Imbri
Resident Night Mare
I'm afraid I don't have much to talk about in terms of Salem today. I gave my duties something of a lick an a promise because I was engrossed in what is, perhaps, my first love - books.
Lately, I've found myself almost obsessed with reading Arthurian tales. If I had the courage, it would be a subject I'd tackle, myself, but I don't know that I can put a spin on it that is different enough to do it justice. Instead, I read them. A lot. I just finished a pair of books that are probably classified as YR by Nancy McKenzie: The Child Queen and The High Queen. Both are tales of Arthur, but more correctly they are tales of Guinevere, as she is the narrator. I'm now starting Mary Stewart's collection with The Crystal Cave. I have to admit, although I've read plenty of Arthurian books over the years, I haven't read Stewart's yet, so this should be interesting. I'll be very disappointed, however, if characters are dealt with in stereotypical ways, particularly Morgan and Mordred. I'd say that's the main reason why I never liked Mallory; his women are either weak or shrews, Lancelot is the original emo character, and the only one he gave any backbone to was Mordred, although he doesn't treat him entirely well, either. (I know lots of people love Le Morte d'Arthur. That's just my opinion and what I took from it when reading.)
Perhaps my favorite series of books about Arthur is a short trilogy by Courtway Jones called the Dragon's Heirs. It tells Arthur's story, but not directly. Rather, it does it through three of his relatives - his half-brother Pelleas, his half-sister Morgaine, and his son Mordred. Like McKenzie's books, they are lighter tellings, but still a different take.
Years ago, I read a book about Arthur returning that was interesting. It is called The Forever King by Molly Cochran and Warren Murphy. Apparently, it is the first of a trilogy, and I just found the second and third books, so I'll have to read that.
There are many others, either series or stand-alone books... I've always liked Stephen Lawhead for more historical accounting of the story... but I can't not mention what many consider to be the Holy Grail of Arthurian tales. None other than Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon. I know a lot of people who have passed on it because the size scared them, but once you get into it, this book just seems to fly.
Like some of the others I mentioned, this tells the story from other points of view, and to be honest, Arthur doesn't physically appear as a character too often, but he is the driving force behind everyone's actions, so is certainly a major character. Bradley uses the women in Arthur's life to tell the tale - his mother, his sister, and his wife. If the bulk scares you, I have seen it broken into several segments, which might be more manageable for some, but I'd definitely recommend reading it.
OK, that's enough of me babbling about King Arthur and Co. Time to get back to taking care of Salem. I've got flowers to water, fish to catch, and loans to pay off. Bye!
Lately, I've found myself almost obsessed with reading Arthurian tales. If I had the courage, it would be a subject I'd tackle, myself, but I don't know that I can put a spin on it that is different enough to do it justice. Instead, I read them. A lot. I just finished a pair of books that are probably classified as YR by Nancy McKenzie: The Child Queen and The High Queen. Both are tales of Arthur, but more correctly they are tales of Guinevere, as she is the narrator. I'm now starting Mary Stewart's collection with The Crystal Cave. I have to admit, although I've read plenty of Arthurian books over the years, I haven't read Stewart's yet, so this should be interesting. I'll be very disappointed, however, if characters are dealt with in stereotypical ways, particularly Morgan and Mordred. I'd say that's the main reason why I never liked Mallory; his women are either weak or shrews, Lancelot is the original emo character, and the only one he gave any backbone to was Mordred, although he doesn't treat him entirely well, either. (I know lots of people love Le Morte d'Arthur. That's just my opinion and what I took from it when reading.)
Perhaps my favorite series of books about Arthur is a short trilogy by Courtway Jones called the Dragon's Heirs. It tells Arthur's story, but not directly. Rather, it does it through three of his relatives - his half-brother Pelleas, his half-sister Morgaine, and his son Mordred. Like McKenzie's books, they are lighter tellings, but still a different take.
Years ago, I read a book about Arthur returning that was interesting. It is called The Forever King by Molly Cochran and Warren Murphy. Apparently, it is the first of a trilogy, and I just found the second and third books, so I'll have to read that.
There are many others, either series or stand-alone books... I've always liked Stephen Lawhead for more historical accounting of the story... but I can't not mention what many consider to be the Holy Grail of Arthurian tales. None other than Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon. I know a lot of people who have passed on it because the size scared them, but once you get into it, this book just seems to fly.
Like some of the others I mentioned, this tells the story from other points of view, and to be honest, Arthur doesn't physically appear as a character too often, but he is the driving force behind everyone's actions, so is certainly a major character. Bradley uses the women in Arthur's life to tell the tale - his mother, his sister, and his wife. If the bulk scares you, I have seen it broken into several segments, which might be more manageable for some, but I'd definitely recommend reading it.
OK, that's enough of me babbling about King Arthur and Co. Time to get back to taking care of Salem. I've got flowers to water, fish to catch, and loans to pay off. Bye!
