Fantasy Book Club discussion

For more in-depth discussion when you have finished The Once and Future King.

I read this years ago and found it old fashioned then. How do new readers feel?

I'm not bothered so much by "old fashioned". (It is from the same period as several classics, i.e. Baum's Wonderful Wizard of Oz.) But, I am finding it a bit tedious and overdone in parts. Not sure I would have had more patience for the style if I had read this as a young adult, but I do wish the author would just "get on with it" at times.

I've finished the first book/section and appreciated the imaginative detail put into Arthur's transformations into various animals. To describe the movement in fish swimming or birds flying...quite clever, but I've had quite enough of that. (Although, the ant colony was entertaining).

To me old fashioned means very often slow and overdone!

I agree that I found the style tough even when I was younger.

Bev wrote: "To me old fashioned means very often slow and overdone!

I agree that I found the style tough even when I was younger."

I'm "slogging" through. This is the first time I've had to renew a library book twice. The story is interesting and quite imaginative, but for me it would have been a better read if some of the scenes had been edited out or shortened. Perhaps "too much of a good thing"?

Monica wrote: "Bev wrote: "To me old fashioned means very often slow and overdone!

I agree that I found the style tough even when I was younger."

I'm "slogging" through. This is the first time I've had to renew..."

Yes indeed.

I read the first book in my teens and have been meaning to go back and read the whole series. (It's also my favourite disney movie!) I finished book one today and am finding him quite an uplifting writer - full of the joys of life, informative and inspiring about learning in general, and sympathetic towards his flawed characters. He does go off on one now and then at which points I start to skim but when he's on form he's really good. I hope the remaining books live up to the first...

As Marilyn said, this is a book to be “savored”.

In the style of T. H. White: Uncle....waving the white flag of surrender...throwing in the towel. Unfortunately, I won't be able to finish this book before it is due back to the library. I intend to finish the last third, but will have to wait in the queue once more for its availability. My library has only one copy...the mass market style with very tiny print. Some of the pages are a bit blurry, which compounded the slow reading pace.

That said, I do appreciate the creative depth and imaginative storyline. Well worth the read, but not a light, quick read. There are some “gems” in here, but you'll have to mine the raw ore to get to them.

For me, at times the descriptions were so long they bogged down the story. Almost as if the author had too many ideas floating around in his head, decided to use them all, and let the reader sort it out. I'm also conflicted with the author's frequent use of modern analogy to more fully explain something. (i.e Cricket and Jousting). On one hand I like the idea, but it tends to pull me out of the story so that I'm aware I'm being told a tale (outside looking in) rather than finding myself drawn into the magical experience of it all.

Will definitely finish this at some point, but will not rate/review it until then.

Two more quick thoughts...

The author made a point to repeatedly describe Lancelot as physically ugly, not the usual literary viewpoint. This made the Guenever/Lanceleot subplot more intriguing to me.

Because the author's writing style is one in which I was aware I was being told a story, I sampled the audio book. This may be one of those rare instances when I would enjoy the audio book more than the physical read.

Monica, I listened to the audiobook (in German) the second time this year, and I really love it! But I can imagine how the slow parts get in the way when you're reading the book. So I can verify your thought :)

In my opinion books 1 and 4 are the slowest in the series, including the most philosophical bits and excursions on medieval furniture, animals, ethics, and so on.

Iselin wrote: "Monica, I listened to the audiobook (in German) the second time this year, and I really love it! But I can imagine how the slow parts get in the way when you're reading the book. So I can verify yo..."

Thanks Iselin, good to know about the audio book. I thought book 2 was a bit slow, but maybe the storyline was less interesting to me? Or I had just plowed through book one and was too tired to fully enjoy it.

I'm glad we chose this as a group read because it is well worth the experience.

Maybe I was more entertained by the series because I had to read a bunch of the original Arthurian romances? There are some 'easter eggs' in the series that are definitely funnier with the medieval texts in mind.

Monica wrote: "Iselin wrote: "Monica, I listened to the audiobook (in German) the second time this year, and I really love it! But I can imagine how the slow parts get in the way when you're reading the book. So ..."

Good, then it was worthwhile.

I think on a first read, the slow pace and the distancing technique (of the author speaking directly to us, bringing in modern days, etc.) can be discouraging when you just want to stick to the plot and the characters. I have found on re-reading, though, that some passages are very touching. A long, leisurely book like this can produce a real poignancy by the end that a fast-paced story can't match. I also find some passages stay in my memory, such as Merlin's discussion of the causes of war with Arthur.

Iselin wrote: "Maybe I was more entertained by the series because I had to read a bunch of the original Arthurian romances? There are some 'easter eggs' in the series that are definitely funnier with the medieval..."

That's interesting. I'm only vaguely aware of the original romances. Can you explain one or two of the "eggs'?