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Rating: 
Summary: Good not Great
Review: I had high hopes and in many ways was not disappointed. I loved the format and co-authorship was wonderfully refreshing. The biggest disappointment is that the fairy tale wasn't that fascinating. The tale required all of Bly and Woodman's abilities in amplifying and expanding on symbols, and their abilities are impressive. However, I don't think it's either author's most inspired writing. I also have to vent about Robert "half-empty" Bly's occassional remarks about the current state of decline of today's culture. I think Jungian's call it "negative intuition." It by no means ruins his commentary, so much of which is truly inspired, but I feel his empty comments about "falling SAT scores" and fewer college Shakespeare courses deserve a response. Senex as kurmudgen. The book reflects its origins from a lecture series. It seems to limit the book from being truly great. The spontaneity still registers in the pages, which is nice.
Rating: 
Summary: The Search for Equality of the Sexes Continues
Review: In our gender-polarized society, conflict is easy to come by, and the important question is, "who triumphed?" Robert and Marion have taken on a much more difficult task, of reunion of the masculine and feminine.Our society seeks "juice," not harmony. So it's not surprising that the reviewer for The New York Times Book Review, Karen Lehrman, panned the book. Ms. Lehrman is a feminist deeply embroiled in the polarizing gender conflict. Her criticism that Robert and Marion "often seem intent on confusing" the central ideas is ironic in light of the New York Times book review of her own book: "what The Lipstick Proviso contains, despite flashes of good sense, is a muddle of sometimes self-contradictory assertions that undermine her own authority." The criticism is that the comments in the book are not literally true. But this reunion of the masculine and the feminine, if it is to occur, must happen at the interior level-the spiritual level, if you will. Robert says as much on the very first page: "If you, as a reader, adore literalism, you may as well close the book now-you'll argue with our sallies so often that it will be bad for your health." Iron John encourages men to move beyond ready-made versions of masculinity to a responsive form of masculinity, just as Marion's Leaving My Father's House encourages women to move from "the ready-made femininity the patriarchal culture has imposed on them" into a responsive form of femininity. This book begins where those two books leave off. The story ends in a reunion and a marriage between the conscious masculine and the conscious feminine. In the journey through the story Robert and Marion point out the many ways our culture has made us unconscious and fed on this unconsciousness-things like addictions, materialism, and a drive for instant gratification. A delightful section "How Kali Belongs in the Malls" illustrates this. Robert's poetic style provides for a beautiful weaving together the metaphoric themes of the story. Marion brings imagination and passion to her interpretation, complementing Robert beautifully with interpretations as poetic as they are insightful. This book has an important message, for anyone concerned about gender polarization or about materialism, self-orientation, instant gratification, addictions or other signs that our lives are empty, that something is missing. If you have the feeling that the answer is not owning more things, not in power politics, but in the realm of spirit and soul, read this book to search for keys to reunion of masculine and feminine in the world around you.
Rating: 
Summary: Garbage
Review: Marion Woodman and Robert Bly are both masterful story tellers and in their new book, "The Maiden King", they combine their talents to translate an important story. Some critics have not truly read this story for what it is. This book uses a mythological tale because that is how people were explained things long ago. The resurection of this technique of understanding only enhances the meaning and the importance of its message. It is evident that critics such as Ms. Lohrman may be afraid of facing the ideas expressed by the two authors. We will face these ideas at one time or another in our lifetime. The authors explain how men and women have evolved and how they may live together now. There are many mythological references as well as highlights from other poets, authors and anything else that has shaped our society. In a day and age where our culture is defined by "Must See TV" and the 'goings on' in the White House, "The Maiden King" weaves a mythological soul-seeking jouney to understand who we really are how we came to be that way.
Rating:
Summary: Garbage
Review: On page 104 of this book, Robert Bly laments that "many forms of personal sacrifice -- the scholarship in cold rooms, the learning of Latin and Greek, the voluntary renunciation of multiple delights -- have since the sixties virtually disappeared. We have a pop culture now, not a culture of swans." Fair enough. So let's take a little peek at Bly's understanding of Ancient Greek. On page 102, Bly informs the reader that the name Telemachus means "the true aim of our actions". This is false. The name Telemachus comes from two words: tele, meaning 'from afar' and makh/os, 'fighter'. Thus, Telemachus actually means 'He who fights from afar'. This is elementary Greek. On the same page, Bly informs the reader that "most people don't realize that the standard Greek word for duck is penelope." What Mr. Bly obviously doesn't realize is that the standard Greek word for duck is actually netta. The word he is referring to, which is penelops, not penelope, is the Greek word for a specific kind of duck, namely one that has purple stripes and that was known for its loyalty to its mate. Also, it's highly uncertain that Penelope's name has any connection to ducks whatsoever, since ancient Greeks as well as numerous modern scholars believe that it actually means "the unraveller of the web". Additionally, on page 101, Mr. Bly offers the following piece of ridiculous misinformation: "[E]ach work of ancient literature conceals, as we are more and more aware, an occult or hidden meaning as well." I won't even bother arguing this point, since it is so patently absurd. Jungians are psychologists. They understand mass psychology. They know that it is only necessary to create an aura of authority and an appearance of truth in order to make a fortune and to gain a prestigious reputation among uncritical people. Thus, they are at liberty to invent non-existent episodes of well-known myths, to magically transform modern cultural historians into 19th century Lamarckian geneticists, to offer ludicrous definitions of ancient words, and will be praised to the skies for it. These people are not wise elders. They are con artists, plain and simple. They have absolutely no respect for their readership.
Rating:
Summary: A Feast of Hermaphroditic Imagery
Review: Once again, the lecters invite the starlings over for tea, for a little feast on ancient and modern mythology. A clever nobody sends his R.S.V.P. (with a lesson on true and pure mythography): Star Wars: A Proem Look! Now let us pass through the golden broadview Gate, pass over a sea of restless waves Upon a bridge made of hallowed bone, Dragon's wing, and silver polished stone, To the netherlands of long, long ago, Back to the lands of ancestors old, Back to the dancing-grounds Of the Jedi Knights. Upon which path of song shall I embark? Since time allows -- for 'tis a long lay Full of laughter both and tragedy -- The course that I shall set shall be The hateful venom spat by the Black-robed scarlet Sith Upon all our brightest, most resplendent Stars. That shall be the complete Compass of my lay -- lay sung loud And clear and Forceful true, As crystal depths of Pristine lake at Dawn On the surviving Moon of Alderaan -- Alderaan, With her Grassy plains. -- May 11, 2001
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