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The Mists of Avalon Marion Zimmer Bradley 9780345350497 Books

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The Mists of Avalon Marion Zimmer Bradley 9780345350497 Books

I am a voracious book reader. Almost to the point of obsession. I have thousands, in all different genres and formats. This book is in my top 5 all time favorite books ever, which says a lot!! Do yourself a favor though and get a hardcover copy, it add to the experience. :-D

For my review, I won't get into the actual story line or historic facts VS. mythology and fiction (many reviewers have already gone that route). I want to express my overall impressions of this book, because the feelings this book evoked caused 10+ rereads!

The writing in this book is incredible. It sucks you right into the time period and character's minds. You really feel you're there with them experiencing everything. There is historical accuracy mixed in with fiction, little elements like clothing and food that are woven throughout the story in a way that's not tedious to read, but adds to the feel of the book. It's like stepping into a time machine. The interpersonal relationships are masterful and you really become part of the story. When you think of King Arthur myths, this is the type of story you envision. One that makes you question your beliefs about magic, mystery, and humanity -- that in my mind is perfect historical fiction. The author poured her heart and soul into this book, and it shows on every single page.

Bottom line, it's not a book ... it's an experience.


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The Mists of Avalon Marion Zimmer Bradley 9780345350497 Books Reviews

I continued to read much further than I would normally do with a book that didn't capture me. I won't say the entire book was bad, and there were parts that were actually interesting, I'm just very disappointed. I've wanted to read this for years.

First off, the time line is rather difficult to follow. It jumps ahead so quickly and frequently that it becomes nearly impossible to keep track. The hatred and vitriol that rolls off of Gwenhwyfar (don't get me started on some of the name spellings). Judging Morgaine and finding ways in which to blame everyone but herself for the bad things she does. Really all the women are whiny little children that are stomping their feet because they don't get their way. Stabbing one another in the back almost ceaselessly.

I made it about halfway through the fourth "book" before I just finally couldn't take it anymore. And that was with a break to read another book.
I have read this novel a couple of times now and each time it is more rich. It is very long, but there aren't any parts that ever feel like filler, to me. It is an interesting reexamination of a classic branch of mythology, and a from a different point of view. The novel is from the perspectives of the female cast members Morgaine, Gwenhyfar, Igraine, and Viviane, called the lady of the lake as the leader of the priestesses of the Goddess on the island of Avalon. As such, there is a strong dialogue about the role of women in the time in which the drama unfolds, and an interesting comparison to some earlier civilizations whose primary deities were female. These elements the role of women in society, particularly in relation to the position of prevailing religious beliefs, and gender roles loom larger than the development of the core story with which most people are familiar. For some, this may be a detriment but I find it is the true merit of the novel and makes the fundamental material on which it is based more interesting.
I’ve always been a sucker for King Arthur. In between my Robin Hood phases as a kid, I went through reams of stories about Camelot. And in college, I happily hiked around the ruins of Tintagel in Cornwall (supposedly the place of Arthur’s birth). But Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon was something new for me the King Arthur legend from the perspectives of important women in his life, namely Igraine, his mother; Viviane, his eldest aunt; Morgause, his youngest aunt; Gwenhwyfar (a.k.a. Guinevere), his wife; and Morgaine (a.k.a. Morgana), his half-sister.

Morgaine is the main protagonist. And unlike in most retellings, she’s not an evil sorceress. Instead, she’s an initiate of Avalon, a mythical island that’s home to a sect of Goddess worshippers trying to stave off Christianity’s growing influence over Britain. Bradley includes the familiar love triangle between Arthur, Gwenhwyfar, and Lancelet (a.k.a. Lancelot), but the contest of religions is the core struggle in The Mists of Avalon. Viviane, Lady of Avalon when the story begins, places Arthur on the throne so that he may serve his Christian and non-Christian subjects alike. But Gwenhwyfar convinces him to become ever more Christian, and Viviane and Morgaine consider this conversion a betrayal of the oaths he swore to win the crown. In the years that follow, Avalon sets itself against Camelot and grows intolerant in kind.

Not everyone is as narrow-minded about religion, however. Morgause has little use for gods or goddesses, while the druidic Merlins (plural, in this version) believe all deities are one. Such a diversity of viewpoints is also present in how Bradley portrays the different spheres of influence available to women in her historical fantasy of early Britain. In Avalon, Morgaine and Viviane lead a matriarchal society. In the North, Morgause defies convention and rules as a queen who takes lovers as she wills. But in the South, Igraine and Gwenhwyfar (mostly) accept their priests’ advisements that they should be content to stay in their castles and make children and clothing for their husbands.

The overall story is more philosophical than I’m used to for a tale of King Arthur. It’s also slower; The Mists of Avalon spans generations and glosses over the usual knightly contests and heroic deeds. But if you want a Camelot that makes you think, Bradley’s seminal work is worth a read.
I am a voracious book reader. Almost to the point of obsession. I have thousands, in all different genres and formats. This book is in my top 5 all time favorite books ever, which says a lot!! Do yourself a favor though and get a hardcover copy, it add to the experience. -D

For my review, I won't get into the actual story line or historic facts VS. mythology and fiction (many reviewers have already gone that route). I want to express my overall impressions of this book, because the feelings this book evoked caused 10+ rereads!

The writing in this book is incredible. It sucks you right into the time period and character's minds. You really feel you're there with them experiencing everything. There is historical accuracy mixed in with fiction, little elements like clothing and food that are woven throughout the story in a way that's not tedious to read, but adds to the feel of the book. It's like stepping into a time machine. The interpersonal relationships are masterful and you really become part of the story. When you think of King Arthur myths, this is the type of story you envision. One that makes you question your beliefs about magic, mystery, and humanity -- that in my mind is perfect historical fiction. The author poured her heart and soul into this book, and it shows on every single page.

Bottom line, it's not a book ... it's an experience.