isabellarobinson7's review against another edition
1.0
Did I want to read this book? No. Did I want to have read this book? Yes. In other words, I should have DNFed this book less than 100 pages in
Rating: 1 star
Ok so I have been secretly reading this book on the side since mid December last year. "Secretly" because I was flaming sick of it. I didn't want to be reading it. I hated every single second. Nothing was enjoyable about it. This would be one of the first books I would use as kindling to make a fire if my power went out and I was desperate. Nah, I'm exaggerating. I would make a fire with this book if I had to so much as reach to turn the light on.
I got the audio (for free, thankfully. I am not shelling out anymore money than the $5 bucks I already spent on getting a used copy from the local second hand bookstore, a purchase I now whole heartedly regret making) but even then it is 33h total, and at my speed it only goes down to 11h. It took forever to get through. I haven't even bothered to use a proper bookmark for this book, which I have piles of in three places around the house (the three places I usually finish/start books) so it is not like I would have to go out of my way to get one. In fact it would have been easier for me to use a normal bookmark instead of ripping the corner off a piece of paper. But that is how low of an opinion I have of this stupid book. It doesn't deserve a book mark. (Yeah, I know. I’m just being petty.)
Well, no I liked some things. The very last chapter had some cool stuff about good and evil and war and peace etc, and the first book was kind of interesting. But in the end I didn’t care about the characters, plot, story, world or anything so nothing made any kind of lasting positive impact on me.
I will finish this off by saying this: Lancelot is a doofus. The biggest there is. What does he even do other than whine and chase after the queen? He's not even that good of a knight. He's just dumb. And stupid. He can... fall and die in a hole. That would be good. Yes, Lancelot do that.
Rating: 1 star
Ok so I have been secretly reading this book on the side since mid December last year. "Secretly" because I was flaming sick of it. I didn't want to be reading it. I hated every single second. Nothing was enjoyable about it. This would be one of the first books I would use as kindling to make a fire if my power went out and I was desperate. Nah, I'm exaggerating. I would make a fire with this book if I had to so much as reach to turn the light on.
I got the audio (for free, thankfully. I am not shelling out anymore money than the $5 bucks I already spent on getting a used copy from the local second hand bookstore, a purchase I now whole heartedly regret making) but even then it is 33h total, and at my speed it only goes down to 11h. It took forever to get through. I haven't even bothered to use a proper bookmark for this book, which I have piles of in three places around the house (the three places I usually finish/start books) so it is not like I would have to go out of my way to get one. In fact it would have been easier for me to use a normal bookmark instead of ripping the corner off a piece of paper. But that is how low of an opinion I have of this stupid book. It doesn't deserve a book mark. (Yeah, I know. I’m just being petty.)
Well, no I liked some things. The very last chapter had some cool stuff about good and evil and war and peace etc, and the first book was kind of interesting. But in the end I didn’t care about the characters, plot, story, world or anything so nothing made any kind of lasting positive impact on me.
I will finish this off by saying this: Lancelot is a doofus. The biggest there is. What does he even do other than whine and chase after the queen? He's not even that good of a knight. He's just dumb. And stupid. He can... fall and die in a hole. That would be good. Yes, Lancelot do that.
organicwario's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-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
wathykite's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
oatie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tony_t's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
T. H. White's "The Once and Future King" is a superb retelling of the story of King Arthur, Guinevere, Merlyn, Lancelot and all the other wonderful characters of Camelot and Merry Olde England. I enjoyed this collection of the first four books in the series and have the final book, The Book of Merlyn, on my "to read" pile. Highly recommended.
caidyn's review against another edition
The anachronistic parts of this book just took me out of the story too much for me to enjoy.
orionoconnell's review against another edition
2.0
If it takes me a month to finish reading a book, no matter its length, you can probably tell that I'm struggling through it. With classic novels, I tend to employ the method of accompanying my physical copy of the book with an audiobook and reading along, so my attention doesn't waver and I understand the older language better.
While the narrator was lovely, it didn't save my review of this book. I have been fascinated by medieval stories and especially King Arthur for years, and I never got around to reading the book until now.
Let me start by complaining that I found my copy to be abridged, which only became apparent while listening to the unabridged audio, so check your book- mine did not say it was abridged. It seemed interesting to me that the parts that WERE abridged in this copy had to do with topics of evolution and of the greek gods. What it didn't censor, unfortunately, were the overlying themes of incest, rape, and one very unattractive use of the 'n' word (which the audiobook DID censor). It's clear that the censoring priorties were questionable at best. There is nothing wrong with exploring heavy topics in fictional context but I didn't find it added anything to the story here.
The book itself is as most old books are, unrelatable for the most part, and dry. This is a book that I daresay really needs a modern makeover with amendments to make it more relevant and inclusive, and more about the important themes of the story, Arthur's idea for a new world and the founding of the table.
I venture to say that I'm the odd one out and despite the changes the BBC series 'Merlin' made, I do enjoy it better for its messages (though it's still not without its problems).
Basically, I'm glad to say that I've read another classic, but I'm more glad that I've finished it.
While the narrator was lovely, it didn't save my review of this book. I have been fascinated by medieval stories and especially King Arthur for years, and I never got around to reading the book until now.
Let me start by complaining that I found my copy to be abridged, which only became apparent while listening to the unabridged audio, so check your book- mine did not say it was abridged. It seemed interesting to me that the parts that WERE abridged in this copy had to do with topics of evolution and of the greek gods. What it didn't censor, unfortunately, were the overlying themes of incest, rape, and one very unattractive use of the 'n' word (which the audiobook DID censor). It's clear that the censoring priorties were questionable at best. There is nothing wrong with exploring heavy topics in fictional context but I didn't find it added anything to the story here.
The book itself is as most old books are, unrelatable for the most part, and dry. This is a book that I daresay really needs a modern makeover with amendments to make it more relevant and inclusive, and more about the important themes of the story, Arthur's idea for a new world and the founding of the table.
I venture to say that I'm the odd one out and despite the changes the BBC series 'Merlin' made, I do enjoy it better for its messages (though it's still not without its problems).
Basically, I'm glad to say that I've read another classic, but I'm more glad that I've finished it.
logancoxx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It was long… it was dense… but it was worth every second.
Loved this book. It was clever & funny; imaginative; adventurous. Everything you could possibly want in a book - it had it all.
Loved this book. It was clever & funny; imaginative; adventurous. Everything you could possibly want in a book - it had it all.
mjenae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This experience was a lot better than I expected it to be. Not in the sense that I believed it to be badly written—I just did not think it was going to be the best book for me. But it was wonderful, and I am glad I took the recommendation.
I would list my favorite moments, but the more I think of it, the more I realize that all of it was my favorite, and you cannot take one moment outside of another, cannot love one scene without enjoying those surrounding it. The story was so well-rounded, from the magical fairy-tale childhood to the lesson of the geese and the slow, gentle landing. (I am nearly crying just thinking of it.) Over and over, my mind was provoked to theology and philosophy and psychology. Over and over, I smiled and laughed and held my breath. Over and over I was drawn, and over and over nearly lost in emotion. It is, overall, a story of might and peace and the fight against ferocity—it is, at its heart, the hopeful and tender tale of the bravest king legend ever lifted.
I would list my favorite moments, but the more I think of it, the more I realize that all of it was my favorite, and you cannot take one moment outside of another, cannot love one scene without enjoying those surrounding it. The story was so well-rounded, from the magical fairy-tale childhood to the lesson of the geese and the slow, gentle landing. (I am nearly crying just thinking of it.) Over and over, my mind was provoked to theology and philosophy and psychology. Over and over, I smiled and laughed and held my breath. Over and over I was drawn, and over and over nearly lost in emotion. It is, overall, a story of might and peace and the fight against ferocity—it is, at its heart, the hopeful and tender tale of the bravest king legend ever lifted.