Guinevere by Sharan Newman

SYNOPSIS

Sharan Newman tells the story of the golden child whose dearest friend is a saint who hears spirits singing; of the gentle-hearted woman who begins to dream of love, glory, and the fierce, proud king who will become her husband; of the passionate beauty whose name will be remembered and hated for centuries.

MY REVIEW

Of course this was an instant read for me, being the Arthurian legend junkie I am. There are really more series on Guinevere than I realize, and this is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.

I can't say I liked this book. But I can't say I absolutely cursed it to damnation either. I don't know, maybe it's that Arthurian legend junkie inside of me keeping me from being too harsh.

Let's start with this book's namesake, Guinevere. Sharan Newman's aim, I think, is to have Guinevere come across to the reader as "otherworldly" and "different," somehow like the "chosen one." But really, she came across to me as spoiled and just kind of "out there." And not in a good way. It was like she was always in some other world that everyone else, and it was a bit annoying.

I was really quite mad at Guinevere towards the end of the novel, when she first meets Arthur. Arthur goes completely gaga over her, of course, but Guinevere remains completely ignorant. I mean, Arthur is willing to go so far as to change the person he is for her, and Guinevere acts surprised when Arthur tells her he loves her? I mean, come on. Like I said, it's like Guinevere's existing in some other dimension throughout the novel.

I also didn't like the fantasy aspect of this novel. Guinevere talks to a unicorn. Really. And she sees invisible spirits. It was just too weird for me, and in my opinion, it really didn't add anything substantial to the book.

I will say I did like Sharan Newman's interpretations of all of the other Arthurian characters. But it seems kind of silly to me that I came away from this book liking everyone else except Guinevere. Kind of defeats the point I guess.

The writing was pretty well done, although it really took me a while to get through it. I definitely didn't get that magical feeling I get when I read Arthurian legend. (Except at the end when Sharan Newman introduces Lancelot ;D).

All in all, if you're super duper into Arthurian legend like I am, I'd say why not, give it a try. But if you are just getting into the magic that is King Arthur, pick another series. I might read the rest of the series just to see what she does with Lancelot + Gwen, but we'll see.

MY RATING

2.5**/*

Book #14 in Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Teaser Tuesdays (15)

Happy Tuesday everyone! This week's teasers come from Sharan Newman's Guinevere, a retelling of Arthurian legend.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teasers:

"Everyone followed their own pattern until the whole household felt as if it were involved in some complicated ritual dance, where one missed beat would bring catastrophe. And the center about which this dance revolved was Guinevere, never a part of the pattern, but always the focus, an object of caution and concern." (118-119)

--Guinevere by Sharan Newman

Sword of the Rightful King by Jane Yolen

GENRE

YA Historical Fiction / Arthurian Legend (349 pgs.)

SYNOPSIS

Newly crowned King Arthur rules the kingdom... but not the people's hearts. Unless he proves his worth, his power will always be in question. Too many want him dead, and treachery is everywhere.

So the wizard Merlinnus secretly creates a test for Arthur...

A sword in a stone is discovered--a stone that bears a legend promising that whosoever draws out the sword will rule England. If all goes as planned, King Arthur will draw the blade from the stone (with the help of magic from Merlinnus, of course), and the people will at last rally around the young king.

Except someone pulls the sword out first...

MY REVIEW

Yet another retelling of the Arthurian legend? Sign me up! I found this title when I was perusing through my ordering options on PaperBackSwap.com.

I cannot even begin to tell you how glad I am that I ordered this book, and how glad I am that Jane Yolen shared this incredible story! So far, out of all Arthurian re-interpretations, this is one of the best interpretations of Arthurian legend I have read. Yes, it was that good.

Two things really stood out to me as I made my way through this story... characters and plot.

Don't expect the traditional Arthurian characters in this book. Ms. Yolen gave them such fresh traits and stories, it was remarkable! It was so refreshing. The best thing about that was that the characters didn't hurt the story of Arthur in any way... in fact, they enhanced it, and made it even more of a joy to read.

The dialogue between the characters really kept the story moving, and lent so much more dimension to these familiar faces. Each character has their own voice, their own motives.

OMG the plot. I want to tell you about it so bad, but I don't want to ruin it! I can only say that it's not Arthur who pulls the sword out of the stone. And that one of the characters isn't who you think they are... But even so, the plot was excellent. It kept me on my toes throughout the entire novel. After a while of reading, you just have to learn to let go of your pre-conceived expectations, and relish in this new retelling.

Ms. Yolen did such an excellent job of telling this story, I cannot even stress that enough! There are so many twists and turns, it's completely unexpected! But still wonderful at the same time. She's made me fall in love with Arthurian legend all over again, and for that, I have to thank her. This was just a fantastic story!

In the back of the books, there is a short Q&A with Jane Yolen. One of her answers I absolutely loved:

"I am an Arthurholic. If a story is about Camelot, I am there! Quite simply, I think it is the greatest story ever told, or more accurately, the greatest collection of stories ever told." (354)

I couldn't agree more!

MY RATING

4.5****/*

Book #7 in Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Gawain & Lady Green by Ann Eliot Crompton

GENRE

YA Fantasy / Arthurian Legend / Fairytale Retelling (214 pgs.)

SYNOPSIS

Gwyneth wasn't supposed to fall in love with Gawain. Not like this. Gawain was the May King--a sacrifice offered to the Goddess for a bountiful harvest in return. Gwyneth knows this. His fate has been decided by powers beyond her control. But the warmth of his touch and the taste of his lips have blurred the lines of what she knows to be true. Now Gwyneth is willing to risk everything to keep Gawain alive, even if it means losing him forever...

MY REVIEW

I was excited when I first found this read in my local Border's. Arthurian legend? Check. Fairytale retelling? Check. Two of my favorite genres all bundled up in to one package? Yes please.

I really should have said no thanks.

This book was far from good. Even to say it was just okay is a stretch. Here's why.

The dialogue throughout the novel was clipped and devoid of meaning. After reading for a while, the character's dialogue actually became annoying to me. It had no real flow, no real meaning; it was just kind of there, you know? It just didn't go anywhere.

The characters were really poorly written. At the end of the novel, I felt myself not caring for a single one of the characters. Crompton didn't succeed in getting my sympathy for the plight of her raggamuffin characters. Neither Gawain nor Lady Green captured my imagination or my heart. There was absolutely no backstory, and without seeing where these characters had been, I couldn't possibly imagine where they could be going.

The plot skipped around everywhere! I was so confused reading this book. It wasn't until the end of the book that I really got a small sense of what was going on, and even then, I didn't care. It wasn't important to me. The whole opening of the book in media res really did not work at all.

Setting was nondescript. Definitely nothing special in that department either.

There was just no feeling in this novel. It was just an empty shell. Nothing captured my attention, or made me want to keep reading.

All in all, not a good read. In the back of the book, there was an "Coming Soon" add for another book by Crompton called Percival's Angel. I just cringed at the thought of having to read another butchering of Arthurian legend again.

MY RATING

1.5*/*

Book Haul: Borders & Target

Hello all! I thought it would be appropriate to start off summer with a massive book haul. All the books I bought are historical fiction (big surprise), so this should get me well on my way to completing the challenge. Also, I'm starting to bridge the gap between YA and Adult fiction, so I bought 2 books from each level. Once again, I stuck with paperbacks this time. Here's a peek!

My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira (Adult Historical Fiction)

Mary Sutter is a brilliant young midwife who dreams of becoming a surgeon. Eager to run away from recent heartbreak, Mary travels to Washington, D.C., to help tend the legions of Civil War wounded. Under the guidance of two surgeons, who both fall unwittingly in love with her, and resisting her mother's pleas to return home to help with the difficult birth of her twin sister's baby, Mary pursues her medical career against all odds. Rich with historical detail-including cameo appearances by Abraham Lincoln and Dorothea Dix, among others-My Name Is Mary Sutter is certain to be recognized as one of the great novels about the Civil War.

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran (Adult Historical Fiction)

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s revengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two– the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander–survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.

Wildwing by Emily Whitman (YA Historical Fiction)

When Addy is swept back in time, she couldn't be happier to leave her miser-able life behind. Now she's mistaken for Lady Matilda, the pampered ward of the king. If Addy can play her part, she'll have glorious gowns, jewels, and something she's always longed for—the respect and admiration of others. But then she meets Will, the falconer's son with sky blue eyes, who unsettles all her plans.
From shipwrecks to castle dungeons, from betrothals to hidden conspiracies, Addy finds herself in a world where she's not the only one with a dangerous secret. When she discovers the truth, Addy must take matters into her own hands. The stakes? Her chance at true love . . . and the life she's meant to live.

Gawain & Lady Green by Anne Elliot Crompton (YA Historical Fiction / Legend)

Gwyneth wasn't supposed to fall in love with Gawain. Not like this. Gawain was the May King-a sacrifice offered to the Goddess for a bountiful harvest in return. Gwyneth knows this. His fate has been decided by powers beyond her control. But the warmth of his touch and the taste of his lips have blurred the lines of what she knows to be true. Now Gwyneth is willing to risk everything to keep Gawain alive, even if it means losing him forever...

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

GENRE

Fiction/Fantasy/Arthurian Legend (876 pgs.)


SYNOPSIS

The Arthurian legend is well-known by many, but in The Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley approaches it in an entirely new way: from the perspective of the women involved in the story. We hear of Arthur's conception and birth from his mother, the courageous Igraine, and there are several scenes told from Guinevere's point of view, but the most intriguing and dominant character in the book is Morgaine, Igraine's first child, whose destiny lies not with the Christian future of England but on the enchanted isle of Avalon.

This hauntingly beautiful book spins a legend of the closing days of Avalon's rule, as paganism and worship of the Goddess give way to Christianity and its male God. Morgaine's tales of a life lived between the worlds of faerie and humanity, as she watches all the things she loves fade away into the mists, is tragic and moving, and will stay with the reader long after the tale closes.


MY REVIEW

Drumroll please! I am very pleased to announce that I have finally FINISHED the Mists of Avalon!! Now, onto the review.

I am so devotedly passionate about Arthurian legend. It has become so much a part of me over the past few years. It holds and will always hold a special place in my heart.

My Aunt was kind enough to let me borrow this book from her. I was a bit stunned by its sheer size at first (876 pgs and the smallest print I've seen), but I take a sick delight in long novels... the more the merrier, right? I couldn't wait to dive into this one, being the Arthurian junkie that I am, but boy, I did not know what I was getting myself into.

First of all, this book takes you on a journey. I spent 3 months of my life devoted to the reading of this single book. It is a saga, a legend, a journey through history. When reading this book, you have to be willing to let it take you wherever it will...

Marion Bradley, rest her soul, has written something so epic, so special I can hardly believe it. The pure detail that went into this book is really amazing, let alone the historical accuracy. Almost every single aspect of the Arthurian legends are present here in some way; she included everything (I mean everything!).

The characters... wow. Such a broad, diverse spectrum! From the chaste and beautiful Gwenhwyfar to the deeply devoted and passionate Morgaine, to the evil and scheming Queen Morgause... I think Ms. Bradley could have written individual books on each of these characters! But each one captures your attention and your heart, and really pulls you into the legend. I cared about these characters so much!

Speaking of characters, there is the matter of Lancelot and Guinevere (in my opinion, the greatest love story of all time). Ms. Bradley handled this side of the legends beautifully. Of course, Lance and Gwen didn't get the ending that I think they deserve (when do they ever do?), but Bradley wrote their story so well I found myself in tears at the end.

I had mixed feelings about Morgaine, on whom much of this book is based upon. Her devotion to the Godess and the rule of Avalon was a conflict for me, since this ended up partly bringing on the downfall of Camelot in the end. But I think that the ending truly makes up for that fact, when Morgaine realizes that all religions and people were one, and that "her work was done" (876).

The only downfall to this book was religion. Ms. Bradley shapes most of the story around it, and it can be a bit tedious at times. The themes she presented about religion were really swe-inspiring, but it seemed like at some points it was a constant back and forth about religion. I just wished maybe she could have focused more on the actual legends and the characters that the religious and theologous aspect of it. But it was a small downfall that I tried no to pay to much attention to, and I think the ending COMPLETELY makes up for all of my doubts.

This book is a tremendous addition to the library of Arthurian legend. If you are a fanatic like me, you MUST read this book! I probably didn't even do it justice in my review. Take the journey, read the legend!


MY RATING

5*****

Appropriateness Factors:

Just a small warning... this is an adult fiction book, and being so, there are a few sex scenes in this book. Take it for what it's worth.