fare for one eager and yearning to learn more and dig deeper into that history - but far too short for my taste.

Publication of Silmarillion was, for me, like opening the BonAdventure penthouse restaurant to one previously limited to snacking on hour-dourves in the lobby. Now I could actually *VISIT* that old world, rather than just hear about it.