The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Mists of Avalon
Book Review: 5 stars is not enough for this book
Summary: 5 Stars
I first read 'Mists' nearly 20 years ago when I was hopelessly entrenched in a Christian Fundamentalist Cult and did not have a clue. It started me thinking. It was my first forbidden taste of paganism. It freed me from three generations of bondage and years of personal slavery. Since reading this book I have found happiness, wisdom and liberty. It is so much more than another King Arthur book! It is a phenomenon of writing of the last century. I can't say enough good about this book. It changed my life.Ravyn
Book Review: A "study" of the shift from Druidism to Christianity
Summary: 5 Stars
The Mists of Avalon was about the best book I've read about Arthurian legends. Seeing the incidents through the eyes of Morgaine and the other female characters gave me new insight into what life could have been like for a woman living in such times. It must have been incredibly difficult for the women to watch their people turn away from the goddess based religion to Christianity. Where once the women had power, the men began to ridicule others who listened to their wives' counsels.
The truly strong characters are, of course, the women of Avalon-- manipulative Viviane, self serving Morgause, and rebellious Morgaine. These women use their wiles and power to try to change events to accomodate their own agendas. The book also ridicules Gwynhwyfar for being a weak minded hypocrite who doesn't realize that by embracing Christianity so whole heartedly she's giving up the very power that could make her strong. Notice that, since she has turned away from the goddess based religion, she also does not bear any children.
Arthur just tries to keep peace in his household. He gives in to a hysterical Gwynhwyfar every time she simpers, but looks to Morgaine for guidance that she's unwilling to give. He's beset by enemies on all sides, and unwittingly sets the stage for the death of Viviane.
I also found the theory that Merlin is a title, rather than the name of a particular wizard, interesting.
This book was a refreshing look at the Arthurian legends. Don't blame the characters for using the tools available to them. Remember that in the time of Arthur, it was extremely important to be able to bear children, weave, and partake in "women's work."
Book Review: A (perhaps?) unique female review
Summary: 2 Stars
My 2 stars were awarded based on the imagination and depth of this book. My experience would be more like half of a star, but considering the work and effort the author obviously put into this novel, I believe in giving credit where credit is due.
Based on the reviews I have seen of this book, I have found that I may in fact be the only woman who did not like this book. It came heavily recommended by my mother (who is an avid MZB fan, along with her husband I might add) since I tend to gobble up any retelling of the Arthurian legends. Imagine my immense disappointment to find I utterly loathed one of the main characters! Time and time again the character of Gwenhwyfar proved to be a reinforcement of so many negative stereotypes associated with women. She immediately views the one other woman in the story who is close to Arthur (Morgaine) as a rival and proceeds to regard anything associated with her as devil-worship per se. Again, I was surprised how this "pro-feminist" retelling could have a major female, who is not supposed to be a villain, continually act like one! She repeatedly demands for the dominance of Christianity in Arthur's court, yet when given the chance to bed Lancelot, fully engages in a threesome with him and Arthur! After which she proceeds to blame Arthur over this "pagan-act" even though she continues with her adulterous ways! Make no mistake I am was not repeatedly offended by this character on moral grounds, solely on her hypocrisy!
This Queen is petty, weak, overly dramatic, hypocritical and fanatical at the same time! She practically made me ashamed to be a Jennifer! I am not sure how others feel, but if I truly hate a main character, in a book it makes reading an arduous task worse than pulling teeth. I have no problem with lengthy novels but dealing with this twit till the end truly gave a sour note to my week in hawaii! I kept hoping for (and my mother kept reassuring me there was) some redemption in this story, but alas! The only joy I got at the end was that it was that end and I would never have to suffer her character again!
If you are looking for a truly epic and breath-taking Arthurian retelling, I recommend the series by A.A. Attanasio that begins with The Dragon and the Unicorn.
Book Review: A Beautiful work of Art...and truth beyond dogma
Summary: 5 Stars
This was a beautiful book. At times I cried my eyes out. This book tells the story of Morgaine, daughter of Igraine, who is destinied to sit in the Shrine of the Great Goddess as her High Priestess. It follows Morgaine through the Stages of Life ; Maiden, Mother, and finally Wise-Woman. The book is set in Arthurian Britain, when Christianity is growing and the ancient ways of Nature are being forgotten. Viviane, who is the first High Priestess of Ceridwen, is caught in a battle to keep the Ways of the Druids from vanishing from the world of men forever in to the World of Fairy. Viviane prophecizes the coming of a Great King who will unite the followers of Christ with the Old People of the Goddess, and save Britain form Saxon barbarians. This King is Arthur. Viviane takes Morgaine to be fostered on the Isle of Avalon to become a priestess of the Druid wisdom and the Great Goddess. After Morgaine had been initiated into the secrets of Avalon, she is sent by Viviane to play the Role of the Goddess in the Rites of Beltane. Contrary to what some may believe, this is an ancient shamanistic ritual to honor the life giving forces of the Divine, which is known in that day as the Great Goddess. Morgaine invokes into her self the Power of the Goddess, while Arthur (who is playing the role of the God) invokes into himself the Masculine Force of the Universe. They join in union and have a child. This is not incest in the way certain folk are thinking. In this ritual, as it says in the book, Morgaine and Arthur are only man and woman before the World Mother. This seems to be one of the most urking things in the book, but if ignorant folk would comprehend it right, then it wouldn't be. This book is not Anti-God. The message of this book is that Names are how we identify God. But that God is in all things and only Love and the Power that moves the whole of Creation. At the end of the book, Morgaine is in the Chapel of Mary on the Isle of Glastonbury, and she sees that all the Gods are one God, and that the Great Mother will never withdraw from the world, but will only change her form. It was very moving when Morgaine sat with the young Nun in training and prayed before the altar of the Holy Mother of Christ, and sees the Sacred Grail which had been moved form this world in the hands of her Mother, Igraine. This, as it says in the letter form Diana L. Paxson "expresses a truth beyond dogma." I give this book 5 stars for its beauty and passion. It is truly a work of art.Book Review: A Book Full of Weak Characters
Summary: 2 Stars
The first time I read this book, I was impressed by the depth of knowledge it revealed but at the same time I couldn't stand the way some of the characters were portrayed. The great King Arthur was actually weak and let himself be led around by the petty Gwenhwyfar, who was too dense to see anything past her precious Lancelot and her blind opinions about her religion. This book seemed to include men solely for the purpose of being used by the women. Although this book provided an interesting point of view on the Arthurian Legends including its relationship to Avalon, I highly recommend that you read anything else.