Avalon: Rather Misty, Apparently

[sophieisgod]

So I finally got around to finishing The Mists of Avalon. Seriously, it has taken me, like, three months BUT THAT IS ONLY BECAUSE I KEPT GETTING BORED OF BORING IGRAINE AND FRUSTRATED AND HAVING TO THROW THE PAPERBACK BRICK ACROSS THE ROOM. Not having the internet drove me to finish it. And, well. It's a weird one.

SOME THINGS THAT I THOUGHT
+ I really did not care much for Igraine at all, although I did quite like the idea of Igraine/Uther as, like, ~mystical lovers across time and space~ or whatever that was.

+ The thing I just could not get past was WHY THE DEVIL EVERYONE, AND I MEAN EVERYONE, WAS IN LOVE WITH LANCELET. I JUST, HE WAS SUCH A FUCKING DOUCHEBAG. Even Morgaine was stuck on him FOR YEARS, FOR NO REASON, and she was mostly sensible! And everyone keeps talking about how good he is, but he really isn't, AND HE BASICALLY HAS NO PERSONALITY AND IS JUST PRETTY, AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON HOW EVERY SINGLE FUCKING CHARACTER IS OBSESSED WITH BEAUTY. CHRIST. And Gwenhwyfar/Lancelot was just so much blech with basically nothing behind it. ALTHOUGH I DID ENJOY HER INSINUATION THAT "HOMG YOU ONLY SLEPT WITH ME BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO BADTOUCH ARTHUR".

+ Ohhh, Gwenhyfar. I AM SO TORN. Because on one hand, y'know, she never asked to be given to Arthur, and she had all those agorophobia issues, and I feel bad that she was so brainwashed by priests and patriarchy and whatever and I WANTED SO MUCH TO BE ABLE TO LIKE HER. BUT THEN. SHE KEPT DOING THESE AWFUL THINGS LIKE FORCING ARTHUR TO PUT ASIDE THE PENDRAGON BANNER, WHICH MADE ME REALLY REALLY IRRATIONALLY ANGRY. I hated how much she seemed to hate ALL THE OTHER FEMALE CHARACTERS; she basically had nothing but negative thoughts about any of them, just endless not-particularly-varied variations on the theme of WHORE and SORCERESS and WANTON and so on. UGH. Which would have been fine and consistent and whatever WERE SHE NOT HAVING IT OFF WITH LANCELET. OR THINKING ABOUT HAVING IT OFF WITH LANCELET. ONE OF THE TWO. ALL THE TIME. I just, HYPOCRISY!

+ Ohhh, Arthur. BROKE MY HEART, BUT ALSO NEEDS TO GROW A PAIR.

+ Lots of nicely ambiguously powerful ladies, WHICH IS A DEFINITE GOOD THING. Morgaine I found really difficult to get a handle on for the entire novel; the whole Accolon OMG MUST HAVE POWER interlude I found a bit jarring, but she was generally fascinating. I actually really liked Morgause, for the most part, which I wasn't expecting. I think out of everyone, she was the most honest with herself, so good for her. And Viviane, of course, or as I like to think of her, THE PUPPETMASTER AHAHAHA.

+ I think I was effectively actively shipping Merlin/Nimue(h)? WEIRD. And I also liked Kevin/Morgaine. I pretty much just really liked Kevin. MERLIN IS APPARENTLY MY FOREVER GIRL WHATEVER FORM HE TAKES.

+ OH GOD I SUPPOSE THIS MAKES ME REALLY SHALLOW BUT AFTER READING THIS I AM SO GLAD MY MERLIN EXISTS. Arthur needs friends! He needs people to stand up to him! He needs to not be fucked up by having sex with his sister (although awwww, Arthur/Morgaine was misguidedly very sweet in its incestuous way. Kinda)! HE NEEDS MERLIN, DAMMIT. And Gwen! Lovely, lovely, kindhearted Gwen who is going to be an awesome queen because she is politically aware and has much potential for badassery! ILU GWEN ♥ I would, however, very much like to have Gareth and Gawaine on the show. SOME OF THE KNIGHTS TO BE ACTUAL CHARACTERS, PLZ.

+ Whatever I have spewed up there, the book was rather gripping. And, I will not tell a lie, I have procured the miniseries. WE SHALL SEE IF MICHAEL VARTAN CAN MAKE ME NOT HATE LANCELET.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS, MY LOVELIES?

Also, because I have been playing it with the divine darkangsty42, SHAG, MARRY, PUSH OFF A CLIFF! Give me three characters in the comments, and I'll do the same, AND THE FUN WILL NEVER EVER END.

How are you? ♥

Comments

[artemislives.livejournal.com]

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS? AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, ARE YOU GOING?

Oh, if I could nip away for a couple of days...

&hearts&hearts&hearts

[sophieisgod.livejournal.com]

OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD

As soon as I get my loan (A MONTH! A WHOLE ACCURSED MONTH!) I will be getting tickets for that and for the Bridge Project Winter's Tale OH MY SOUL

OHHHH I AM SO AROUSED RIGHT NOW

[lovestories.livejournal.com]

Ohhhh, The Mists of Avalon, WE MEET AGAIN. My history with that book is long and complicated. I tried to read it in like, fifth grade at the beginning of my Arthurian legend infatuation. No luck. Tried to read it in eighth grade at the peak of my Arthurian legend infatuation. Got 100 pages in and bailed. Tried to read it again at the beginning of 9th grade and couldn't even be compelled to open the book after I checked it out from the library.

And I feel really terrible about all this because EVERYONE I KNOW ADORES IT. IS THERE SOMETHING FUNCTIONALLY WRONG WITH ME THAT I DIDN'T FIND IT INTERESTING? I mean, I totally dig The Once And Future King once I get past the mindnumbing Arthur-as-various-animals part! I CAN TOTALLY DO RENOWNED ARTHURIAN LITERATURE.

IDK WHATEVER, let's get onto the infinitely more fun shag, cliff, or marry times!

ROUND ONE: Tony, Effy, Chris

[sophieisgod.livejournal.com]

ONCE YOU GET PAST IGRAINE/UTHER IT GETS BETTER? KIND OF? And Arthur is really very sweet. I FEEL LIKE SUCH A HEATHEN FOR MISSING MY COLIN-SHAPED MERLIN, THOUGH. OH WELL. PLEB I AM, IT WOULD SEEM.

Marry: CHRISTOPHER MILES (unless he's doomed to death in which case that would probably be a waste)
Shag: EFFY
Cliff: SORRY TONY LAD

Baltar, Caprica, Starbuck.

[miss-bluesky.livejournal.com]

um um shag marry push off a cliff is the best thing ever but it is so good my brain is exploding and I can't think of anyone

[sophieisgod.livejournal.com]

It is, it is! HERE I SHALL START YOU OFF WITH SOMETHING HORRID:

Bernard, Manny, Fran?

[thepodsquad.livejournal.com]

I was twelve years old when I read this novel. Almost thirteen, albeit.

It scarred me for life. It was the first "grown-up" book I read, and I hardcore shipped Lancelot/Gwyn. Although, I think this was mostly because this book fucked with my mind so much that I was like, "okay, these two should end up happy, yes?"

I think at a sheltered, homeschooled 13 I was in no way prepared for INCEST SEXUAL RELATIONS, considering I'd never read a book with normal sexual relations before this so it was like a double shock.

I just...wasn't old enough for it, I don't think. And therefore, I just have a lot of BAD memories about it. And my inner-13 year old still hasn't really recovered from Gwyn ending up in a fucking convent.

[piyo-halliwell.livejournal.com]

I started reading the book after having seen the miniseries, but sad little me didn't know it had been a book first. I can't remember when I started to read it, but I think I managed to get through the first part of the book ((part one of three, or something, if I remember right)), but put the book down and haven't been able to pick it up again. It wasn't that I didn't care for it, it was just one of those books that when I read it I read it, but if I closed it, it would stay shut for a very long time. Kinda like Dune, lol.

[lalumena.livejournal.com]

AND HE BASICALLY HAS NO PERSONALITY AND IS JUST PRETTY, AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON HOW EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER IS OBSESSED WITH BEAUTY.
Apart from the 'every single character' bit, that reminds me of a Certain Other Book...are we sure SMeyer hasn't read this book?

Blimey, 'Gwenhyfar'? Poor child. I mean, I'm sure there are solid and scholarly reasons for calling it such. But stilllll, what a heinous-looking name.

[alkalinegabi.livejournal.com]

Is it worth a read then? I'm in the middle of Le Morte D'Arthur by Thomas Malory for my Arthurian Legend fix.

P.s How could you push Bradley off the cliff?

Gisbourne,Robin,Will?

[sophieisgod.livejournal.com]

I'd say it's definitely worth a read, if you've got the time. How are you finding LMD'A? Worth a look?

I DIDN'T WANT TO, BUT I MUST MARRY COLIN. HE IS SO PALE AND LITHE AND STUFF.

Marry: WILL. Oh that boy ♥
Shag: GISBOURNE. I could probably tie him up with his hair, which would be... interesting
Cliff: FUCK OFF BOBBIN

Much, Allan, Carter?

[thisissirius.livejournal.com]

I have never read it but it's on my to=do list.

READING THIS MAKES ME WANT TO. And yet not want to at the same time D: Life, why so conflicted? Is it a recommended read despite all of your misgivings? AND THERE WERE MANY? IDEK. TELL ME WHAT TO DO.

BRADLEY. COLIN. KATIE.

(AHAHAHA). Not that I condone the killing of REAL PEOPLE but w/ever.

[xaritomene.livejournal.com]

I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THE MISTS OF AVALON. BUT I'M HERE FOR THE MEEEEEERLIN BIT. ^_^

Arthur is so good with Merlin as his FRIEND rather than his advisor (away, plot bunnies! Away!), and though I love the STORIES of the Arthurian legends, I was trying to re-read them last night, and kept thinking - "but... but Merlin?" And then Arthur was ordering Merlin to get him Guinevere as his wife, and I was there thinking, "HOW COULD YOU BETRAY YOUR EPIC MANLOVE!?"

This is waht this series has done to me. ^_^

...yeah, shutting up now. :D

[templa-otmena.livejournal.com]

You cliffed Bradley! He has worked so har dto be where he is!

Here, have a happy video :D


Toby Stephens, Richard Armitage, Joe Armstrong.

Poor guys... will be thinking of you! xXx

[sophieisgod.livejournal.com]

I love how you say 'happy video' AND IT ENDS WITH HIS BODY BEING CARRIED BY HIS WEEPING FATHER. Honestly, Ronald.

[headspin-x.livejournal.com]

NATE FICK, BRAD COLBERT, WALT HASSER. GO.

[sophieisgod.livejournal.com]

Marry: NATE FICK. Which I honest to God just typo'd as FUCK. OH MY MIND, I CANNOT LIE TO YOU.
Shag: THE ICEMAN COMETH
Cliff: BABY WALT I AM SO SORRY

[darkangsty42.livejournal.com]

HOW ON EARTH DID I MISS THIS. *FAILS*

Oh Mists of Avalon. I read it in the when I was 13 or 14, and it damaged me for life. Why? BECAUSE ARTHUR/MORGAINE IS PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY SHIP THAT IS SEMI-NORMAL. It cannot be unseen. I tried the mini, but could only get halfway thorough it. IDK.

As I am listening to Regina right now... musical ladies!
Regina, Amanda, and Lily.

[auroralives.livejournal.com]

Regina's new album! JUNE!!!!!!!

[sallyna-smile.livejournal.com]

I've watched the movie, and Morgana totally rocks in that version.. MIchael Vartan makes you desire to swap Lancelot with Arthur, cos he's quite a complex and great character (apparently they changed something from the book, dunno, still haven't read it..)
Merlin looks.. not so cool as in our tvshow, but really... Colin is teh awesomeness, no one can compare *__*

[auroralives.livejournal.com]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAH I FUCKING LOVE THE MISTS OF AVALON. AND I DON'T CARE WHO FRAKKIN' KNOWS.

Morgaine and Viviane are the best things about the book. Imho.

Kara, Lee, Anders? haha...

[sophieisgod.livejournal.com]

AHAHAHA OH YOU. I watched the mini tonight! AND THEN I FELT SHALLOW BECAUSE MICHAEL VARTAN MADE ME NOT HATE LANCELET AS MUCH BECAUSE HE WAS DISTRACTING ME WITH HIS LOVELY EYELASHES. Fail, hypocritical!Soph, FAIL INDEED.

Marry: Anders! He is ~sensitive~ and also WOAH HIS BODY
Shag: Kara (SHE IS A TIGRESS)
Cliff: Leland. SORRY LEEMO

LET'S GO SHAKESPEAREAN. AND TRAGIC. Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello.

[marketchippie.livejournal.com]

I AM SO WITH YOU ON BASICALLY EVERYTHING. I see that Gwenhwyfar's issues weren't entirely her own, yet there's never been another character that I've wanted to punch in the face so badly. I was vastly more charmed by Arthur/Morgaine than I ought to have been, though (what up, incestuous OTPs): give the man a backbone and they could have been such a power couple. Basically, it's the most frustrating book ever (nothing good ever happens to anyone remotely likable!), but it's still interesting. I like.

OH OH OH AND ALSO I saw the Ian McKellen/Romola Garai Lear and need to flail all over the place. I'm going to write some sort of post soon (omgsogoodomg), but in the meantime can we talk about how delicious Philip-Winchester!Edmund is? I want to have sex with that production BUT MOSTLY HIM.

[sophieisgod.livejournal.com]

OH INCEST. YOU MAKE ME WORRY ABOUT MYSELF AND ALSO NOT CARE AT ALL ABOUT MORALS AND SHIT LIKE THAT ♥ If Arthur had a backbone... I think interesting is definitely the word. Rather than, you know, satisfying, or anything like that.

WAS IT NOT FANTASTIC? And yes, he was delicious in a sort of even-more-snarly-Hans-Matheson sort of way ♥

ROBIN HOOD

[templa-otmena.livejournal.com]

LOLZ!

Also "a tall, dark stranger"

Also TREAT MUCH RIGHT!