The Mists of Avalon

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Summary: This COULD have been such a great book...
Review: There have been so many Arthurian stories written, the idea of one from "the women's point of view" sounded really compelling, and is. This is the first Bradley book I've read, so I can't generalize (something Bradley seems to have no problem with), but she seems to have a thorough grasp of the inner workings of people's minds and the ability to translate them onto the page. This makes for a rather immersive experience, and in and of itself makes for a rich and entertaining story. Judging from this one book, she is indeed a very talented writer. Which makes it all the more disappointing, because it could have been so much more. So many people have said everything I'm about to say, and I don't want to be repetitive, but come on! The messing with characters' names and the legend ala Malory doesn't bother me so much- its just a story, after all. But the main emphasis of the book isn't on the story at all- it's on advancing her own convoluted and confused agenda. First the religious stuff: I, like several other people who have reviews on this site, would have loved to see some good, intelligent debates between the pagans and the Christians, and each's merits and flaws, but rather than being even a conflict, it was basically a one-sided bashing. All pagans are wise and loving, all Christians are ignorant brutish fools. No intelligent person can be expected to accept this ridiculous notion. The characterizations: the men are basically carboard cutouts with no real depth. They are, as Morgaine admits, prey and playthings, worthy of nothing but scorn. Bradley might be forgiven for this if it weren't so pervasive; this is, after all, a story of the women, and naturally women write women better than they write men, just as men write men better than they write women. But the fact that the men in this book truly are just bumbling fools should be as insulting to women as well as men- how strong do women have to be, after all, to influence such docile cretins? Which brings me to my last criticism- upon examination, it isn't really feminist at all. The women are still slaves, just slaves to some vague, elusive goddess. They don't seem strong at all, just whiny. The only cool character is Morgause- she's so evil! But at least she's not some one-dimensional cliche of confused faux-feminism, or an empty-headed sprite like Gwen. Her relationship with Lot seems truly symbiotic, if also diabolical. All the sex doesn't bother me so much, except that its used as one more front for Bradley to attack this dark, twisted version of Christianity she's come up with. And apparently chastity is presented as a denial of life, yet somehow abortion is not. No sense or reason, just stereotypical feminazi sloganeering in story form. All in all, it's very well written, and if more attention were paid to the story than to the agenda, it would be a much more enjoyable (and much shorter) book.

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Summary: The magical mists of Avalon
Review: Marion must have the magic of Avalon beacuase I read this book starving for more every time I read some more. Despite the enormous size of this book, by the end I was yearning for more

The first part of the book is about Morgaine, a dark little woman gifted with the sight. She is sent to Avalon with her Ant Viviane for training in the will of the Goddess and the art of Druid magic. Viviane sends her to do thee godesses will in a sacred ritual. After the ritual in her naieveness, has found Vivianne betrayed her by the ultimate betrayl of her brother king Authur. In haste she leaves Avalon and renounces the sight. From here Gwenhwyfar controls Authur by forcing him to betray Avalon and become a christian king. Even though Gwenhwyfar appears so pious she hides secretly longing for Lancelet.

In the last patrs of this book, Morgaine relizes her duty to Avalon after a most horicfic death, even though she may be called harlot and witch. Gwenhwyfar now has total control of Authur, now Morgaine ust return Avalon to power by having Authur restore his oath to Avalon ortaking the one tool of his power.

I thought it to be a ironic ending, I even cried. The characters moved me so deeply by the time of the end of the book I wished that all of the characters were young again, and ready to start over a new story.

This was a marvelous book. If you love Authuranian legends this book is a must buy. I hope you enjoyed

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: Simply unbelievable. This must truly have been a labour of love for Marion Zimmer Bradley -- it is so intricate. The ever-familiar Arthur legend is thrown through a new twist by telling the story through the lives of its women. The religious and spiritual aspects of the book are most intriguing and thought provoking. A very long read -- and well worth every minute!!

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Summary: Enchanting
Review: I got this book after I finished reading the Lord of the Rings Trilogy - which I also recommend - because I was absolutely enthralled in all the mystery of ancient myths and fables. This book is great. Absolutely enchanting, once you start reading you feel for the characters! One of the best books I've read yet!

Rating:
Summary: Enthralling
Review: This was the first book dealing with the Arthurian legends that I ever read. I suspect it won't be the last, but in my mind it is certainly one of the best, if not the best.

It made a change to have the legends told from the perspective of the women involved in Arthur's life, rather than just the men and their fight in battles.

Morgaine becomes a sympathetic character rather than the evil witch she is more normally portrayed as. The characters and situations seem so real that when you look away from the book, you are surprised to see modern day things around you.

The portrayal of the new Christian religion against the old religion of the goddess was deftly handled and the comparison between the two was interesting.

It's a hard book to put down once started and it's one to read over and over again. I've lost count how many times I've read it now and there is still something new to discover in each reading.

Reviewed by Annette Gisby, author of Shadows of the Rose and Silent Screams.

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Summary: Anit-God & paganistic
Review: I was cautious about this book even before I read page one, because the promo page at the very front says of the main character that she has but one quest: "to wrest Britain away from Christianity... and the return it to the worship of the Mother Goddess."
This book is very well-written and it's a good tale (that's why I had to give it a 2), but there is an overt scorn for the Christian faith. Christianity is depicted as suitable for the simple and uninitiated, but the more sphisticated have their minds open to the realities of multiple gods, reincarnation, ad esp. the Mother Goddes, who is worshipped sexually. Chastity is scorned and it is said that Christians worship a "dead god."
The book is basically a tract for Wicca and promotes the neo-paganism of our day. It's obvious to one who know the Scriptures that the Druidism shown here is no different than the perverted Canaanite religion of the Old Testament, with its rituals based on sex, which Jehovah condemned and sought to eradicate. Thank God this religion was indeed banished from Britain with the coming of the Gospel.
I might add also that to make her point, the author had to depict a distortion of true Christianity (just like Barbara Kingsolver did in The Poisonwood Bible). Yes, there have been and are Christians and ministers of the Gospel who emphasize law more than grace, who believe sex is wicked (instead of recognizing its sancitity in its proper place [marriage]), and who revere ritual over a relationship with the Creator, but these facets are not the essence of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Summary: The Mists of Avalon
Review: The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley is a wonderfully enchanting tale of the Arthurian legends. This story is told well and from a perspective of the women behind the throne of King Arthur.

A masterful work with a keen eye for detail that keeps you interested and piques your imagination. Morgaine and Gwynhefar are the main characters as the try to stort out and struggle with the new concept of Christianity where women are the carriers of the original sin. As opposed to their belief and custom that women are the creators of life and the keepers of knowledge.

This book gives the reader an uncanny experience as to how thoughts of people's perspectives and powers change as new ideas are brought to bear. I found the book entertaining as the author brings us through the story with a masterful plot with Celtic religion, (Great Mother).

I found that the characters are alive and very vibrant, multifarious, haunting, with enchantingly believeable stories to tell. This is one of my all time favorite books and it is worth your time to read and enjoy a story told well.

A most enjoyable read and keeps your interest. This is an excellent example of the storytelling art

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Summary: Loved It
Review: I loved this book, the other 2 book in the series are wonderful to, The Forrest House and Lady of Avalon.

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Summary: Not just another King Arthur story...
Review: The story of King Arthur has always captivated me, and in school I loved The Once and Future King, which lead me to pick up The Mists of Avalon. Wow. The Mists made The Once and Future King look like child's play. Which it virtually is, in comparison.
From Morgaine's first word, she is alive. Convincing, real, tangible. All of the characters posess this quality, as though Marion Zimmer Bradley's story were entirely true and simply related to the reader as it was told to her by her own inventions. The story is told from the perspective of the Arthurian women, but in no way slights the goings-on of the men. The relationships behind these people are so passionate and tormented and true that one cannot help but feel these emotions as his or her own. The struggle between rising Christianity and the Old Religion is constant and heart-felt, which is an aspect that is missing in more conventional Arthurian tales. A review on the back of the book calls The Mists of Avalon a "creative reimagining," but its fervor and emotion make it feel more like an expose.
I highly recommend this book. As stated previously, I do not associate my name with a book that is not worth reading. I believe that you will come away from this experience--which is truly what it is, something active and engaging, not a passive excuse for a waste of pages--changed. I certainly did.

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Summary: The Mists of Avalon, is this appropriate for young adults?
Review: The Mists of Avalon, written by Marion Zimmer Bradley, tells the story of a young priestess of the Goddess Diana, called Morgaine. Morgaine is sister to King Arthur of Camelot. The story unwinds from the parents of the siblings into a four-book story. Morgaines religion is being over run by the new religion Christianity. Morgaine becomes involved in scandal and a web of lies.
I found this novel to be drawn out and boring at times. The Mists of Avalon is 876 pages long and becomes very complicated and confusing. The story is extremely graphic and explicit in detail. There are gruesome battles and atrocious murders. Many of the romantic and intimate sections of the novel were extremely distasteful and unbecoming of the story. It is also my belief that rape is very serious and by the author using such coarse language on the matter it created a pornographic mood.
I would not recommend this novel to anyone who has a squeamish stomach or is under the age of 15. It is in my opinion that this novel is not appropriate in a school setting.