Okay well your first mistake, and I’ll admit this is counterintuitive, is in trying to read the Valaquenta.
Don’t do that.
It’s a trap. (almost) everyone rebounds hard off that or the Ainulindalë. You can go back to it later, when you’re invested, but just. Skip to the Quenta Silmarillion, where the more narrative shit is.
I imagine, if you’re asking me, then you’re already reading fic, but if you’re not then using that to get yourself invested in particular arcs or characters is also helpful for getting through some of the drier bits. Memes and partisan erotica will make it all fly by.
Seriously though, don’t read the Valaquenta.
this is blatant Valar erasure im calling the cops
True facts tho I didn’t read the Silmarillion in order until, like, my seventh reading; in fact I may NEVER have done an honest to god cover-to-cover read. The actual chronology of events will become more relevant once you pick the characters and arcs you like best! And seconding Lion, getting to know the principle players through fanfic and art helps A TON.
That said, one of the things that helped me get through the tough spots in the Silmarillion for the first time was listening to the audio book! 🙂 It’s narrated by the estimable Martin Shaw, and you can listen/download it for free HERE.
Hearing it read aloud is a totally different experience from trying to slog through the text yourself; even the boring elfy history parts that I couldn’t focus on the first time around suddenly started making sense and being interesting when I was listening to it being read.
MisbehavingMaiar: Tumblr Archive 