The Children of Hurin
by J.R.R. Tolkien
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Book Reviews of The Children of Hurin
Book Review: A let down
Summary: 3 Stars
I understand that this was an old story found by Tolkien's son & made ready for publication, what I can't understand is why bother? There are more pages explaining the vocabulary than the story itself, which is ok but quite depressing as fantasy goes. I admit I was intrigued when I heard of a new Tolkien novel but this is quite a let down.Book Review: Review of the Children of Hurin
Summary: 5 Stars
The coming holiday season, especially Yule, is a very appropriate time to enjoy The Children of Hurin, by J.R.R. Tolkien---the first complete book by Tolkien since The Silmarillion in 1977.
Tolkien had started the story before 1920 and made several revisions after, but did not finish it before his death in 1973. His son Christopher edited the manuscripts and was able to complete the tale.
The time of the story is from the First Age of Middle-Earth---before that of Frodo, Bilbo, Gandalf, The Hobbit and the The Lord of the Rings. Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, is trying to conquer Middle Earth, but is being resisted by the Elves and, eventually, Men. Hurin is the first Man to defy Morgoth, and for that, Morgoth places a curse upon Hurin and his family. This curse affects Hurin's son, Turin, and his daughter Nienor, and most of the book focuses on the struggles of his children.
This is a much darker tale than Lord of the Rings, and traits and concepts that seem forgotten in today's time, such as honor, luck, valor, loyalty, courage, and duty, play great roles in the story. Even the style of writing harkens back to a time long forgotten, yet is somehow familiar and elemental and right. Thus it is perhaps not a light reading, but one that is nevertheless very satisfying.
(reviewed by Kendall Giles)
Book Review: Great book in perfect condition
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is in perfect condition. The book is also a very well written and entertaining. It provides extra background on the Lord of the Rings saga.Book Review: The Story of Turin in its Completest Form
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the latest book to be published under Tolkien's name. It is the story of H?rin and his family, and the curse laid upon them by Morgoth. It's one of the most tragic stories that Tolkien ever wrote, and it is appearing now in its most complete form, since its first appearance in The Silmarillion.
H?rin starts out as the lord of Dor-l?min, an enclave of Men in the north of Beleriand, but is captured by Morgoth after The Battle of Unnumbered Tears, who questions him about the whereabouts of the hidden kingdom of Gondolin, where he knew H?rin had been. When H?rin refuses to talk, Morgoth sets him at the top of Thangorodrim and curses him and his family. His plan is that H?rin should know all that his family suffers because of his defiance.
This curse follows H?rin's son, Turin, his wife, Morwen, and even his unborn daughter, Nienor for the rest of their lives. But it is not simply that Morgoth assails Turin and his family with war and pestilence. Tolkien ensures that the curse works in a much more subtle way: through the twists of fate, the rash decisions they make, and the very stubbornness of their natures. Because of all of these things, evil befalls all of them.
The book mainly follows Turin's adventures, as he becomes a great warrior, an outlaw, and a dragon-slayer. The black fate that follows him, as he seems to carry the brunt of Morgoth's curse, eventually consumes him and his family. It is said in some of Tolkien's other writings as they appear in The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales, that the sufferings of H?rin's family, particularly of Turin and Nienor are considered one of Morgoth's worst crimes, and that when the end of the world finally comes, Turin will be the one to defeat Morgoth in battle and finally vanquish him forever.
This book is a relief to many of Tolkien's fans, as it relates the story of Turin in an easy to follow narrative, as opposed to the broken writings of earlier publications. The illustrations by Alan Lee are beautiful, the writing is fluid, and the story is more realized than it has ever been. Now, if only Christopher Tolkien can do the same thing for the story of Beren and L?thien...
Book Review: confusing
Summary: 3 Stars
i got confused several times as to what was going on. It did not hold my attention vary well.