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A review by rachelcdm
The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
This is a hard one for me to review.
I both really enjoyed it and found it rather dull in equal measure you see. (I actually paused reading it to read an Emily Henry book halfway through.)
I think part of the issue is, that as much as I am a big fan of Arthurian mythology, this is clearly a book aimed very specifically at outdoors-y boys and I am neither a boy nor particularly outdoors-y. Then coupled with the fact that this is now a rather old book filled with some dubious terminology and over-descriptive prose, it made some of the reading experience quite tedious. (Much turning into of animals and a few long parables thrown in.)
That being said, this book is cracking with creativity and humour. It has a really interesting narrative voice and some really fun concepts and mini-adventures. Merlyn is a hoot and the castle feels like a real place. I know TH White was one of the forefathers of modern fantasy - and it shows! He sprinkles information throughout the book so it’s almost teaching history as well at points, and there’s a real warmth to Wart and the experiences he goes through.
Then there’s the fact that my love and knowledge Disney adaptation gives the book a very nostalgic feel…
So it’s hard to rate, and I can’t decide if I’m going to read the rest - I may have to come back to it! This is a classic that has shaped Arthur’s legend so much so that I imagine many only know this version. And when a book is that impactful, really who cares what I think?
I both really enjoyed it and found it rather dull in equal measure you see. (I actually paused reading it to read an Emily Henry book halfway through.)
I think part of the issue is, that as much as I am a big fan of Arthurian mythology, this is clearly a book aimed very specifically at outdoors-y boys and I am neither a boy nor particularly outdoors-y. Then coupled with the fact that this is now a rather old book filled with some dubious terminology and over-descriptive prose, it made some of the reading experience quite tedious. (Much turning into of animals and a few long parables thrown in.)
That being said, this book is cracking with creativity and humour. It has a really interesting narrative voice and some really fun concepts and mini-adventures. Merlyn is a hoot and the castle feels like a real place. I know TH White was one of the forefathers of modern fantasy - and it shows! He sprinkles information throughout the book so it’s almost teaching history as well at points, and there’s a real warmth to Wart and the experiences he goes through.
Then there’s the fact that my love and knowledge Disney adaptation gives the book a very nostalgic feel…
So it’s hard to rate, and I can’t decide if I’m going to read the rest - I may have to come back to it! This is a classic that has shaped Arthur’s legend so much so that I imagine many only know this version. And when a book is that impactful, really who cares what I think?