More Praise for On the Way to New Isosceles!

The 2010 leg of our virtual tour for On the Way to New Isosceles is in high gear! And actually, folks, it's not even all me, Leigh, causing the trouble!


Check out the latest 3 Diva review for our science fiction erotica release from Eternal Press at Dark Diva Reviews!

http://ddrreviews.blogspot.com/2010/01/on-way-to-new-isosceles-by-leigh-wood.html

Don't forget we'll be guest blogging at Dark Divas January 19!



I know, I know, you can't wait that long for your chance to win an ecopy of On the Way to New Isosceles! Of course, you can pick us up any time from Eternal Press or Fictionwise! Plenty of e formats for your readers or a paperback copy from Amazon for the old school folks! Then again, you can have your contest chance by joining me live 8 p.m. est Monday January 11 at Night Owl Romance. Chat and Prizes!

http://www.eternalpress.ca/onthewaytonewisosceles.html

http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b98406/On-The-Way-to-New-Isosceles/Leigh-Wood/?si=0

http://www.amazon.com/Way-New-Isosceles-Leigh-Wood/dp/1926704908/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259631468&sr=8-1

http://nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/chat/chat.aspx



Remember, for a complete list of upcoming events and appearances, you can check out the Eternal Press calendar at fellow author Kristin Battestella's Group! We'll be visiting there all day January 19, too!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kristinbattestella/


You can also do all the rss feed, friend, and follow magics at my Leigh Wood Blog or find us Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=233760364430


Where in the heck am I next? Break it down!

1/11 Leigh Wood Live Chat 8 p.m. at Night Owl Romance!
1/12 EP Author's Blog Paranormal Day
1/19 Leigh Wood Guest Blog Day at Dark Divas
1/19 Leigh Wood Guest Day at the Kristin Battestella Group
1/28 Eternal Press Author's Blog Erotica Day
2/1 Eternal Press 8 p.m. Live Chat at Night Owl Romance
2/2 EP Author's Blog Erotica Day
2/3 Eternal Press 9 p.m. Live Chat at Romance Junkies!



LW

Sex in Space, Oh My!
On the Way to New Isosceles
by Leigh Wood
Available NOW from Eternal Press
http://leighwood.blogspot.com/

Another Sweet Review!

Yes, yes, My Woody Peeps! Not only can you spend some virtual live time with me 7 to 11 p.m. est tonight Thursday January 7 at the Eternal Press New Release Chat Party, but another review for On the Way to New Isosceles sings our praises!

"I love this new title from debut author, Leigh Wood. It was a fast paced, action fueled ride from start to finish with some amazing characters to keep you intrigued. ON THE WAY TO NEW ISOSCELES is a fun science fiction/futuristic story that leave you wishing for more when the last page is read. Ms. Wood is a talented author and storyteller. Her vivid world building will capture the imagination of her readers and I was lost in the story as I rooted for JJ and Rub to finally get together. With some wonderful light moments that had me giggling, Ms. Wood creates a story that has the possibility of happening in the future...."

4 Hearts, sweet! Read the complete review here:

http://loveromancesandmore.blogspot.com/2010/01/on-way-to-new-isosceles-by-leigh-wood.html

Oh, the Chat link helps, doesn't it?

http://www.eternalpress.ca/LiveAuthorChats.html

http://http//www.eternalpress.ca/onthewaytonewisosceles.html

Remember we're chatting again at Night Owl Romance 8 p.m. Jan 11, and Dark Divas Reviews will have their review of On the Way to New Isosceles live for our guest day there Jan 19! Be on the look out!

http://ddrreviews.blogspot.com/

You can also find us on Facebook and RSVP to our treats!

http://www.facebook.com/people/Leigh-Wood/100000432241842

LW

Sex in Space, Oh My!
On the Way to New Isosceles

by Leigh Wood

Available NOW from Eternal Press

http://leighwood.blogspot.com/

Reviews and More Magic On the Way to New Isosceles!

Wow, 2010 and we have a review for my late 2009 science fiction erotica release from Eternal Press On the Way to New Isosceles! Pips to Fallen Angels Reviews for their 4 Angel praise!






http://fallenangelreviews.com/2009/December/merrylee-onthewaytonewisosceles.htm



Hot Damn. Yes, I Lost a full 5 Angel Reccomends because I'm a quirky pain in the ass, but if you like my books, you don't have to be a Woody Peep and like me! However, if you do want to chat with my red hair brained self, you have plenty of opportunity to do so this month and beyond!




1/5 Eternal Press Author's Blog Erotica Day
1/7 Eternal Press New Release Party and Chat Fest!
1/11 Leigh Wood Live Chat 8 p.m. at Night Owl Romance!
1/12 EP Author's Blog Paranormal Day
1/19 Leigh Wood Guest Blog Day at Dark Divas
1/19 Leigh Wood Guest Day at the Kristin Battestella Group
1/28 Eternal Press Author's Blog Erotica Day
2/1 Eternal Press 8 p.m. Live Chat at Night Owl Romance
2/2 EP Author's Blog Erotica Day
2/3 Eternal Press 9 p.m. Live Chat at Romance Junkies!




February is packed with even more, and now I'm filling into April. It's so weird that two days into 2010, and I'm booked through Spring!



Stay up to date of course with all the EP action at our calendar on the Kristin Battestella Yahoo Group, and remember to hook up with your favorite friend, follow, RSS, subscribe, and whatnot magical virtual connections here, there, and everywhere!


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kristinbattestella/cal


http://leighwood.blogspot.com/


http://www.facebook.com/people/Leigh-Wood/100000432241842


http://http//www.eternalpress.ca/onthewaytonewisosceles.html





Join me on the sexy, naughty, non stop road On the Way to New Isosceles!





LW


Sex in Space, Oh My!
On the Way to New Isosceles
by Leigh Wood
Available NOW from Eternal Press
http://leighwood.blogspot.com/

New Review and News!

Hello Woody Peeps!

On the non fiction front, I have a new review posted at I Think Therefore I Review. A little critique on The Jane Austen Book Club and commentary about Austen in general.

http://ithinkthereforeireview.blogspot.com/2009/04/jane-austen-book-club.html

On a naughtier note, I've finished my conditional edits on On The Way To New Isosceles and resubmitted to Eternal Press. Now I must wait again, but keep you're fingers crossed! Hopefully, it won't be too long.

LW

New Review and On The Way News!

Alrighty Woody fans!

I've got a new review happening at I Think Therefore Review. My love hate relationship with Marion Zimmer Bradley continues. Here's my take on the Mists of Avalon miniseries.

http://ithinkthereforeireview.blogspot.com/2009/02/mists-of-avalon-2001.html

Also, I don't want to say too much or jinx anything but I've had a tentative offer for my sf erotica novel On The Way To New Isosceles! The publisher asked for a few revisions, nothing to serious thankfully. Some point of view tightening and balancing of the him/her ratio, but these aren't drastic changes. It will take me an month or so to complete and resubmit. Wish me luck!

The only downside is that my editing of Horns of Myleness will have to wait a little while, but that's okay. It's turned out to be quite huge, and I'm already planning two sequels to complete the universe. That one's going to take some time indeed!

LW

Lady Chatterley's Lover

Now, not to be confused with my previous review, here's my commentary on the novel! 80)

Lady Chatterley’s Lover Wasn’t All That Shocking

By Leigh Wood

After one too many viewing’s of the 1992 BBC production of Lady Chatterley, I finally broke down and read the book. I thought the 1928 unedited version of Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence would be a tough book to find. Expensive, rare, old leather, smelly, buried in an antiquarian store-that type of book. Indeed I was very pleased to find the 1928 Unexpurgated Oriali Edition in paperback at my local Borders. $4.95!

I wrapped Mists of Avalon as quickly as possible and avoided watching the film before I plunged into Lover. I read other writers’ criticisms on D.H. Lawrence and his works before purchasing the book, and I knew the book and movie didn’t have the same ending. Of course, I also knew the book’s controversial reputation and supposedly salacious use of naughty words and torrid sex talk. My edition opened with forwards and introductions detailing the book’s tough road to publication and the aftermath of censorship. Although this story is fairly well known in literary circles, this introduction is informative, with details and facts on the books printing, pirated editions, and trial information. Even if one was a toe towards prudish, you can’t not be interested in reading Lady Chatterley’s Lover after these words of praise.

Although the 1992 adaptation by Ken Russell is quite faithful, Lawrence’s work is naturally bigger and more detailed than what can be translated to the screen. I noticed many cases where the film had taken word for word from the book, and also where scenes had been combined or moved and relocated for the film. Still, much was remaining to surprise me. After her Baronet husband’s paralysis during World War I, young Constance Chatterley begins to question her mundane existence as Lady of Wragby Hall and nursemaid to her crippled husband. They are educated and literate, but as she listens to her husband and his friends chit chat about war, sex, society, and money, Connie becomes more and more disenchanted with her upper class standing. After a very dissatisfying affair with playwright Michaelis, Connie begins a saucy love affair with her husband’s gamekeeper Olivier Mellors. Despite the fear of being caught and societal pressures upon them, Connie and Mellors continue to meet. When the scandal comes out, they take measures to secure a life together, despite the class divisions against them.

The great part of Lady Chatterley’s Lover is the love discovered between the titular characters, so I was intrigued by the intitial Michaelis relationship. We learn much about Connie intellectually and sexually through this affair, internal thoughts and disappointing feelings that can’t be show onscreen. I’ve read other fans commentaries online about Joely Richardson’s performance as Lady Chatterley in the BBC version. Women sometimes find her portrayal conceded and flaky. Connie has nothing to loose, where Mellors has everything to loose. In the novel, this is certainly not the case. Connie is already nothing, an emotionless drone whose stature gives her nothing.

Likewise the Mellors in print has everything to gain. His backstory is greatly detailed by Lawrence, yet he maintains his strong silent and mysterious air. Once on officer during the war and a well educated pupil then tutor, Mellors could have the upper class at his fingertips, yet he chooses to be left alone. This book is not just about sex. Our couple is disenchanted with war, industry, money, and the people around them who think that those things give meaning to life. Some of Mellors’ dialogue is written in dialect and for an American like me, it took a double take at first. However, Mellors can also speak perfect English, and does so when he chooses, not when people expect it of him. In fact, his speech is often broken when he thinks it will upset people, such as Connie’s image conscious sister Hilda.

Lawrence spends a great many of the early chapters discussing artists and their self important selves, yet it is a great and subtle revelation when Connie discovers books in Mellor’s house. Its often claimed not to be Lawrence’s best work, but Lady Chatterley’s Lover intricately weaves the love story between Connie and Mellors with multiple commentaries from Lawrence. Without being too obvious with his author views, Lawrence questions the English post war Jazz society and classes as well as the later artistic society Lawrence often found himself outcast from. This catch-22 is again mirrored in the novel. Where Connie and Mellors affair crosses class divides and angers their entire community, her husband Clifford’s unusual relationship with his nurse Mrs. Bolton is entirely acceptable. I love Charles Dickens for his veiled or outright social commentaries, and I dare say Lawrence is on par here in asking those same society questions. Who decides these social barriers and imobilities? Why are some invisible to these restraints via power, position, and money? What is the right reason to circumvent these divides and do something about oneself?

Lady Chatterley’s Lover has kept me thinking about itself long after I’ve finished the book. I’d like to read it again and find answers to these questions. Although it is a thorough British book in time and place, Lover also presents very modern thoughts and conjecture. After Lawrence’s difficulty with self publishing and piracy, the book was banned until a 1960 obscenity trial. As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t find the book all that shocking. Was it because I was familiar with the film version, or is it because the book perhaps caused our current liberal ideas and desensitizing? Four letter words and sex talk have always existed, but Lawrence’s honest treatment of the subjects opened a Pandora’s box on erotica, pornography, nudity, and bad words in art, literature, and film. I can’t say the same for other works, but Lover is actually a very tasteful book, rather innocent in a way. The rebirth of the main characters through their love for one another. Lawrence was tempted to call the story ‘Tenderness’ and the title would have fit.

Although the work speaks for itself when it comes to sex, society, and even religion, my edition of Lady Chatterley’s Lover came with ‘A Propos on Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ by D. H. Lawrence himself. After finishing the book on a positive note, I was disappointed in this thirty page essay. One should always let his work speak for itself, and there’s no need for this redundant and overlong speech from Lawrence. From World War I to Christianity, Lawrence’s essays should be cut in half or is perhaps better for a college classroom discussion.

If you’re looking for porn or sexual gratification, you won’t find it in Lady Chatterley’s Lover. Most certainly the book is not for everyone, and if frank sexual talk and situations is not your cup of tea, do skip this read. I’lm a fairly straight laced individual, and I only second guessed the book once. In Chapter 16 or 19, I thought the anal sex euphuisms were getting a bit redundant. I giggled a few times over the language, but was moved by other beautiful descriptions from Lawrence. At first I looked for Lover in Borders’ small erotica section, but Lawrence’s works are found in the general fiction section and in the classics section at my local library.

Lady Chatterley’s Lover is by no means for children or prudes, but it is a fine novel that has transcended time and place. We may be too loose or vulgar in our society today-celebrities with wardrobe malfunctions and half naked women in music videos. Lover and the books in its wake may have caused this openness, but the book also reminds me of the good things about he past. Women wore gloves, men tips their hats to all, and writers wrote great books.

Lady Chatterley

Another Kinky review!

Lady Chatterley Not All Porn (But Still Not For Everyone)

By Leigh Wood

On The cusp of my Lord of The Rings obsession, I’ve been passing the time by watching films starring the actors from Peter Jackson’s Oscar winning epic trilogy. When my quest for Sean Bean films led me to watch Ronin- in English and Spanish-I broke down and bought the first movie I had seen the Boromir actor in- the 1993 BBC production of Lady Chatterley.

Sure Patriot Games and Goldeneye are great, but it was director Ken Russell’s adaptation of the banned D.H. Lawrence novels that embedded Sean Bean in my brain. Sex, adultery, class divides, and naughty language sent not one, but three versions of D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover underground. When the third and most tame version was finally published in 1962, scandal and controversy erupted on both sides of the Atlantic.

I knew nothing of this history when I first saw the theatrical two hour version late at night on cable. Boy or girl, a young teen will find the soft core porn that is currently everywhere in our society. At the time, I often tuned in for Red Shoe Diaries. A few bumps and grinds, perhaps some boobs, sometimes a nice story and historical location. The Marilyn Chambers movies, however, I could do without. I sought more than weak porn. I wanted a story.

Imagine my surprise when Lady Chatterley appeared. Unlike its early 20^th century/World War I contemporaries Avonlea and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Lady Chatterley stars Joely Richardson as the sexually repressed young wife of a paralyzed veteran (James Wilby) who finds love in a scandalous affair with her husband’s gamekeeper (Sean Bean).

Make no mistake, there are kinky folks who will tune into the second and third parts of Lady Chatterley’s four hours purely for the sex scenes. To take the series only for those visuals, is however an injustice. The miniseries format allows director Russell to take the time and set up the marriage of Lady Constance and Sir Clifford. They are both intellectuals in the upper class. Connie hails from a heady and upstanding artistic family, and Sir Clifford has a long list of noble names to live up to. The couple get on well enough, but there is already strain between them when the story opens. One might wonder how and why they married in the first place. The War? Perhaps the union was an unofficially arranged one? Already we have questions, as does Lady Chatterley. She yearns for more than serving as nurse to her often grumpy (although understandably so) husband. Sir Clifford, however, doesn’t want to see his title end, and invites Connie to take a lover, in hopes of claiming an illegitimate child for his own.

At first, Constance clings to the image of a loyal wife-despite prodding from her own sister and father. She finds the ranch hand-foreman-wild-man-of-the-woods Mellors rude and fearful. Finally, after discussing the symbolism of the black horse of passion with Sir Clifford, Connie hires a nurse for her husband and sets off to explore her estate-an estate that the brutish and strong-not paralyzed-Mellors is always lurking. Inevitably, the Lady and the Gamekeeper begin a purely sexual affair. Their encounters grow to something more, and the couple seeks to find a escape from the society that divides them.

I dare say the serious opening and closing hours of Lady Chatterley are my favorites. The story’s setup and resolution are indeed more important than the sex scenes, even though no sexual scene is superfluous or fluff. The reflections on the war, striking coalminers, and class debates all give weight to the story. Sir Clifford reads and becomes extremely intellectual while bound to his wheelchair, yet he sees nothing wrong with the English class divides. Connie of course disagrees with the notion that there will always be people who boss and people to boss. Mellors is a higher servant than most, yet he still must take orders from other household servants, and Sir Clifford mocks his accented speech. Constance’s father and sister also find no problem with her taking a lover, but all expect it to be a man of upper standing, not a servant. Likewise, none of the lower class cared that Mellors and his wife lived separately until the affair with Lady Chatterley comes out. He becomes an outcast in his own society-a class that Clifford jokingly calls ‘the enemy’.

The absurdity of this class division is obvious to the viewer. The juxtaposition of the bright, big, and beautiful green Chatterley estate versus the cramped dirty, rocky mines is a smart move by Russell, as is the love scenes between Connie and Mellors. The natural wooded part of the estate is theirs, where class troubles can’t reach them, and simplicity and innocence rule-unlike the cold, structured halls of the Wragby estate.

Russell and his co screenwriter Michael Haggaig also give double duty to the production’s dialogue. I’ve not read any versions of Lawrence’s books, only criticisms, but the screenwriters use the sound source materials to their advantage. Every line spoken has double and symbolic meaning. Part one ends with the first significant interaction between Mellors and Lady Chatterley. She wants a key for the hut on the property, and Mellors closes with, ‘If you let me know when you want it.’ Sexual innuendo, the face value meaning, a little key into the lock penetration symbolism, and a hint of chastity belt referenced all in six words.

The acknowledgement of speech divides is also sharp. When Connie’s sister Hilda (Hetty Baynes) finally meets Mellors, she asks him to speak ‘normal English’. The similar but different nature of the way they talk should keep the lovers apart, but it is a treat for the audience. Listen closely, and not just for the naughty language.

Now of Nip/Tuck fame, Joely Richardson was fairly new at the time of Lady Chatterley’s release, as was future Sharpe star Sean Bean. Both give every ounce to the production, and the delivery from the actors is also perfect. The way Sean Bean says ‘Your Ladyship’ alone shows his pent up torment. We follow Connie’s perspective more, but listen closely to Mellors’ speeches. He’s been a lonely misunderstood soul and now he’s found an emotional awakening with the one woman he shouldn’t have. Likewise Joely Richardson is perfect in nearly every frame. She’s so proper in the beginning, then shrinks in illness. She looks radiant and grows in beauty as her relationship with Mellors grows. The looks and unspoken movements between the two are exceptional. She bites her lips and nails when observing Mellors, and he often tilts his head or hunches away shy in her presence-as opposed to his upright towering over the permanently seated Clifford.

The chemistry between the leads is evident, yet Russell swiftly finds ways to symbolically divide them onscreen. Many of the scenes between Richardson and Bean are through fences or gates, implying one or the other is always locked out or in. Even after their relationship begins, trees or posts will cut the two shot down the middle, leaving a divided but symmetrical shot onscreen. Subtle but brilliant from Russell. These shots show how out of her element Constance is, but also how trapped Mellors is. The cinematography, acting, and dialogue all multitask, and multiple viewings of Lady Chatterley is a must if one is to catch everything.

Sir Clifford and his nurse Mrs. Bolton also develop a special relationship, parallel to Connie and Mellors, but acceptable of course. Their conversations seem more evenly matched. They play chess and the widowed nurse is more physically intimate with Sir Clifford then Connie, taking over the duties of bathing and shaving him. Her words are also accented, but Clifford never insults her about it. Wilby does a fine job as Clifford. He insults and bosses Mellors, but in fact it is Clifford who cannot function without his servants. Mellors may take orders, but he his own man, where Clifford’s paralysis puts him at the mercy of everyone else-even Mellors.

Wilby swiftly moves from sorrowful and intelligent to brutish and melancholy. You feel bad for Clifford when his motorized chair gets stuck, and further emotional when it is Mellors who must push the crippled husband of his lover. Sir Clifford of course insults Mellors and then we hate him again.

Perfectly matching James Wilby is Shirley Anne Field as Mrs. Bolton. She plays the widowed nurse expertly yet with a slight air of ambiguity. Her button up style and always proper air are perfect, if a little Mrs. Danover from Rebecca. She claims to be there for both the husband and wife but clearly puts together the pieces about Lady Chatterley and Mellors. When rumors begin about their affair, Russell alludes that it might have been Mrs. Bolton leading the servant talk, yet she swiftly covers for Connie and keeps Sir Clifford in the dark. Clueless as he is anyway, Clifford doesn’t doubt Mrs. Bolton, nor does Lady Chatterley. It’s almost as if she might have let something slip, but not out of malice. Mrs. Bolton seems to understand that Wragby Hall isn’t where Connie belongs and seeks to speed her escape to Mellors. The women talk frankly about knowing true love, warmth, and tenderness from a man. Mrs. Bolton knows that is what Connie needs, and she won’t get it from Sir Clifford.

Social and sexual intrigue aside, Lady Chatterley is a stunning period piece. The Wragby Hall location is breathtaking and takes on the feel of a supporting character itself. When Mellors waits on its vast steps, he’s clearly out of his element. Likewise Clifford’s room could seem like a dream. Incredible bed, books everywhere, the piano and the latest inventions. Connie, of course, fits neither in the uppity hall or the meager shack in the woods. Joely Richardson’s costumes are so lush. Today such hats and flapper style dresses would seem ridiculous, but they looks gorgeous onscreen. The proper style, yet free spirited fabrics and layers fit the character so well, and Russell’s attention to detail sets everything off. Richardson’s wisps of hair and the clang of her beads set the tone for her wild ways.

Sean Bean’s costume also says far more about his character than he does. So lowly valued, yet he wears a button collar and tie while he lurks the woods with a dog and a gun strapped to his back. The wearing or removing of his page boy hat also add depth to Mellors’ mood and respectfulness. Even the music and props complete every scene. By no means is Lady Chatterley some B porn production. The wind up gramophones, old time radios, candelabras, and vintage cars sell every authenticity, and the score moves between modern jazz tunes and haunting classical arrangements. Russell insisted on using English compositions, and the tunes top off the flavor of the film.

But finally I must mention what I’m sure you’ve all been waiting for. The sex scenes in Lady Chatterley were spared nothing less than Russell’s best, of course. There isn’t any foreplay, fondling, or even oral sex. When Connie and Mellors finally get to it, they get to it. The initial consummation is a bit awkward for both parties. They discuss and try to resist but ultimately succumb to the sort of re-virginal experience. Lady Chatterley hasn’t been with a real man in some time, and Mellors confesses his demeaning wife was the only woman he had ever been with. The dialogue is indeed necessary in the kinky scenes. If what’s going on isn’t clear in the visuals, the characters say what they mean, and I mean they say it!

The pre and post conversations are particularly important in two ambiguous sex scenes-one that is near rape and another that is most likely anal sex. If you’re not reeling and all giggles over those, prepare yourself for Part 3. I suspect Lady Chatterley’s ‘For Mature Audiences Only’ warning is for the full frontal nudity sequences. I don’t wish to spoil it, but ladies if you go in slow motion, you will see the whole Bean.

In the end, however, Lady Chatterley isn’t about the tawdry sex scenes. By part 4, sensitive types may need a box of tissues. The speeches from Connie and Mellors are so sincere, honest, and downright poetic that the audience can’t help but root for the couple. Russell hold nothing back, from nasty husbands, kinky sex, and bad language so that we are raw, primed, and moved for the production’s big finish. In Lady Chatterley’s final fifteen minutes, you will be agonizing and cheering Connie and Mellors on to happiness. Do our fair lovers find each other at the end? I shan’t tell!

The Lady Chatterley DVD is available in all regional formats at a very affordable price. Usually under $30 at most retailers, or online if you’re a bit shy about the purchase. The double disc set has little special features to speak of, only a brief photo gallery, trailers, and an interview with Ken Russell. Not for children of course, I also don’t think men will enjoy Lady Chatterley. Despite plenty of Joely’s bits, males won’t be interested in the story or period costume drama. Keep Lady Chatterley for your own guilty pleasure, or for that all girls night you’ve been planning. All four hours in one sitting, tears, and repeat viewings- I assure you Lady Chatterley will not disappoint.

Mists of Avalon Review by Leigh!

One of my old reviews. Enjoy!

Disappointed with The Mists of Avalon
By Leigh Wood

After a few Darkover reads and two or three viewings of TNT’s telefilm The Mists of Avalon, I decided to take up the heavy read of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s first Avalon novel. I debated purchasing the hard back online, but a friend found a $3 trade paperback edition second hand, and I was set. It was a hefty book, and I was tempted to read The Lord of the Rings again instead, but once I was on page one I couldn’t stop.

Bradley’s tale focuses on the women from the King Arthur legends. We open with Igraine, the future mother of Arthur. After her sister the Lady of the Lake Viviane sets Igraine up with Uther Pendragon, the Lady takes Igraine’s daughter Morgaine to Avalon. Morgaine grows to a fine priestess, but Avalon is changing, and as Arthur and his wife Gwenhwyfar struggle to have a child, their court becomes more and more Christian. Who’s way of live will prevail?

I did some research on Marion Zimmer Bradley before I read The Mists of Avalon. I was surprised to find her connections to modern and Neo Pagan organizations, in addition to questions about her sexuality. What should that matter? I’ve read every other King Arthur book, and I hope I wouldn’t be deterred by such labels. Unfortunately, Bradley lets her politics into the novel. Pages and pages are nothing but religious banter from priests and merlins or gossiping women. Sin, Sex, Men versus women, Bad Christian priests, Good Druid Priestesses.

Often the point of view the reader is supposed to be following at the time isn’t even involved in the conversation. Often she is merely listening, taking the reader out of the carefully crafted set up and locales. Some readers might enjoy the theological debates. Its no matter whether the reader is of a Christian bend or a Pagan bend, merely the loss on the entertainment scale. If I wanted to read philosophical debate, I’d read a nonfiction book about the histories, struggles, and colonization of Britain and how it effected religion.

Another strike against The Mists of Avalon is its seemingly old styled grammar and lack of editing. I thought this was the novel that made MZB, well, MZB. How then did an epic novel with such poor transitions, formatting, and point of view come to print at Del-Rey? Today’s editors are all about strict viewpoints and clear scene transitions. Not occasionally does Bradley change views from scene to scene, but at every opportunity available, the reader is asked to head hop to all involved in the conversation. We’re subject to what every knight at the round table thinks, along with what every Druid or priestess psychically sees or feels. Its annoying, confusing, sometimes overwhelming enough to read a sentence two or three times, and most important of all, it detracts from the intimate relationships the characters are trying to establish.

The simplest way to break down the characters-and there are a lot of them, but that’s understandable when one is trying to give all bits of Arthurian legend its due-is to take the novel in the Morgaine versus Gwenhwyfar storyline. Early in the read, I liked Morgaine-even after I was tempted to put the book down over its condoning of incestuous relationship between Morgaine and Arthur. In Book Three, however, I came to dislike Morgaine. Her obsession with plans and plots against the King’s Court put Bradley’s Morgaine right back to the bad girl Morgan Le Fay. After reading so much about the Goddess and who is the Goddess or who could be the Goddess, I just stopped caring. Earlier in the book, we went through these same questions with Viviane as Lady of the Lake. Both women ask where the line is between themselves and The Goddess, and if they are doing her will or their own. For such a key factor in The Mists of Avalon, I found this debate silly, even absurd. How many times is this question going to be asked before someone realizes that its not up to any person to presume any God’s will? That’s what I’ve always loved about Arthur stories. It’s so Titanic. For all its grandiose plans, Camelot never seems to learn its lesson.

Now then, if I am so wishy washy over Morgaine and the Goddess, surely I must favor quote unquote good Christian Gwenhwyfar. Unfortunately, she’s just as bipolar. We meet Gwen as a timid agoraphobic child and are forced to ride along as she becomes a bitter hypocritical fanatic. Anything and everything becomes a sin to her, even though she is constantly trying to justify her love affair with Lancelet. Gwenhwyfar finds Morgaine so evil, but the Queen of Camelot’s over pious demands on priests, penance, and her barrenness as a punishment for Arthur’s incestuous sin is too much. I want to smack her more than sympathize with her. The only chance I felt near sympathizing with little Gwen was the chapter in which she’s kidnapped and raped by Meleagrant. Hundreds of pages of just talk or women waiting around the spinning, the one time we get any sort of serious movement in the story-and its resolved in one chapter.

Too often The Mists of Avalon falls into the “Morgaine Speaks” fail safe. Whenever Bradley wants to explain something quick or move the time and place, she lapses into this omnipresent Morgaine speech. Even the end of the book disappointingly resolves itself here. In the biggest show don’t tell mistake of all, instead of reading the battle between Arthur and Mordred, we’re there for a summary from Morgaine. After thinking the book was redundant and played out before Book Four, I was further dissatisfied as a reader by Bradley’s cop-out ending. It’s a bad feeling to give the reader-if the author skips to the end so easily, why can’t I? Did I just waste a month on near 900 pages for nothing?

TNT is not my favorite network. Notorious for bad editing on film showings and way too many commercials, the network actually got it right for their original The Mists of Avalon event starring Angelica Huston, Juliana Margulies, and Joan Allen. I am very tempted to get the DVD for the additional scenes and features, for the 3 hour series broke down Bradley’s novel to its essential bits. All that I found over the top and played out in the book is gone from the film version. I dare say its superior to the book, and certainly a better viewing experience compared to the tiring read.

All right so it seems I’ve shredded The Mists of Avalon beyond reproach. Not so. Bradley’s accurate display of Druid material, Christian Scripture, British locales, and Roman history give life to the book. Her descriptions of England and its native lore often had me stopping my read and opening the encyclopedia for more on Cornwall, Lothian, and Glastonbury. Indeed her use of Arthurian tales is exhaustive. Although I was a little peeved by too many similar names: Morgaine, Igraine, Viviane, Ninane, Elaine, Gawaine, Uwaine-oiy! Bradley seems to have re-authenticated Arthurian tales by giving them a truly English, un-Frenchified feeling. As a kid I read anything Arthur I could find. Howard Pyle, T.H. White, even the Sunday Comics’ Prince Valiant In the Days of King Arthur. At the time, these reads seemed so big kid to me, but looking back, they were fairly juvenile. There may have been more women and less Arthur (and no Valiant!) than I might have liked, but The Mists of Avalon is perhaps the only mature Arthurian read, with a no holds barred approach on sex, relationships, and religion. I don’t think I’m a prude, but an open mind is a must when braving this 1982 best seller.

The Mists of Avalon is not for everyone. Readers of purely Christian material or those easily offended should definitely bypass Mists for its frankness, and truly not even teens should tackle this hefty read. I myself don’t intend to read the rest of the Avalon series, including The Forest House, Lady of Avalon, Priestess of Avalon with Bradley, then continued by Diana L. Paxson with Ancestors of Avalon and Raven of Avalon. My interest in the book was Arthurian. No doubt Arthur fans have already discovered The Mists of Avalon, but the book is worth a try for any mature fan of historical fantasy, myth, and magic.


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