Silmarillion Reader's Guide

Honestly, I would recommend the audiobook over the book; having someone else figure out how to say the special names makes it much easier to keep track of them in your mind, I find

Same, that's how I listened to it. Andy Serkis does a great job!
- According to my huge Tolkien nerd mom serkis completely botches the elvish pronunciations. Can't corroborate that personally but she's been neck deep in LOTR shit for as long as I can remember
But you can never know if they pronounce them right :(
Then again, Tolkien does describe the pronunciations in enough detail in the Appendix to LOTR (I don't know if it's in every edition though).

Damn, have to install Windows Vista and try this

Always remember that our sweet Fëanor did nothing wrong

You trying to pick a fight?
- What are you? Some kind of morgoth loving manling? Edit: I’m sorry that was terrible of me to make that assumption. You could be a limp wristed teleri

Arabic is a gorgeous language for folklore. I hope that translation is a delight to read.

This is a great idea. I've always thought it'd be cool to have books include provided soundtracks. Not like an audiobook, just a soundtrack divided by chapters that you can play as you read.

Like a teddy ruxpin for ambiance

Fingolfin, Finarfin, Finrod Felagund etc van indeed be confusing

So names like John, Jonathan, Jason, James, Jared, Jermaine, Jonas, & Jackson.
Unfamiliar names indeed be confusing.
- Only Jonathan and Jonas have common first three letters.

The book in the image is in Persian, btw, which caught me completely off guard

Windows 7 also checks

I rate this picture 8/10 pure Iranian energy (not enough aviator mustaches for 9/10)

Might be an unpopular opinion, but I think having artwork hinders your imagination a lot, if you have pictures. You can't really make up your own images in your head that way.

What if my English isn't amazing but it is my native language?

Sorry brother, there is no cure for being Texan
You can try reading more easy books to make youre english gooder.
- Thanks foe the tip! You're the goodest!
Maybe read it in it's original quenya?

I have a version from the 80s that has a map and an appendix with all the names. I felt like that was enough for me. Whatever it takes though. My biggest recommendation to people is to just stick with it. The first part reads like the Bible or something but after that it becomes much easier.

Speaking about language, somehow I am really not impressed with his style - nothing special at all. The translation, on the other hand, are usually done by people who can command their language more artfully. So, if you are fluent in two languages, read the translation - that’s my advice.

Are you joking? I love the poetry present in every line of the Silmarillion. It's beautiful.