I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't for the very heavy Ainulindale and Valaquenta in the beginning. I reckon that by the time people are done with Ainulindale, they give up on this book. It definitely requires some patience. If you do make it to the Quenta Silmarillion, you will get to tales so epic in scale that everything else pales in comparison. I think this was my 5th time reading it, and the Of Beren and Luthien chapter still makes me cry. If you are REALLY into Lord of the Rings and its world, you have to read this book. Just skip the Ainulindale, bear with the Valaquenta, and then enjoy.