> > > > > > > In The Lord of the Rings, when the elves return across the sea, where exactly do they go? to an island, a whole nother continent, or heaven?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Read The Silmarillion. They return to the land of the valar whence they had come orignially.
> > > > >
> > > > > Actually, be happy with that answer and DON'T read Silmarillion. You'll save yourself quite a bit of time that could be spent doing something interesting, like staring at the walls.
> > > >
> > > > I rather enjoyed the Silmarillion. But you can't approach it expecting a novel or a narrative - it isn't. It's a history. If you're interested in the history of middle earth and the origins of much of what is in the Lord of the Rings, read the Silmarillion. If you're looking for yet another fantasy novel, don't waste your time with it.
> > >
> > > I don't see how you can enjoy it for very long. A good history contains elements of a narrative, and can be very fun to read. For the most part, the Silmarillion is just a reference book, and I wouldn't read it cover-to-cover any more than I'd read the entire "E" volume of the encyclopedia.
> >
> > Well, I won't debate the narrative merits of the Slimarillion (I'm still on page 40, myself), but I think you can enjoy reading it, if only to appreciate all the detail and depth Tolkien put into creating his world.
>
> Yeah, the first part of the book, in my opinion, is the more interesting part. Read it cover to cover and tell me if you'd still recommend it.

I have read it cover-to-cover, more than once, actually, and I would recommend it to anyone who has a serious interest in Tolkein's world. Again, as I said before, I would *not* recommend it to anyone who's looking for a fantasy novel.