sophieisgod: ([merlin] royal escort)
she's got red lipstick and a bright pair of shoes ([personal profile] sophieisgod) wrote2009-03-27 11:13 pm

Avalon: Rather Misty, Apparently

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 [livejournal.com profile] 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? ♥

[identity profile] lovestories.livejournal.com 2009-03-28 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
♥♥♥

It is very probable that you will win because I am not famous among vidders and all, so KNOW THAT THERE ARE MORE FANDOMS AVAILABLE THAN ACTUALLY LISTED (Skins! Supernatural-as-long-as-it-doesn't-involve-me-downloading-all-four-seasons! Gemma Doyle Triolgy!modern AU-if-I-find-source (FREDDIE FOR KARTIK)! Etc!).

ALSO. Because I am thinking waaaaay ahead, VID OR FIC FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?

[identity profile] sophieisgod.livejournal.com 2009-03-28 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
AWESOME. I WILL EXTORT THAT BLOC PARTY VID FROM YOU, IT SHALL BENEFIT THE INTERNETS AT LARGE BECAUSE REALLY, MORE GLOVED!UTHER IS REQUIRED.

Ahahaha, you are so silly! YOUR BIRTHDAY IS A FULL TWO MONTHS BEFORE MINE (and I use my NICK JONAS IS LEGAL IN THE UK!icon in honour of this event). I SHALL TAKE WHAT SCRAPS I CAN GET *COUGHBRIDESHEADRPSCOUGH* *COUGHBENTHEMANWHORECOUGH* ♥ AND YOUR GOOD SELF?

[identity profile] lovestories.livejournal.com 2009-03-28 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
Oh pshaw, that thing is ALREADY IN THE MAKING (well, kind of. In that it has been planned out but not actually put in le WMM yet. Er. ALMOST IN THE MAKING). I AM TOO FOND OF THE CRAZY UTHER VS. ARTHUR AND UTHER VS. MORGANA STUFF THAT WILL COME INTO PLAY TO NOT DO IT.

BRIDESHEAD RPS, I VOW TO FINISH YOU, EVEN IF IT IS ONLY 200 WORDS AT A TIME (also, might I beseech you to look at the crazy Matthew/Hayley conversation of approximately 700 words when you have free time? And, er, the first 200 words of the KITTENS?). Gyaaaah, I have no idea what I want! EMPIRE RECORDS FIC? CRAZY BEN/JETHRO CLUBBING ACROSS EUROPE? SOMETHING GAIUS/SIX RELATED?

[identity profile] sophieisgod.livejournal.com 2009-03-28 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
OH JOY! I anticipate the gloved paranoia with much glee. OH SEXY ANGSTY FAMILIES.

OH MY DAYS, I HAD ALMOST FORGOTTEN THE WONDER THAT IS BRIDESHEAD!RPS!FELICITY JONESSSSS. Do you think BEN would be a good FUCK!!!! OH HOW I ADORE HER. And everything seems good and well! KITTENS! EMMA THOMPSON! All is fine and dandy! THOSE THINGS COULD ALL BE ACHIEVED, I FEEL.

[identity profile] lovestories.livejournal.com 2009-03-28 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
OH GOOD. I am ridiculously proud of myself for having written some Ben, I must say. AFTER MONTHS OF RESISTANCE. Er, even if it's only like, half a line. BABY STEPS.