"Over 50 hours of heavenly storytelling"
Devine Porter's voice adds so much elegance, inflection and beauty to these well chosen words. This was Zimmer Bradley's masterwork and every word is poetry. This recording does it Justice. So much beauty.
I actually cried multiple times in the book. She captures so much the beauty of youth, and of age, and of both love and loss of love. Deeply moving.
Massive intelligence and a truly powerful wisdom.
50 hours! Not likely.
I love it. Have listened to this multiple times as well as having first read the book in the 1990s many times. I listen to the entire thing at least once a year, and learn more each time. As I grow older, the characters evolve and I understand their passages better. A masterwork.
"Soooo Long."
Was really slow. I kept thinking it'd get more exciting, because it would for a couple of chapters....then it would drag on for several more. Definitely struggled to finish.
"Character driven story with garbage characters."
each character could be completely summed up as a single motive, if they didn't continually act against their own interests when it mattered.
"A good story ruined by an annoying narrator"
The story was well written but the voice of the narrator grated on my ears so that I couldn't even finish the book
"magical awakening"
I loved loved this book. I couldn't wait to get in my car and listen to it. very captivating and the narrator did a great job as well.
"Love listening to the narration by Davina Porter"
The story was enjoyable and easy to follow along. Davina Porter's narration makes the story even more enjoyable.
"Outstanding! Enjoyed more the second time!!!!"
Top 10. I read it years ago, but to hear it!!! Wow! It brought it to life. I felt like I was right there enjoying King Author of the round table and all the magic to go with it. The reader was super.
I like how the reader, who was excellent, changed her voice to match the different people, she gave them life! It was so easy to follow the reader into the story.
Life! You felt as if you were in the scene with the characters due to the fluctuation of her voice to the character. She is outstanding! She should do all of Bradley's books.
Yes, definitely. I would get up at 6 am and listen until my husband would get up. He hates me listening to my ipod, he wants all my attention. lol
I read it years ago and this time I listened to it and I have found I love to hear the books than to read them. I wish more writers would make them audio books. Thank you Ms Bradley for writing good books. Shirley Cochran
"SO MUCH LOST POTENTIAL"
I should start by saying I really, really wanted to love The Mists of Avalon. How could I not, when it had so much potential? A “feminist” retelling of Arthurian legend set in the late 5th to early 6th century, the peerless Davina Porter as narrator, and decades of praise from critics and readers alike; added to the fact this 50+ hour audiobook combines four separate books into one -- I didn’t think a credit could be better spent!
Reluctantly, however, I find myself forced to admit that none of those things can make up for the fact that this book got lost in its own grandiosity. Ms. Bradley’s heavy-handed treatment of themes such as fate vs. free will felt like an emotional bludgeoning with her don’t-you-see-the-point-yet sledgehammer as we, the listener, are subjected to hour upon dragging hour of unrequited love, foolish pride, grating piety, and constant self-absorption from characters you want to like but can never really identify with. The protagonist, Morgaine, devolves into a rambling bore; her counterpart, Gwynhwyfar, is weak and irritating; and the plot twist revealed at the very end by the “villain” Morgause is given such short shrift I wondered if it was added-in as an editorial after-thought. And the men? Arthur is a one-dimensional “hero,” Lancelet is a sexually confused martyr, and Kevin is simply tragic. Strangely, I liked Mordred, although by the time he enters the story I was mostly over it.
That said: Do I regret buying this audiobook? No. Would I listen to it again? Probably not. Would I recommend it to others? Possibly. Davina Porter is a wonderful narrator, the time and place are well-researched and extensively detailed, and the premise is still unique. However, the story lags and the characters are emotionally exhausting. If you are going to give this book a chance, I would recommend having something a little more light-hearted on hand so you can switch between the two books. [Think Tina Fey’s “Bossypants,” Mark Tufo’s “Zombie Fallout,” or Kresley Cole’s “Immortals After Dark” series.]
"if you enjoy romance novels then this is for you."
I was so bored I couldn't finish and should've stopped much sooner. it's a romance novel and not very interesting.
"As great as I remembered..."
Well performed and as immersive as the book I read in college.
The old ways, magic, and the lore are endearing....bringing each of the characters to life. You will feel for each of the women as they make their own destinies.
I laughed and cried all the way through as when oread it, but s somehow returning to it after all these years reminded me why it's valuable to re-read and re-listen to great books. So much is richer when you bring decades of experience to it.
This performance is like scene great show, but one which lasts 36 hours.... like great season of drama.