I am loving this series. Thank you for putting this together! I have read the Silmarillion many times and each time I approach it, I see details that I had not noticed on my previous readings. I think what helped me appreciate it was that I grew up as you mentioned in your last video, reading The King James Bible and already had an an appreciation for the poetic and archaic style that we find echoed in the flavors that are often a part of The Silmarillion experience. As you said, if you pick up this book expecting a Novel, you will very likely find yourself feeling overwhelmed and confused. (I've said this many times myself to friends.) But if you approach it with an open mind seeking insight into the World that Tolkein created, you will never cease to be enchanted and delighted!

it's nice that it was an Elvish minstrel who developed the runes instead of, say, a merchant for purely commercial reasons

Thanks so much for these btw! I got a gorgeous boxed set of all the First Age- THird Age Tolkien books and have been itching to read them, but I'm sticking to my guns (bows?) and going through the Silmarillion first. You've been a great reading companion!