Instruct: Classify Amazon reviews into positive or negative sentiment
Query: A lot more entertaining than reading yourself

The biggest complaint I hear about the silmarillian is that it is dry and hard to read. I agree that it is like reading a historic or scriptural text, but the stories of Beren and Luthien, and Hurin, and Erendil are wonderful. Knowing the history enriches your experience of the Lord of the Rings. I ordered the book on tape because I have eye problems which make reading difficult, but I have also found it a lot easier to 'get through' the dry parts this way.If you are looking for a gripping novel this is NOT the book for you. However, it is a wonderful wealth of information for anyone interested in delving into the world and history of middle earth. It will explain a lot about Lord of the Rings.