The Once and Future King
2 journalers for this copy...
I just joined a bookring for this book, but decided to pick it up anyway to share since so many people are interested in it and it's companion, "The Book of Merlin."
Just got it in the mail. Thanks, therubycanary! It's all the way down in my TBR-pile, so it'll take a while to read it, but I will read it eventually and journal it. And probably send it on to someone else afterwards...
I remembered reading this book ages ago, but that turned out to be a little besides the truth. In fact, I only recognized the first part (called 'The Sword in the Stone') and I'm pretty sure I never read any of the other three books.
They're surprisingly different. The first book is King Arthur's youth and training by Merlyn (while still an innocuous little boy. Arthur, I mean) and has a lot of magic. Arthur is turned into all sorts of animals and brought to all sorts of places in order to learn stuff for his later kingdom. This part I loved, it's so happy :-).
I didn't like the second part, though. It's all about how Arthur is seduced by his half-sister to spawn Mordred, but it's very strange. There's almost no story and half of the text (set in Orkney, which seems to be half in Cornwall, half in Scotland) is completely incomprehensible.
Fortunately, it picked up lovely after this book. Books three and four are more adventurous, with Lancelot and all the other knights of the Round Table, lots of good deeds, questing and Holy Grail.
The best part about this book is that Arthur is not set as some mythological King, but simply as someone who tried to forge England to one country, to dispell violence and bring some measure of justice to the country. And the almost ridiculous way knightly jousts are described ("they proceeded to give eachother wallops on the heads by turns") keeps on drawing chuckles.
In short, a lovely book to read, even if one part was less enjoyable. Thanks a million, therubycanary, for sending me the book. Let's see if I can make someone else as happy with this book...
They're surprisingly different. The first book is King Arthur's youth and training by Merlyn (while still an innocuous little boy. Arthur, I mean) and has a lot of magic. Arthur is turned into all sorts of animals and brought to all sorts of places in order to learn stuff for his later kingdom. This part I loved, it's so happy :-).
I didn't like the second part, though. It's all about how Arthur is seduced by his half-sister to spawn Mordred, but it's very strange. There's almost no story and half of the text (set in Orkney, which seems to be half in Cornwall, half in Scotland) is completely incomprehensible.
Fortunately, it picked up lovely after this book. Books three and four are more adventurous, with Lancelot and all the other knights of the Round Table, lots of good deeds, questing and Holy Grail.
The best part about this book is that Arthur is not set as some mythological King, but simply as someone who tried to forge England to one country, to dispell violence and bring some measure of justice to the country. And the almost ridiculous way knightly jousts are described ("they proceeded to give eachother wallops on the heads by turns") keeps on drawing chuckles.
In short, a lovely book to read, even if one part was less enjoyable. Thanks a million, therubycanary, for sending me the book. Let's see if I can make someone else as happy with this book...
I offered it to Lindlec as a surprise RABCK. While waiting for Lindlec's reply, my GF read it, but she refused to journal it, to avoid too much confusion. As far as I know, she quite liked it, and she mostly likes the second book. I didn't ask for any more details.
And now, the book is on its way to Lindlec, where it should arrive in a few days. Hope you'll like it, and offer the book a good and caring home ;-). Enjoy!
And now, the book is on its way to Lindlec, where it should arrive in a few days. Hope you'll like it, and offer the book a good and caring home ;-). Enjoy!
