Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley: ***

I'd considered reading this book for a long time. I've had it for a couple of years now, but waited a while to read it because I didn't want to start a large hardback while I was doing so much flying. After returning from Europe in June, I finished a couple smaller novels and then dove in for what I thought would be the "summer of hardbacks" (a la George Costanza's "Summer of George"). While an unfortunate accident with party invitations waylaid Mr. Costanza, my problems stemmed from the massive size of MZB's tome, and thus my summer became the "summer of hardback", singular. I typically read only a chapter or two a day of a book, sometimes even less. Much of my enjoyment stems from settling into a world and then inhabiting it for a while, as opposed to devouring a text in a day or so. Mists of Avalon could certainly be read much more quickly than at my pace, but other than the desire to tackle some of the other unread books on my shelf, I have no complaints with the time it took to read this one. I greatly enjoyed spending a month and a half or so plodding through.

I'm not a King Arthur buff, so I wasn't exceptionally familiar with the various plot develops beyond the majors - Excalibur, the Arthur/Guenivere/Lancelot love triangle, the existence of a couple other major characters like Merlin and Morgan le Fay. It's a good story, but that isn't what makes the book interesting. MZB excels in her exceptionally well-rounded characters, with human elements, strengths and flaws, that imbue the story with real passion and life. I would consider reading other MZB novels simply because of that quality. She also has no qualms about nasty or uncomfortable situations. The novel might have been stronger had MZB not limited herself to the perspectives of her female characters, though I understand that that "angle" is likely what won her such praise in the first place. It was an enjoyable book overall, and one that I was happy to have finally read.
(Summer 2004)


Close this window