i will talk no more of books or the long war

[swatkat]

I read The Mists of Avalon and really enjoyed it, despite minor quibbles (the archaic language falls apart at places; the pace varies; too many thoughts in italics, argh - a pet peeve of mine). I can't resist revisionist narratives, as you know, especially when they feature tragic, broken women (ref. Wicked).

There is something very Elphabalike about Morgaine (and Viviane) in their passion to protect Avalon and make history, and to a reader like me, that's irresistible: I couldn't bring myself to put the book down as I followed Viviane, and then Morgaine wear the mantle of the righteous crusader and isolate themselves from the world, deny themselves – and the people they love – what they need in favour of what is right, and then – and this is the most magnificent thing of all – are brought to question that very rightness of their actions. What is right? Was Viviane's decision to unite the two royal lines by pushing the unknowing Arthur and Morgaine to bed, right? Were Morgaine's choices right? Was it what the Goddess wanted, or were they simply born out of their own delusions of grandeur and power? And if they had not been doing the right thing for the right reason all along, where does that leave them?

What I also loved about Avalon's Utopia-narrative is that it always refers to the Utopia in the past tense. Avalon was an Utopia; it isn't, anymore. The elegiac note reminded me of LOTR and Lothlorien - the passing of beautiful things. But the melancholy note here is tempered with anger and resistance, and the central tragedy lies in the fact the fall of Avalon is brought about by the actions of the two women who swore to save it.

I also loved the fact that Avalon drifted away into the world of mists because it had ceased to be relevant in the 'real' world, because it brings about questions about the nature of 'reality', and that's one of my favourite sf/f kinks ever.

*

Afterwards, I read His Majesty's Dragon (yes, I've been living under a rock), and I *loved* it. It was well-written (of course!) and fast-paced; Laurence was surprisingly easy to fall in love with; Temeraire is absolutely adorable, as are the rest of the dragons. What I loved most, however, is that there are women! In the colonial fleet, er, Corps! And it's illegal so it's a secret, but they do it anyway! And that's seriously awesome.

I have ordered Throne of Jade, and the guy in the bookstore promised me that they'd get it for me tomorrow. *g*

Comments

[roga.livejournal.com]

I just finished reading His Majesty's Dragon a week ago! And, uh, I concur. It's really fun to be reading fantasy books again...

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

I want a dragon of my own now!

[topaz-eyes.livejournal.com]

I recently finished The Mists of Avalon. Word to everything you say. I especially liked the mists beginning to envelop Camelot as well, towards the end of the book. The idea that everything has its time and must pass.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, because Arthur is dead, and with him Camelot too must cease to be real and become the stuff of legend. This is one of my favourite themes, and I loved how it was handled here, with the reference to earlier lands that have disappeared, giving Avalon's fall a sense of inevitability and Viviane's (and Morgaine's) refusal to accept this fate a hubris-like dimension. I kept having LOTR flashbacks - Viviane is eeriely like Galadriel - but the Elves are far calmer about accepting their fate that the Priestesses are. Hence the tragedy.

[lyras.livejournal.com]

I like the Temeraire books, although Temeraire himself is a bit of a Mary Sue. *g* I have to admit, I think they get better, although that seems to be an unpopular opinion in critical circles.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Now that you mention it, he does have the possibility of being a May Sue. As does Laurence! In this book, Novik handles them both pretty well - Laurence's self-depracating POV and Temeraire's innocence manage to save the day. But that can certainly change in the future!

[stephanmcinnis.livejournal.com]

And another shameless plug but I can’t help but say I told you so: httptinyurl. Com/5f5ymh JD httpwww.

[catsma.livejournal.com]

*cackles in glee and points Swati towards Naomi Novik's LJ and the Temeraire fic journals*

I am being cheap and waiting for the 5th book to come out in paperback, have fun reading the all at once...LOL...that's the way I did the first 3 books and now have had to wait for the last 2. Shades of Harry Potter..*g*..which I didn't get into until Book 5.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

I know the fic LJs exist, but there's no way I'm touching anything until I read all the books.

And it just occured to me that the fifth book isn't out in paperback yet, so I'll have to wait as well! Because Harry Potter is the only series I'm willing to buy hardcovers for... they're frakking expensive! The fourth is out on paperback, though - I saw a copy at the bookstore the other day, and it's definitely the American edition (which is a pity - the Brit editions have prettier covers).

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

"The Mists of Avalon" was my favourite book when I was 14. I had the most enormous crush on Lancelot, what with his dark skinniness and a dancer's grace. < / intellectual in-depth book review >

It's one of the books I really should re-read. It'd be interesting to see how my perception has changed now that I'm, um, 20 years older and whether I still fancy Lancelot.

I am not a shallow person, BTW.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Lancelot = v/hot. However, I fell out of love with him when he chose Guinevere (and his BFF Arthur) over Morgaine, who is clearly hotter than either of them. Accolon v. pretty though, and I have a secret crush on Mordred.

I'm not shallow either, in case you're wondering. Not at all.

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

Of course Morgaine is hotter than any of them. However, Lancelot is a man and as such incapable of judging properly. All he sees is blonde, whiny and weak, and he's lost. Not unheard of... *is not bitter at all, either*

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

I comforted myself by thinking of Lancelot and Arthur's TWU WUV, but even Arthur is kinda whiny. And weak. Lancelot has a type, it seems.

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

He so does. (He's a bit annoying in his own right, though. But hawt.)

Now that memories of Avalon have started to resurface, I remember not having been shocked at all by the Morgaine/Arthur incest and didn't understand all the drama. They were only halfbrother and -sister, I remember thinking, who didn't even grow up together.

Didn't Guinevere perform some heavy emotional blackmail on Arthur to make him convert to Christianity or something? I really should re-read the book.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

I remember not having been shocked at all by the Morgaine/Arthur incest and didn't understand all the drama.

You were made for the HP fandom, lol!

She did! Perform a lot of emotional blackmail! Arthur *was* a Christian, but he was also sworn to Avalon and he wanted to keep everyone happy, but Guinevere was jealous and upset about her own love for Lancelot so she clung to Christianity. Then there was much drama about the banner of Pendragon vs. the banner of Christ. And Christ won, naturally.