The Forest House (Bookcassette(r) Edition)

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Summary: The Forest House
Review: I regard Marion Zimmer Bradley as probably the best author I have ever come across. I marvel at the research that she must put into her historical books and the depth of human emotions that she weaves in. All I can say about this book is that I cried throughout it and for about a week after; the final chapter stabbed at my soul as if it was telling the story of myself or my family.

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Summary: A Celtic Romeo and Juliet!
Review: This is a wonderful Celtic version of Romeo and Juliet and the first book in a series of 3. It's the tragic and Heartwrenching story of a roman soldier who falls in love with a Celtic girl dedicated to serving the goddess as a priestess. Like Romeo and Juliet it is told beautifully and in a spellbinding way that makes you feel as if you belong in the story. It's also really interesting as you learn about the different cultures, the simple and sometimes frightening lore of the Celts and the civilised yet brutal Roman society. Read this book - you really won't regret the wonderful journey it takes you on- I guarantee it will fill you with emotion and make you both smile and cry, and what's more you will be hooked on this series!

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Summary: wow.
Review: The task of writing previous history to Mists of Avalon was probably daunting even for MZB. This story is beautiful. The transformation that Eilan goes through from beginning to end, and the pain that she feels and then won't let herself feel is exquisite. Caillean is such a strong woman, the archetypical mother, always there to take care of Eilan, however she needs Eilan's friendship as much as Eilan needs hers. Dieda, the songbird, a character that creates increasing distrust in the characters and the reader as the story progresses, but her bitterness with what life has dealt out to her is so HUMAN. Gaius, the roman man that Eilan loves, is not only torn because of Eilan's love (as she is with his), but torn between his Briton heritage (his mother was a royal of the Silure tribe) and his Roman heritage as a soldier in Rome's army. And the hard but touching ends that Gaius' father goes through to keep Eilan and Gaius appart because he doesn't want his son to be shunned by the Romans or to see the only woman he ever loved to be shut out from her own people the way that Gaius' mother was. These characters are so much more than fiction. I don't want to give anything of the plot away but it's difficult to write a review that's helpful without doing so. If I have failed, read the book. If I have succeeded, read the book. A.

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Summary: Excellent Book
Review: This book was excellent and though not as completely wonderul as "The Mists of Avalon" it was still very enjoyable... Bradley has become one of my most beloved authors! I cannot wait to finish "The Lady of Avalon"

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Summary: Ooof! Weak and Melodramatic
Review: Now I have read The Forest House three times to be certain I would give it a judicious review. In the end, I have to dismiss this book as a try on MZB's part to simulate a romance novel. Instead of subtlety I found moments of melodrama. The central romance was boring because Eilan and Gaius were boring (and wishy-washy and conceited and totally without a clue and...and...) I can't stand books in which the characters think themselves the center of the universe, and Forest House is full of these. On a smaller note, I found MZB's rendition of the Celtic Samhain into Samaine very amusing and indicative of the care with which this book was written. To top it off, this isn't even an original story--it's an interpretation of the opera Norma. Read if you must, but you might find having a grain of salt and good humor to be assets. For me personally The Forest House is too full of the ridiculous to affect me any more than with a sour stomach.

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Summary: Not too bad, actually
Review: I'm not exactly sure why I read this book. While I enjoyed "The Mists of Avalon", I wasn't wild about it. Niether was I wild about this prequel. But I did enjoy it. While "Mists" is more of a fantasy, "The Forest House" delves into early A.D. history and European religions. It starts out as a cute, boy-meets-girl-and-falls-in-love-though-they-can't-be-together story, but evolves into a detailed story of religion and politics. I think Bradley put a bit too much religion in there, and even though she was showing how people back then felt towards Christianity, I kind of felt like she was pushing in her own opinions. Unfortunatly, there is too much material, and it gets extremely twisted up together in an unattractive knot. it set off at a good pace, slowed down, almost got miserable, but the last few chapters are almost worth it all. In fact, I was quite pleased with the ending. If you're pagan and/or interested in early european history, I'm not going to stop you from reading this. But I'm not going to insist you read it, either.

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Summary: Bryonny on 'The Foret House'
Review: I have read many books by Marion Zimmer Bradley and appreciated this entrancng prequel to The Mists of Avalon immensley. It provided a look into post-Roman Britain and the conflict between two conflicting cultures. The love story between Eilan and Gaius was intriuging, commplicated and enhanced by the presences of Julia and the Macellias, and Cynric and Dieda. A fantastic book by a brilliant author and one I would recommend to anyone.(Except my brothers)

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Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I absolutely loves this book! It was dreamy, beautiful and romantic. Usually I'm not into books like that, but this one was different. The dramatic ending really made me appreciate it all the more...

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Summary: A truly captivating novel
Review: Set in the Roman era, this book tells the story of the lives of the Priestesses who lived in The Forest House, a religious compound. This book provides excellent insight into the spirituality of the Celtic people and the holidays of the Druids. This was the first of the books in the Avalon series that I read, and it really touched me. Reading this book caused me to spend many hours wondering what was fact and what was fiction since the amount of historical detail is so immense.

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Summary: Disappointing after The Mists Of Avalon
Review: By the time I read this, I had read Mists of Avalon at least three times. This was such a dsappointment by comparison. I found whole passages tedious and over-blown in a melodramatic, soap-operish way. Bradley had such a phenomenal success with Mists, this reads as if she was cashing in.