I know The Silmarillion is like the 'bible' history of Middle Earth and not a regular novel so I'm going to treat it as a non-fic book. I've moved from looking at the big map to the text now and the sight of very short chapter make me feel less intimidated. Whether I'm right or not to be so remains to be seen. Also I liked Tolkien's potted legends at the end of LotR and I've been heavily Shakespearing so I'm not too scared by it not being written in modern style. I guess I'll read it, let it wash over me and hope something sticks or moan regularly in my journal about it!