Book Review: The Children of Húrin by J.R.R Tolkien
The second J.R.R. Tolkien read is The Children of Húrin. My sole reason for reading this title is because it is about the early years of men, set roughly 6,000 thousand years into the past. I’ve also heard it is a hard read, so I hope I enjoy it.
Book Details
Title: The Children of Húrin
Author: J.R.R Tolkien
Publisher: Harper Collins
Artist: Alan Lee
Type: Hardback
Page Count: 313
Blurb: Six thousand years before the One Ring is destroyed, Middle-earth lies under the shadow of the Dark Lord Morgoth. The greatest warriors among elves and men have perished, all in darkness and despair. But a deadly new leader rises, Túrin, son of Húrin, and with his grim band of outlaws, begins to turn the tide in the war for Middle-earth -- awaiting the day he confronts his destiny and the deadly curse laid upon him.
Deftly balancing thrilling battles with moments of introspection, Tolkien's vivid and gripping narrative reaffirms his primacy in fantasy literature.
Review
Okay, that was a challenging read for me. I can’t lie; my dyslexia had a rough ride in this book. But what an epic read, and I enjoyed the adventure even if I was going slower than the norm. The writing takes on two forms. The first is the over-the-top descriptions I expect from Tolkien, with the landscape beautifully detailed and alive. At the same time, every character is explained and given a story. Then the second half is songlike poems that make me think of Beowulf and the old epics. Which I assume inspired Tolkien.
The stories within follow Húrin and then his children, with the main focus being Thurin, and unlike the Hobbit, we get to follow a human-centred tale. It is full of fantastic action, epic battles and heartbreaking moments. Made more special with Alan Lee's artwork, which is scattered throughout the book. Thurin is thrown into a world he was unprepared for and filled with a wave of anger he can't fully control or be rid of. This time of Middle-Earth is a dark period, darkness spreads across the land, and only small outposts of light exist. To step out into the wilds is to invite danger and heartbreak. The races have all become isolationists fearing their neighbour, ultimately helping Morgoth's forces. It is a depressing tale as no action throughout the story leads to happiness ever after. This is a sad tale, where I was left feeling numb and empty by the end. Only the spark of hope for the future remains.
Yes, this is a challenging read, but very rewarding if you make your way through it. Thank you for reading, and I hope you will take a moment to say hi in the comments.
