I confess it defeated me.

I got halfway through it, and finally gave up. It made no sense to me. I'm not saying it was poorly written, or nonsensical, just that I could not follow his train of thought.

Perhaps if I re-read, and took my time, and took notes, I might make sense of it (it is very difficult material, although his language is clear and simple). But I simply don't want to. Its just too hard.

I got the same feeling I got as a child when I tackled a book that was well within my reading level, but totally beyond my level of comprehension. After a while it was just words, each recognizable individually, but strung together, impenetrable.

I didn't feel that way at all plowing through The Silmarillion. I enjoyed that, I understood it. His critical work simply overwhelmed me.