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aeolias's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
mmcbride's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
veleda_k's review against another edition
3.0
I've joked that Thomas Malory wrote Le Morte d'Arthur before they invented characterization, and James Knowles doesn't improve on that in his retelling. Characters do things without any deep sense of why they are doing those things. This is a very dry telling of Arthurian legend, with little emotional depth.
Nonetheless, Knowles's work contains many less well known pieces of Arthurian legend, and so is valuable for that. And of course it has many familiar and well loved stories. Worth reading if you're already an Arthurian legend fan, but not likely to convert anyone.
Nonetheless, Knowles's work contains many less well known pieces of Arthurian legend, and so is valuable for that. And of course it has many familiar and well loved stories. Worth reading if you're already an Arthurian legend fan, but not likely to convert anyone.
adventurous_tessa's review against another edition
2.0
It just jumps from one story / character to the next rather quickly so I never felt fully immersed in any story.
ultimatecryptid's review against another edition
adventurous
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A thoroughly enjoying read! It was fun to see some of the earliest root of what I might call fantasy, but what I found even more fun was the way the language mimicked many of the fairy tales I remember hearing as a child.
cambrand's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
3.0
This is a book of how men see themselves as great knights that can defeat anything. Incredibly Catholic but also magic? A lot of jousting and random adventures. Nobody has been more quick to accept a quest from stranger than the knights of the round table.
robconner88's review against another edition
3.0
So like pretty much every 11th grade student in the state of Michigan, I had to read the story "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" at some point. I remember reading it, and watching cartoons like Justice League and Gargoyles (who had elements borrowed from these stories) and thinking "Okay, I wonder what other fantastical adventures King Arthur had other than just these two stories I've heard of? So I can finally say now that I know of them, sort of.
I have to admit, I feel a bit let down. I made the mistake I have made before of listening to an Audiobook version which left me kind of confused and feeling left in the dust. I am very willing to actually give this book a second try with a physical copy in the future as a result. Part of the problem was the language (which is dated) and the other with the characters and the way they are written. It is almost like you are expected to come into this book knowing who half this people are. "Oh King Aflered of North Wales! I've heard of this guy before! No, his kingdom is next to Cameldown not Camelot! I totally know where they're going. Classic Aflered!" I almost wish I had a primer to read this book with, or a very well read college Professor to take breaks and converse with and ask questions to. It felt like a LOT of stuff was just thrown out and not explained.
So yeah, this book is definitely not some book you can casually listen to in Audiobook format, unless you're a scholar in Middle English Epics or something like that. I did enjoy some of the stories, and in some ways it made me nostalgic for my 11th Grade English teacher who explained what they all meant by this action or this character.
But I felt a lot like the experience was a little sour for me. I wish I could have taken the time, read the book and even read more background information on the book. I will definitely give this a re-read one day. You know, once I finish the other 400 books on my TBR pile.
I have to admit, I feel a bit let down. I made the mistake I have made before of listening to an Audiobook version which left me kind of confused and feeling left in the dust. I am very willing to actually give this book a second try with a physical copy in the future as a result. Part of the problem was the language (which is dated) and the other with the characters and the way they are written. It is almost like you are expected to come into this book knowing who half this people are. "Oh King Aflered of North Wales! I've heard of this guy before! No, his kingdom is next to Cameldown not Camelot! I totally know where they're going. Classic Aflered!" I almost wish I had a primer to read this book with, or a very well read college Professor to take breaks and converse with and ask questions to. It felt like a LOT of stuff was just thrown out and not explained.
So yeah, this book is definitely not some book you can casually listen to in Audiobook format, unless you're a scholar in Middle English Epics or something like that. I did enjoy some of the stories, and in some ways it made me nostalgic for my 11th Grade English teacher who explained what they all meant by this action or this character.
But I felt a lot like the experience was a little sour for me. I wish I could have taken the time, read the book and even read more background information on the book. I will definitely give this a re-read one day. You know, once I finish the other 400 books on my TBR pile.
halfelfschollar's review against another edition
4.0
A good read if you're interested in the origins of certain ideas seen in fantasy set in medieval England.
klandwehr's review against another edition
3.0
The story isa familiar tale of Western Literature. The story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Many of the characters are familiar, Arthur, Merlin, Lancelot, Lady Guinevere however there are many that I did not recognize. It is full of adventure, including wizards, enchantresses, giants, and even dragons, knights and damsels in distress. The way the women are portrayed in the story is my least favorite part of the story, they are either portrayed as weak and helpless or ungrateful complainers or just pure evil. However since the book was written in the 19TH century and is ultimate about chivalry, I guess it is expected. If you are looking for a book full of adventure this maybe the book for you.
booksandyarniness's review against another edition
3.0
Listened to live reading of this book. King Arthur's tales told by this dude were way more misogynistic than other versions that I have read.