The Mists of Avalon

[mykpart]

A while back, someone started a thread about the book, "The Mists of Avalon" and how good it was. Thank you, whoever that was. I got the book, and I LOVE it! I tried to watch the miniseries, but it was really hard to follow, and all the actors looked alike. But the book was delightful. Thanks again for recommending it.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

1. I actually enjoyed the mini-series .

I have always had an interest in Arthurian tales . And I liked the way that Marion Zimmer Bradley told the myth from a feminist point of view . From Morgaine's viewpoint rather than from Arthur's . Its interesting with the way that the ways of life changed from matriachial ( celtic ) to a patriarchal ( christian ) society .

[mykpart]

3. I enjoyed seeing the evolution of Christianity.

Some people seem to think that the Bible fell out of the sky one day, in English. I enjoyed seeing the way that Christianity integrated with the old religion.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

4. Me too ...

I did'nt read the book but the mini-series moved me .

[SeattleGirl]

2. Mists of Avalon is one of my favorite books.

I love it that it was told from the female perspective.

[China_cat]

5. Now, there are several followups/prequels

that are almost as good.

[LostinVA]

6. Don't watch the miniseries! It changed the WHOLE POV of the book

Instead of it being from women's POV, and also a Pagan POV, it became skewed... and women become evil and witch like when they weren't, etc. It's a wonderful, powerful, evocative book... but the miniseries sucked so badly... even a bunch of great actresses couldn't salvage the gaggo script.

[BreweryYardRat]

7. If a mere male may interject...

It's one of the few books I've ever given up on, despite repeated tries. I don't have a problem with feminist stuff in fantasy, but this thing was bloody unreadable. I'm tired, and I'm sick, so I'm going to point you at a rant by a female author who expresses her distaste Mists a lot more eloquently than I can:

http://limyaael.livejournal.com/213179.html

[Misunderestimator]

12. Oh well, it's a good thing most women don't see it that way.

That tripe you linked to sounds almost personal. How odd to hate something so intensely that is beautiful and inspiring to so many others. A bit Ann Coulterish.

[LostinVA]

19. Agreed -- it's a wonderful book

Straight guys just don't get it, do they MIs?

[Misunderestimator]

23. It must feel threatening to them...

or something... :shrug: :hi:

[LostinVA]

24. Seriously -- I've said that very same thing to someone before!

[khashka]

8. Cool!

I used to know MZB.

And I could never get into her writing. It was awkward to say the least :)

Mists changed everything for me. It's her masterwork.

But to appreciate her work you really need to know a few things: she was a die-hard feminist before feminism was cool. She was a champion of gay and lesbian rights before anyone knew what LGBT meant (back in the fifties). She's a pagan. Heritage of Hastur could have been a really anti-gay novel, but in her hands?

MZB has always been ahead of the curve and she writes that way. It can be hard to keep up with her.



Khash.

[stellanoir]

9. Consider

checking out "Firebrand" by the same author. It's about Helen of Troy. I enjoyed both books equally even though I'm ever so slightly more connected with the Arthurian legends.

[havocmom]

22. Firebrand rocks! Trojan war through the eyes of Cassandra

Really good book.

[Shine]

10. Coincidentally, I happen to be reading "The Inheritor" right now.

another one of her books, I'd never heard of before, but I happened across it in the library and checked it out. It's set in SF, which is my neck o' the woods, so I'm enjoying it. Kind of a supernatural story...

"Mists.." remains her all-time classic and best one, though. :thumbsup:

I never saw the TV version.

Have you read all the ones that come AFTER Mists, like "The Forest House" and "Priestesses of Avalon"? Check those out, too.

The stories continue....:hi:

[bridgit]

11. one of my & my brother Willie's fav writings...

:thumbsup:

[Vidar]

13. Enjoyed both, though the book was better.

[flamingyouth]

14. One of my all-time favorite books.

Didn't care for the mini-series much at all. But I love the book. :thumbsup:

[JitterbugPerfume]

15. Interesting book

I found it at a second hand store and bought it because I had read about it here It is food for thought--a different perspective

[Arugula Latte]

16. Finally read it this winter.

It was a long slog, but very beautiful and worthwhile. I kept hoping against hope that Christianity would get its butt kicked in the end! :(

[wildhorses]

17. just popping in to say that I liked this book too

:hi:

[LynzM]

18. I really enjoyed this book...

It actually turned out to be what finally pushed me away from Christianity, just looking at it from that perspective, in addition to a lot of other thinking and reading I was doing at the time. Great, sad story, though.

[LostinVA]

20. Agreed -- very, very sad... very poignant

Ax I always say... if the Roman reinforcements had just been a few days late.... Boudicca would have driven the Romans out of Britain, the whole Roman view of patriarchywouldn't have taken hold...

[xmas74]

21. I haven't read that series in years!

Thanks for the reminder. It might be a nice addition to my other Arthurian books.