Rating: 
Summary: The most amazing book on the planet!!
Review: After reading The Mists of Avalon, I cried and picked it up to read it all over again. I love this book because it delves into political, religious, and issues of women as well as many more. The book itself is an absolutely incredible telling of the Arthurian legend, with more feeling then the Once and Future King, or tales such as that. The book is just so great, it should be recomended to everyone who wishes to read the best book they ever will.
Rating:
Summary: A horrible "portrayal" of the Arthurian legend.
Review: A friend who is deeply interested in "magick" lent me this book because I love the legend of King Arthur and Camelot so much. Eager to read a story from the women's point of view, I couldn't wait to start this book. I couldn't finish it because it was so horrible. First of all, one of the main themes was that Christian/God/Jesus = bad. As a firm Catholic, not to mention the fact that faith in God (NOT the "goddess") has gotten me through some amazingly rough times, this theme quickly became tiring. Goddess this and Goddess that, this book became more of a handbook for occult groups than any type of Arthurian legend. Most historians believe Arthur to be a follower of Christianity. True, this book kept him that way. But portraying the religion as the destruction of all things good and imaginative was a sorry way for Bradley to get her point across. Another point. Yes, King Arthur was said in some legends to have had an illegitimate son, maybe even commit incest. We the readers DID NOT need a detailed description of how the act went. The setting up of the "sex ritual" between Morgaine (Morgan le Fay) and Arthur went on for pages. I, for one, don't need such details. It is also very boring and completly demeans love between a man and a woman. Sorry, but it does. We don't NEED details. Some of the best classics written leave out ANY sexual parts, and for all the better. There is a more mysterious air. No details, thank you. Overall, I see this book as the destruction of everything the Arthurian legend stands for. If you are searching for an original, "historically accurate" Arthur tale, I suggest you try "Black Horses For The King" by Anne McCaffrey. A great tale . . . where God is portrayed as Good and there is no "sex rituals". And THAT is what the Arthurian legend is made of . . . noblity and honor, not "magick" and the likes.
Rating:
Summary: It's a great, great, great, great book.
Review: I read this book at the age of 14 or so, and I just loved it. I've re-read it several times after that and I still just love it. The characters are deep and real.The storytelling is magnificent. I laughed and weeped with teh book. Of all the characters I loved Kevin most. And Nimue... oh, Great Mother! If you love historial fantasy, you've got to read this book.
Rating:
Summary: A book to accompany every transition in my life.
Review: I read a neighbors' copy as a preteen and it changed my life! A twist on the traditional Authurian myth; Bradely gave me women who were strong, confident and magical. Since then, I have read it at least once a year if not more. The book reminds me that there are two sides to every situation and that women can kick butt!
Rating:
Summary: This is a philosophical look at an Arthurian tale
Review: Mike Smith 5/22/99 4ยบ 9th Grade Honors English(Trow)North California! The Mists of Avalon The Mists of Avalon is a unique perspective of Arthurian myth. The main character is Morgaine, half sister of King Arthur. The Mists of Avalon is a also a very realistic book, it has magic, but it is more of an influencing force, such as small charms and love potions rather than huge dragons and mighty wizards. The main characters are all very deep, Lancelot does not make love to Gwenevere out of mere passion, rather there are motives dating to his childhood. The Mists of Avalon, to say the least, is an unique and enlightening read. The Mists of Avalon shows the world from the perspective of a pagan priestess, Morgaine. It is laced with philosophy that adds to the atmosphere and entertainment, rather than tire the reader. The Mists of Avalon depicts Gwenhwyfar as a blind cultist, rather than the wise and loving queen. The most interesting, and shocking, opinion stated in the book is that of Christianity, "Then (Morgaine) sighed and said, ' I think it is a sin to believe that God can be cruel or vindictive, and you would make him meaner than the worst of his priests." (page 554) The ancient druid religions are presented as kinder and gentler while Christianity is raging through Europe. The Mists of Avalon strives to maintain a plausible outlook on Arthurian myth. Morgaine can cast spells, but they take the form of potions or ESP. Her potions are as powerful as prescription medicine. The health is also realistic, Gwenhwyfar almost dies from a miscarriage, and Arthur spends months recovering from a wound. This realism helps to make the characters attach to the reader on a personal level, rather than a superficial level. In most Arthurian stories Lancelot makes love to Gwenhwyfar out of lust not love, but in The Mists of Avalon it is a gift to him from Arthur, and later to help Gwenhwyfar recover from a brutal rape. These deep, and infinitely complex motives prevent the reader from making simple decisions of right and wrong. Actions which would normally be assumed inherently evil, such as when Balan strikes Viviane with an ax in King Arthur's court at Pentecost, have twist, Viviane assisted his mother with suicide. The layers of motive that entwine this tale must be unraveled slowly by the reader, making this a philosophical piece, just as it is an entertaining piece. The Mists of Avalon is a great book to read. It encourages thought on difficult subjects like religion, and shows an entirely original side of King Arthur's tale. The Mists of Avalon is the opposite of Arthurian stories like Monty Python's the Holy Grail and The Sword in the Stone. While they depict King Arthur as the main character, and the story is in a basic or humorous light, The Mists of Avalon is involved and draws the reader into it. This is the best Arthurian book that I have read. I Give it a 9
Rating:
Summary: In my opinion the best telling of the Arthurian legend
Review: If you like Fantasy stories, or read books at all you should read "The Mists of Avalon".It is an engrossing book that makes you want to read all of its prequels.
Rating:
Summary: A great new perspective on an old story
Review: I loved this book because of its ability to draw the sympathy from the reader. This sympathy would shift to whichever character was focused on at the time, there were no "bad" guys, you understood every character. Obviously, Morgaine is extremely well written. I felt Gwenwyfar was simplified too much- at times she comes off as so dumb and petty while at others she is full of wisdom and kindness. I also would have liked a stronger Christian character, one who was not so clearly a zealot-most of the Christians in the book are either moronic or fanatic. Other than that, this book is a wonderfull sweaping saga that manages to evoke emotion without melodrama. I was also EXTREMLEY impressed at the body of reasearch so obviously included in the book-the author touches on so much history and myth that I am in times in awe of how extensivley she must have studied before writing this book. I truly love it and would recomend it to anyone who loves a great story.
Rating:
Summary: The best book to read for real life fantasy
Review: This is one of the best books that I have ever read!!! This is a calssic!! I Loved it...I read it all the time!
Rating:
Summary: An Incredible Vortex of History, Religion, and Emotion
Review: But don't let this be the only Arthurian legend piece you read, or you will be missing out. Don't miss Mallory's Le Mort d'Arthur or White's Once and Future King.
Rating: 
Summary: Four stars for memories.
Review: I first read this book when I was 15 and oh so idealistic. Religious matters were one of my main concerns; I thought Christianity was the absolute evil, and that we all should go back to nature or something. You can guess what the book did to me. For a year or so, I thought it was the second best book of all time (after Lord Of The Rings). For a couple more years I thought it was a great epic of ancient times, even if the philosophical content started to seem more and more naive. Now it's been five years since I read the book first time, during which period I've also re-read it two times. The last time sealed it for me: this is not a masterpiece, and I think if I had read the book the first time then, I would have somewhat despised it. Bradley handles her story well, but the feminist preaching just gets on my nerves. I agree with the reviewers who accuse Bradley of 'demonizing her enemies'. Nothing is ever simple in this world, and you can't make historical judgements 1500 years afterwards. The psychology of an ancient Briton was quite different from our own. Things that seem cruel and bizarre to us were everyday life back then. So maybe Bradley let her emotions take control, writing this book. It certainly served well her sales success. People (especially women, excuse me) like emotional stories with a straightforward ideology. As I can still remember the effect this book used to have on me, I couldn't give it less than 4 stars. This is a work of a skillful writer. But for mature opinions on human existence, go look someplace else. Mika Waltari would be a good start.
|
