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3.15 AVERAGE
3.15 AVERAGE
While it was informative to read about what Marion Zimmer Bradley was really like, as other readers have mentioned, I could have done without the gay bashing and pagan bashing.
I have a lot of compassion for the author, so I get how she ended up being homophobic and paganphobic, as unhealthy as that is.
This book could use a lot of editing; it didn't need to be as long as it was. Certain things were repeated, which didn't need to be.
When I heard Bradley was an abuser, I threw out all of my Avalon books, and I'll never read them again.
I have a lot of compassion for the author, so I get how she ended up being homophobic and paganphobic, as unhealthy as that is.
This book could use a lot of editing; it didn't need to be as long as it was. Certain things were repeated, which didn't need to be.
When I heard Bradley was an abuser, I threw out all of my Avalon books, and I'll never read them again.
A long, horribly sad account of child molestation and its aftermath. The scenes are described from the tortured perspective of the victim, then a little girl, Moira Greyland. The references to Avalon indicate one of the villains, a sff author who peaked in her craft in the 1960s and 1970s, a period of experimentation and questioning why our society makes its choices, all of which are valid questions to ask. What is not permitted, however, among any civil society, is to advocate victimization of children, who have no agency or ability to give consent, because dammit, they are not adults. So, it's sick and horrible, and yes, I too, believe Moira. I believe she believes her story too.
The only issues I have with the book (and they are both killers, two stars each, in fact) is that first the language is often homophobic. It spreads misinformation about homosexual people, generalizing the behavior of some criminals (her parents) to an entire subset of humanity. That's completely wrong. Also, getting puppie Vox Day to edit and write an introduction drains the story of all credibility. I find myself believing Moira, but with Day involved now I wonder... Vox Day is an issue that bleeds the book dry of truth. Too bad. What were you thinking?
The only issues I have with the book (and they are both killers, two stars each, in fact) is that first the language is often homophobic. It spreads misinformation about homosexual people, generalizing the behavior of some criminals (her parents) to an entire subset of humanity. That's completely wrong. Also, getting puppie Vox Day to edit and write an introduction drains the story of all credibility. I find myself believing Moira, but with Day involved now I wonder... Vox Day is an issue that bleeds the book dry of truth. Too bad. What were you thinking?
Gripping and disturbing, unforgivable treatment of the children.
It is such a shame that the author's experiences have resulted in her opposing the prominent communities her parents belonged to and her final message became one of intolerance for gays (down with gay marriage!) and pagans (down with paganism!). Unfortunately, every walk of life has rotten apples with skeletons in the closet, but they do not permeate the whole community worldwide.
I wish the author continued and sustained healing, because what she had to live through was unforgivable.
It is such a shame that the author's experiences have resulted in her opposing the prominent communities her parents belonged to and her final message became one of intolerance for gays (down with gay marriage!) and pagans (down with paganism!). Unfortunately, every walk of life has rotten apples with skeletons in the closet, but they do not permeate the whole community worldwide.
I wish the author continued and sustained healing, because what she had to live through was unforgivable.
I've already made my views on why I won't be checking out Marion Zimmer Bradley's work clear, and I still have no intention of supporting that woman or her legacy.
This book is difficult. On the one hand, I feel deeply sorry for Moira Greyland. What happened to her was and still is unforgivable and she has every right to be angry, upset, and disgusted by it. I believe her story, and I think that she has every right to tell it and let people know what her parents did, because it should be told.
On the other hand, from what I've read of her statements and the fact that she associates with white supremacists like Vox Day, who has said lovely little bits like this, it's clear that this is homophobic drivel. Victim or not, homophobic drivel is still homophobic drivel. I am torn between emotions of compassion and disgust. She's allowed the bitterness of what was done to her to twist her into someone who continues harming others, just like her mother did.
This book, as well as Greyland's own disgusting comments about the LGBT community, has only solidified my decision not to check out Bradley's work. Her twisted, evil treatment of her daughter has spawned a legacy of pain that Greyland is carrying on with works such as this. If I had the chance to talk to her as a human being to human being, I would express the sentiment that it was not her parents' sexuality that made them do what they do, but that because they were sick, vile, and twisted individuals who would have done it even if they were heterosexual. There is no justification for it.
Anyway, onto better books.
This book is difficult. On the one hand, I feel deeply sorry for Moira Greyland. What happened to her was and still is unforgivable and she has every right to be angry, upset, and disgusted by it. I believe her story, and I think that she has every right to tell it and let people know what her parents did, because it should be told.
On the other hand, from what I've read of her statements and the fact that she associates with white supremacists like Vox Day, who has said lovely little bits like this, it's clear that this is homophobic drivel. Victim or not, homophobic drivel is still homophobic drivel. I am torn between emotions of compassion and disgust. She's allowed the bitterness of what was done to her to twist her into someone who continues harming others, just like her mother did.
This book, as well as Greyland's own disgusting comments about the LGBT community, has only solidified my decision not to check out Bradley's work. Her twisted, evil treatment of her daughter has spawned a legacy of pain that Greyland is carrying on with works such as this. If I had the chance to talk to her as a human being to human being, I would express the sentiment that it was not her parents' sexuality that made them do what they do, but that because they were sick, vile, and twisted individuals who would have done it even if they were heterosexual. There is no justification for it.
Anyway, onto better books.
Walter H. Breen had it all: he was the first ever member of MENSA, a respected numismatist, and an extremely gifted musician who could flawlessly play just about everything by ear.
Marion Zimmer Bradley was a member of MENSA too, and a very popular science fiction & fantasy author whose book "The Mists of Avalon" has sold literally a ton of copies and is considered to be one of the milestones of feminist fiction.
Being the child of such a couple, one would think, should be thought as nothing short of an amazing, astonishing prvilege. To grow up and live in a household with that sort of unbelievably talented parents, in a house where very popular authors, scientists, artists, etc. would spend a lot of time should be the perfect environment for a growing child.
Well, no.
As a matter of fact, that wasn't the case for Moira Greyland.
Walter H Breen was a pedophile prone to abusing young kids whenever he had the chance to. As for Marion Zimmer Bradley, not only did she molest her daughter and treated her like utter garbage, she also did her best to hide what was happening in her household.
This book is the appalling autobiography of the daughter of Walter H. Breen and Marion Zimmer Bradley. Going through the pages of "The Last Closet" is a nightmare experience. I don't even want to think what it's like to be sexually molested and abused by your own parents, the idea itself sends icy shivers down my spine. But that's exactly what happened to Moira Greyland. Not only were her parents her worse abusers, they'd also gladly let their guests take advantage of her.
Fucking disgusting. Vile. Degenerate.
I can't even describe how this book made me feel, it pissed me off bigtime to say the least. However it needs to be read by as many people as possible as a cautionary tale.
Marion Zimmer Bradley was a member of MENSA too, and a very popular science fiction & fantasy author whose book "The Mists of Avalon" has sold literally a ton of copies and is considered to be one of the milestones of feminist fiction.
Being the child of such a couple, one would think, should be thought as nothing short of an amazing, astonishing prvilege. To grow up and live in a household with that sort of unbelievably talented parents, in a house where very popular authors, scientists, artists, etc. would spend a lot of time should be the perfect environment for a growing child.
Well, no.
As a matter of fact, that wasn't the case for Moira Greyland.
Walter H Breen was a pedophile prone to abusing young kids whenever he had the chance to. As for Marion Zimmer Bradley, not only did she molest her daughter and treated her like utter garbage, she also did her best to hide what was happening in her household.
This book is the appalling autobiography of the daughter of Walter H. Breen and Marion Zimmer Bradley. Going through the pages of "The Last Closet" is a nightmare experience. I don't even want to think what it's like to be sexually molested and abused by your own parents, the idea itself sends icy shivers down my spine. But that's exactly what happened to Moira Greyland. Not only were her parents her worse abusers, they'd also gladly let their guests take advantage of her.
Fucking disgusting. Vile. Degenerate.
I can't even describe how this book made me feel, it pissed me off bigtime to say the least. However it needs to be read by as many people as possible as a cautionary tale.
3.5 stars.
This was a really hard read. I appreciate the author’s bravery in coming out of her closet of abuse and sharing her story.
This was a really hard read. I appreciate the author’s bravery in coming out of her closet of abuse and sharing her story.
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Abandonment