It's not really a novel, at least not a narrative novel like Hobbitt and Rings. It was published after Tolkien's death by his son who cobbled together five unfinished tales from the Elder Days. It's like reading the bible. Lots of hard-to-remember names, archaic language, and "Melkor begat Faenor before the Sindar left Numeanoria" kind of abbreviated tribal histories. It's hard to relate to characters who have little dialog. The book is ponderously serious with none of the light-hearted moments and personal character development of the main Tolkien novels. Although of great interest to fans of Middle Earth (I own a first edition), I must pronounce it a dreadful bore as a novel.
Red's pretty much right on, it talks about the creation of middle earth through the mind of Iluvatar who is "god". There are parts that are boring, but there are parts that are amazing. If you ever wanted to know the back history of middle earth that's where it is.
"Grant Speaks," by Ev Ehrlich. An historical, faux-autobiographical novel of U.S. Grant, with some unusual twists! Humorous and ingenious!
I like them both. The Omega Man is a classic. I haven't seen it in a very long time. I never see it playing on TV. I need to buy it. I love charlton Heston (no homo)
Just started on The Great Triumvirate by Merrill Peterson. http://www.amazon.com/The-Great-Triumvirate-Webster-Calhoun/dp/0195056868 It is about the three men who controlled politics in the United States from the 1820s through the 1850s, Henry Clay of Kentucky (West), John C. Calhoun of South Carolina (South), and Daniel Webster of Massachusetts (North).
I just finished Service: A Navy SEAL at War and have started American Sniper by Chris Kyle. http://www.google.com/products/cata...=X&ei=GzbET8_OCIGo8QS9lbGiCw&ved=0CIYBEPMCMAI
The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914 http://www.amazon.com/The-Path-Between-Seas-1870-1914/dp/0671244094 Working my way through David McCullough's books. Read Johns Adams and 1776 last year.
About to finish up Spycraft A history of the CIA and ready to start Lone Survivor. I can't wait to read that one.
