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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
interesting read, as i only knew the bare bones of the arthurian legend and never actually read "morte d'arthur" or others (despite being somewhat obsessed with medieval literature and lore). the story deals with a lot of duality between male/female, druid/christian, and also incorporated a lot of modern thinking. at times this does not seem believable to me: zimmer paints the ladies of avalon most of the time as enlightened, 20th century women who are striving for democracy, etc.
altogether not a bad story, the pacing was odd and i think it would have benefited from having only one POV (morgaine). the ending was slloooowww and i found it wanting to be over. i did really enjoy morgaine's initiation into avalon and the machinations which put arthur on the throne. enjoyable seeing the stories of camelot from the side of the women as well.
altogether not a bad story, the pacing was odd and i think it would have benefited from having only one POV (morgaine). the ending was slloooowww and i found it wanting to be over. i did really enjoy morgaine's initiation into avalon and the machinations which put arthur on the throne. enjoyable seeing the stories of camelot from the side of the women as well.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I know this book is a cultural phenomenon and I really tried to love it but it just didn’t capture me. DNF after Book 1, about 30% through.
Read during covid-19 pandemic. Exceptional in every way. Really gets what it is to be female.
Edit:
A few days after finishing this book, I went to MZB’s Wikipedia page and discovered her children’s allegations of sexual abuse and rape. I have read the references, and I have decided not to read any more of MZB’s work. If I had known these things, I would not have read this book. Now, instead of reinterpreting the book I have just enjoyed with this new knowledge, I am going to try and forget it and not recommend it to others.
Edit:
A few days after finishing this book, I went to MZB’s Wikipedia page and discovered her children’s allegations of sexual abuse and rape. I have read the references, and I have decided not to read any more of MZB’s work. If I had known these things, I would not have read this book. Now, instead of reinterpreting the book I have just enjoyed with this new knowledge, I am going to try and forget it and not recommend it to others.
This is the first time I’ve read this since learning that the author sexually abused kids (including her daughter) and was complicit in her husband doing the same. I made excuses to myself for why I was reading this despite knowing that about the author, but the truth is that I wanted to revisit something familiar that used to be comforting. Oh boy does it add a whole new lens to things that were already problematic - the teen girl marriages, the references to teen girls and their sexuality, the incest, the rapes. There’s elements of the magic and connection to nature that hold up, but for the most part this book is ruined. I could understand it as a formative text for teenage me, and I’m SO GLAD that young feminists today have other (better) book options.
One of my absolutely favorite books. This book is a classic. I enjoyed reading every minute of it!!!!
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dnf couldn't get thought this. Boring and the author is problematic, I'll pass.
Nice to read this after such a long time, and I definitely appreciated the feminist angle. But it seemed a little repetitious this time, and I wasn't quite as swept up in it all as when I first read it.