Due to it's size, this book can be fairly intimidating, but once you get into the story, it's hard to put down. The tale takes place in England, maybe 300 years after the birth of Christ, but no actual date is ever given. The whole book is a retelling of the tale of King Arthur, but through the eyes of the women involved. The story eplores very deeply into who these people really were, and the relations they had with each other. Religion and freedom are the main themes throughout. Brittanic civilization is balancing on the cusp Paganism and Christianity. Each faction is represented by a single female character that embodies both the good and bad aspects of their religions. On the Christians side there is Gwenavier, who's insane fear of open spaces somewhat unnerves the reader. The on the Pagan's side we have Morgaine; who, even as a toddler, displays deep wisdom and innate knowledge. The author insinuates that Arthur and Lancelet are attracted to each other... I believe this was done to establish the women in the story as their own entity, seperate from the masculine views of chivalry heroism. Symbolism is also used throughout the book as well. The cups symbol from the tarot is transformed into the Holy Grail, a strong Christian symbol. And we find out exactly what was meant by the story of St. Patrick ridding Ireland of the serpents. Somehow, she incorporates two different planes of existence inot the story without making it seem like a far-fetched fantasy novel. All Magic and deeply esoteric happenings are portrayed with a realism that catches the reader by surprise.
In conclusion, Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon is definitely worth reading. If you're not a fast reader, make sure to put lots of time aside for it. She is very wordy, and tends to go off on tangents. I believe that she captures the era perfectly though, and you are taken right into the characters lives. Everything from carding wool to gathering herbs is described flawlessly and with first hand knowledge.I rate this book as a "must read"

I believe that this is one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century. The blonde heroine, Ayla, is separated from her family at a very young age and adopted by a clan of Neanderthols. The entire book is a study in nature vs nurture as Ayla struggles to fit in with a people completely alien to her. Another important theme throughout is Ayla's ability to use adversity as a positive influence. Every time something horrible happens, she uses it as chance to learn and to grow.
The author's ability to transport us into this prehistoric setting is uncanny. Her knowledge of long extinct creatures brings a depth of reality to this book that is rarely seen. The topic of gender-roles is also explored in great depth, as the females of the clan are forbidden to touch weapons, and males are completely unable to do any domestic work such as cooking. Ms. Auel presents us with a fascinating hypothesis as to how these people lived in a highly structured society.
This book is a great page turner, and makes even the slowest readers flow through chapters faster than a charging wooly rhinocerous. As a brief warning, the author, on occasion, describes geographical occurences in great detail, and dedicates a few pages at a time in this pursuit. Bite the bullet and get through it, even if some of it is difficlut to understand.
I rate this book a must read due to Jean M. Aeul's unparalled story telling and her ability to break down and explain human nature directly from it's primordial roots.

This book sat on my bookshelf, unread, for about a year. It was a gift from an old friend, and I never had much interest in reading it. It didn't look too interesting, and I didn't find the setting captivating at all. On my friend's urging, I read the first page, then was unable to put the book down for two straight days. Mr. Courtney is a phenomenal writer who is able to bring his characters to life like few authors can. The Power of One tells the story of P.K., a child who used the adversity around him to grow into a strong, well rounded individual. Harsh reality is blended with a strong tribal mystisism that leaves you wondering what can and cant be done with the power of the mind. Each person along P.K.'s life imparts wisdom and knowledge that we can all partake of. I would reccomend this book to any person strong enough to turn a page. Definitely one of those rare thought altering pieces that we lovingly turn to reread at least once a year. Without any apprehension, I say that this is a must read