Children of Hurin (Children of Hurin - J.R.R. Tolkien)

Member Name: beckyX

Product:	Children of Hurin - J.R.R. Tolkien
Date:	19/09/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: New Tolkien

Disadvantages: Haters of Lord of the Rings won't like this either.

It's always a surprise to be able to buy a new book several decades after the death of the author, but the Children of Hurin has been painstakingly pieced together over the years by Christopher Tolkien from manuscripts his father wrote before his death. If you have read the Silmarillion, this story will not be a complete surprise to you - the tragic tale of the antihero Turin and his sister/wife Nienor is one of its most compelling stories and this is a rework and extension of existing material. This version is greatly extended from the version in the Silmarillion and has improved readability over the Silmarillion.

I particularly liked the new artwork by Alan Lee. Shortly after the book came out, I went to a talk/signing session of his and he spoke very knowledgably about New Zealand, the production of the Lord of the Rings movie and Children of Hurin.

Turin, in my opinion had some really bad luck, but as with most heroes, he wasn't helped out by his pride. His death (together with his sister) as he realises his accidental incest are one of the most haunting tales that Tolkien wrote.

Lovers of the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings will be surprised at the much darker tone of this story, which is entirely lacking in loveable hobbits. Unintentional incest, murder, battles, tragedy and betrayal make for a heady mix. Well worth a read for the Tolkien completist.

Summary: Story of the tragic Turin Tarambar