cam_go_loud's review against another edition
4.0
The Sword in the Stone: 3.5/5
The Queen of Air and Darkness: 3.5/5
The Ill-Made Knight: 4/5
The Candle in the Wind: 4.5/5
Last 50 pages: 5/5
The Queen of Air and Darkness: 3.5/5
The Ill-Made Knight: 4/5
The Candle in the Wind: 4.5/5
Last 50 pages: 5/5
mquill93's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ikuo1000's review against another edition
4.0
"The" book about King Arthur, his Knights of the Round Table, his wife Guenever, his best friend and wife's lover Lancelot, the Quest for the Holy Grail, etc.
I thoroughly enjoyed it! The book is full of characters who are gentle, noble, beautiful, ugly, revengeful, humorous -- and the book made me feel like I could relate to any of them. In the end, it was a thinking book, illustrating how themes of war and human nature are applicable throughout time. The book made me feel half-frustrated and disappointed in the idea that humankind is doomed to repeat its mistakes in war and strife, but also half-hopeful that if humankind continues to strive towards it, we can reach a way of life that is peaceful and just without having to resort to war.
I won't say much about what the book says about war, in case you want to read the book yourself, but it's a bit of a discourse regarding the purpose of war, when a war might be justified (if at all), why do humans fight wars while most other animal species do not, etc. In fact, the discussions on war are so applicable to current events that I think this book is relevant now more than ever.
I thoroughly enjoyed it! The book is full of characters who are gentle, noble, beautiful, ugly, revengeful, humorous -- and the book made me feel like I could relate to any of them. In the end, it was a thinking book, illustrating how themes of war and human nature are applicable throughout time. The book made me feel half-frustrated and disappointed in the idea that humankind is doomed to repeat its mistakes in war and strife, but also half-hopeful that if humankind continues to strive towards it, we can reach a way of life that is peaceful and just without having to resort to war.
I won't say much about what the book says about war, in case you want to read the book yourself, but it's a bit of a discourse regarding the purpose of war, when a war might be justified (if at all), why do humans fight wars while most other animal species do not, etc. In fact, the discussions on war are so applicable to current events that I think this book is relevant now more than ever.
kxu65's review against another edition
5.0
a really underrated book, not really thought of as one of the great fantasy works out there
readerpants's review against another edition
5.0
What a masterpiece. The scope of the Matter of Britain is just so epic, so full of tragedy and love, and T.H. White gives it more meaning than almost any other author who's tackled it. Plus it has humor and adventure and authorial asides! If you haven't read this since childhood, pick it up and read it again. It's worth it.
herphoenixloves's review against another edition
3.0
The first part was awesome! The 2nd was boring.
belabart71's review against another edition
2.0
Just not that interested in a kid who gets turned into different animals by a second rate wizard... also, it was kind of strange that the author chose to insert “modern day” 20th century concepts and phrases in a Medieval English setting.... it somehow made the story less charming... I know, I know— I’m probably in the minority with my thoughts—(I realize that this is a very revered novel!- sorry!)
meredith_mccaskey's review against another edition
4.0
For the first volume of this four-volume tome, I listened to the narration by Neville Jason. It was a perfect way to begin. Neville Jason is fantastic– he perfectly captures the lighthearted mood of The Sword in the Stone and he's so good at voices that not only did he not re-use a single voice for any character in a very extensive cast, he made each character so distinctive that I always knew exactly who was speaking. Impressive!
I really didn't know what to expect going into The Once And Future King other than that it would be about the Arthurian legends.
Volume 1 is laugh-out-loud funny. At least, it was for me, because I love British humor, especially this kind of British humor. I was a total sucker for the Dark Age knights who talked in Victorian Good Old Boys' Club slang, and for the way that the fantastic and magical elements of the legends were woven seamlessly through in such a way as to make them feel quite plausible, almost ordinary. I loved the Wart.
So it's a good thing that Volume 1 captured my interest and affection, not because it all goes downhill from there, except it sort of does. Arthur is a tragedy, after all. In fact T.H. White goes out of his way to remind you of this, over and over. You know that there's not going to be a happy ending. But you keep reading anyway, because White has made the archetypical characters so human and accessible and sympathetic, and you keep hoping, deep down, that just MAYBE it won't end the way you know it has to end.
I really didn't know what to expect going into The Once And Future King other than that it would be about the Arthurian legends.
Volume 1 is laugh-out-loud funny. At least, it was for me, because I love British humor, especially this kind of British humor. I was a total sucker for the Dark Age knights who talked in Victorian Good Old Boys' Club slang, and for the way that the fantastic and magical elements of the legends were woven seamlessly through in such a way as to make them feel quite plausible, almost ordinary. I loved the Wart.
So it's a good thing that Volume 1 captured my interest and affection, not because it all goes downhill from there, except it sort of does. Arthur is a tragedy, after all. In fact T.H. White goes out of his way to remind you of this, over and over. You know that there's not going to be a happy ending. But you keep reading anyway, because White has made the archetypical characters so human and accessible and sympathetic, and you keep hoping, deep down, that just MAYBE it won't end the way you know it has to end.
lizikc's review against another edition
5.0
I can't explain how fantastic this book is. It's incredibly funny while being incredibly touching. It's a massive book, but it deserves the time it takes to read it. This book will stay on my shelf for the rest of my life!