Benjamin Mallinak’s Reviews > The Book of Lost Tales 1 > Status Update

“Yea, but who shall give us back the joyous heart without which works of loveliness and magic cannot be?”-Fëanor

Tolkien does such an incredible job of putting into words the core of why and how beautiful things are made and why they are oft not reproduced.

I will now be attempting to add “fain” (pleased) and “limpid” (clear, transparent) to my vocabulary. Also the name Tinfang Warble is such a perfect name for a minstrel and is going to live in my head rent free.

The current chapter feels like bonus Silmarillion content—more information about the early days of Valinor and the creation of the two lamps and the two trees.

It will always be fascinating to me that both Lewis and Tolkien recount the creation of their fictional worlds as being accomplished through song.

Realizing that this is almost an academic pursuit, whereupon I shall learn of the evolution and intention of Tolkien’s mythology—and while it may be slow going, I am so onboard.

So begins my quest to read all 12 volumes of the Histories of Middle-earth! Very glad I have made it a habit to read the foreword of books, because I now feel well prepared for this endeavor.