The Mists of Avalon

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Summary: A book that will pull you into their world
Review: This is quite possibly one of the best book I've ever read. This book will pull you into the mists and to the world Arthur lived in, betrayal, battle, and death, all told from the point of view of women who were behind it all. This book's is about King Arthur's world in the eyes of Avalon, or the women who have put him on the throne and who made Camalot possible. It is strong enough to make you reel in shock and change your life for ever. If you truly understand the world of Avalon.

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Summary: My Favorite Arthur Legend Retelling!!!
Review: I'm a big fan of Arthurian legends and so, perhaps, a little prejudiced. I loved this book because it focused on the women and on the lives of the people. First Igraine, who in most stories seems nothing more than an object of Uther's obsessive lust. In this book, she has a character that makes her part of the story even more meaningful. And I love the perspective of the Lady of the Lake, not a mystical faery creature, but a woman running out of options and trying to preserve her religion against the onslaught of Christianity. And I loved Morgaine's character. She suddenly came alive for me when I read this. No other book (i.e. of T.H. White, Mary Stewart, Stephen R. Lawhead...) was ever the same after I got Marion Zimmer Bradley's Morgaine into my head. And Guinevere(I won't try to recreate the Welsh spelling Bradley uses from memory!) was a wonderful character as well, thoroughly detestable. There was a part near the middle of The Mists of Avalon, having to do with a banner, where I had to close the book because I was so mad at her. Lancelet was well done and his relationships with Arthur, Guinevere and Morgaine give him new dimensions previously unthought of by me. This is, overall, a fabulous book, with so many wonderful characters. I hesitate to try and do them justice. It affected me very much, especially the end. It weaves so many threads of so many legends together to make a unique tapestry that I know I will never forget. I would recommend it to anyone. In fact, I do.

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Summary: The Mists of Avalon
Review: Somehow, in all of my reading, I missed this wonderful book! What a shame that I have missed this book until now! This is the Arthurian legends written from the womens' point of view. Morgaine is the woman you hear from the most, but all of their thoughts are in here to expand the story as it has never been done before. I confess, I am halfway through this book and can barely put it down! I feel that any one interested in Arthurian legends, fantasy novels, or Paganism should read this book! It is one that you will treasure forever!

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Summary: A fabulously unique Arthurian tale.
Review: This novel takes a look at the legend of Arthur and those around him from the eyes of the women in his life. Anyone seriously interested in this legend would be incredibly foolish to pass up this novel. It provides a new viewpoint that is remarkably different than all other tales I've read. The characters are written so humanly, with human faults instead of as infallible legends. As thick as this novel is, Mrs. Bradley's beautiful prose speeds the tale along without losing itself in overly ornate language.

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Summary: Not very moving ...
Review: Marion Zimmer Bradley does to words what Da Vince did to the Mona Lisa, no doubt about that. Her writing style is flawless, colorful, and persuasive. One truly gets spirited away to Britain, 1500 years ago. This is the upside to the novel.

Unfortunately, what Bradley has in writing talent she lacks in character building. Not only does the novel drag on (at times, 50 pages went by that could clearly have been taken out ... where was the editor??), but the characters are whiny, selfish people. Who care who's right, the Christians or the Pagans? They're all corrupted brats. The women are manipulative, cheeky, and blind to their own faults, and instead blame all their problems on a) the "bad" religion (depending on which side they're on) or b) men. Sure, the men in this book aren't perfect either, but the women sure don't set examples by showing compassion. All the females get spirited away in the corruption of ancient society: kill people to show power, women are tools, men are tough and emotionless, and sex is bad (except when nobody catches you, or, as a pagan, you use it to gain power ... which is exactly what the Christians here do, too). Can we say hypocritical?

So, really, what is this book trying to say? Who's right and who's wrong? Everyone blames everyone else and nothing gets accomplished. It's disgusting, boring, pointless, and completely unentertaining.

Skip this over for something more ... inspiring.

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Summary: Excellent in Arthurian Legend
Review: I have read this book over a dozen times and each time find it just as captivating as the previous. I recommend it to anyone who likes to read about the Arthurian Legend and be swept back into time. The author has done a fine job of bringing the era into the future.

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Summary: This Book Changed My Life
Review: I first read the Mists of Avalon when I was 10, an impressionable youth. So, I read again about three times since then, and have gotten two friends to read it. I'd only heard the story of King Arthur and his knights told from purely Christian POV, so this was a breath of fresh air. At first, it did seem intimidating, it's a long book, but I went through it in about three weeks. I couldn't put it down. And my afterthoughts were that it was an amazing book, revolutionary.

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Summary: A Book Full of Weak Characters
Review: The first time I read this book, I was impressed by the depth of knowledge it revealed but at the same time I couldn't stand the way some of the characters were portrayed. The great King Arthur was actually weak and let himself be led around by the petty Gwenhwyfar, who was too dense to see anything past her precious Lancelot and her blind opinions about her religion. This book seemed to include men solely for the purpose of being used by the women. Although this book provided an interesting point of view on the Arthurian Legends including its relationship to Avalon, I highly recommend that you read anything else.

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Summary: A novel beyond others
Review: As I was gazing the bookshelves looking for a good book to read on my first day of my new school, I came upon Mists of Avalon. as soon as I read the first page I was swept away in this story of love, magic and betrayal. The story is an aurthanian (mostly) love story. The best part of this novel, is the feminism and how it is told by people that no one thinks of when they think of Aurther and his court. The many external and internal conflicts of this story revolve in your brain and it is a challenge to sort them out. Though legnthy, it is around 800 pages, every page keeps you wondering what will happen next. Mist of Avalon is worth the time in your day to read and enjoy.

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Summary: My Favirote book
Review: I absolutely adore this book. You can really feel what the characters inside the story are feeling. This book is about the women inside of the Arthurian Legend. All the women that insisted on being Goddess Worshippers were strong and powerful women. Unlike Gwenyfer who was a Christian and couldnt get pregnant. I highly reccomend this book to anyone.