The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Mists of Avalon
Book Review: A Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Let's just get one thing straight. There are more good reviews on this book than there are bad. If you simply don't like the book or think that "it never ends" then don't read it. Bradley has set up a world of imagination in the days of King Arthur. This is mainly about the women behind the throne. It is one of my favorite books and I am planning on reading it again. Give it a try, it's a full of religion, magic, romance, and angst. I love this book.Book Review: A Different Perspective
Summary: 5 Stars
Really, I think comparing "The Mists of Avalon" to "The Once and Future King" is a bit unfair. T.H. White was obviously more true to the original Malory, but Bradley gives a different spin on the entire legend. The styles of writing are entirely different. T.H. White tells how the character is, Bradley prefers to show it. The perspective of the writing is also different. Reviewers have referred to "The Mists of Avalon" as being rather "dirty" because Bradley does show the characters at the base level. True, she changed the characters, but, in my opinion, also more effectively demonstrated the complicated and human bonds between them. In the T.H. White version, we, the readers, are looking down at the legendary figures from the safety of our comfortable time for most of the book. Of course, at the end, he brings us crashing down with Guenever and Lancelot and Arthur and all the others for an enormously powerful ending.
We must also remember that, because the story is told mainly from Morgaine's perspective, not Arthur's, her values and not his make for the central theme of the book. Likewise, the book is not critical of Christianity, but of the state of the church. And we should remember that in the Middle Ages, the church probably was exactly the way she portrayed it.
For all those willing to keep an open mind about our beloved legends, Marion Zimmer Bradley's "The Mists of Avalon" is an engaging and powerful read.
Book Review: A Dissapointment
Summary: 3 Stars
When I first got this book as a gift I had heard that it was wonderful. But it just didn't live up to my expectations. I expected a novel of Arthurian times form the point of view of the women, but I expected STRONG female characters. Both of the main characters-Morgaine and Guinevier (forgive my spelling) have their moments true, but on the whole they are whinny and annoying and not all that powerful or strong. Guinevier is a meek overly pious Christian who is a creature of the priests and overly self-doubtful and self-reproachful. She never tries to fight her fate and gets very annoying after a while. Morgaine is a little better but she never strives to find out the motives of Viviane never questions "the will of the Goddess" and when she finally does it's too late! She becomes annoying too, always whining that she is "little and ugly." This is definitely NOT a great Arthurian novel- if you want different points of view read Courtway Jones's trilogy (In the Shadow of the Oak King, Witch of the North and A Prince in Camelot.) The Once and Future King by T. H. White is a classic; all of these books are good retelling of Arthurian legend. Marion Zimmer Bradley would have done better to tell a "might have been" tale or change the legend, as she obviously wanted to do. At many parts I thought I would throw the book in frustration, she wrote so you WANTED something to happen, but then doesn't make it happen! As in all things you must decide for yourself, but personally I would say just don't bother. It's too long to waste so much time on.Book Review: A Female Perspective to the Arthurian Legend
Summary: 5 Stars
The "Mists of Avalon" was my first foray into the fantasy genre and it would be years before I would find anything that came close to measuring up to novels by Marion Zimmer Bradley. This book has the perfect blend of magic, romance and action.
This book tells the Arthurian legend through the eyes of the women around King Arthur's life. It tells the story of the strength of Igraine (his mother), Morgain (his sister), and Guinevere (his wife). It's a compelling sotry that shows us the bravery of these three women in such brutal times, without taking away the romance and the insecurity's these three women feel.
If you liked this you will probably like the "Forest House" and "Lady of the Lake"> They take place before The Mists of Avalon although Bradley wrote them after she worite this book. I read this first and was eager to read her other books, I was not disappointed. It would be many years before I would find another fantasy series I loved as much as I did these. (The first 6 books in Terry Good kind's "Sword of Truth" series).
Book Review: A Feminist View? Or Originally a Chauvinistic View?
Summary: 5 Stars
If you love the legends of King Arthur, this is an amazing book. If your a child of the Goddess, it puts a different perspective on the story of King Arthur. Some say it's a feminist view of the Legends, but anyone that loves the Legends would enjoy reading this, regardless of the view! It certainly does not hurt to read the Authors story of the Legend of King Arthur from a different perspective. It's a book worth reading over and over again.