Sunday, May 3, 2009

King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table--Roger Lancelyn Green

Genre: Fantasy
Year Published: 1957
Pages: 352
Rating: 4/5

"After wicked King Vortigern had first invited the Saxons to settle in Britain and help him to fight the Picts and Scots, the land was never long at peace."

This version of the King Arthur legend is broken down into stories, following each of the Knights on their various journeys. It is easy to read, especially compared to L'Morte d'Arthur or even The Once and Future King. Based mostly on Mallory's work, this version also takes into account other sources and I always find the retellings fascinating.

Book a Week # 18
Date Read: 3/28/09
Challenge/s: Arthurian?

The Once and Future King--T.H.White

Genre: Fantasy
Year Published: 1958
Pages: 640
Rating: 5/5

"On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays it was Court Hand and Summulae Logicales, while the rest of the week it was the Organon, Repetition and Astrology."

Although not the easiest book to read, this whimsical retelling of the Arthurian legend adds life and richness to Mallory's L'Morte d'Arthur. Highlights include Arthur's schooling at Merlin's hands, where he is turned into a fish, a merlin, an ant, a goose, and a badger; King Pellinore's symbiotic relationship with his Questing Beast; and the very fact that Merlin is living his life backwards and constantly confuses past present and future. It is also one of my favorite endings of the Arthurian books.

Book a Week # 17
Date Read: 3/27/09
Challenge/s: Arthurian

Skinny Bitch: A No-Nonsense, Tough-Love Guide for Savvy Girls Who Want to Stop Eating Crap and Start Looking Fabulous--Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

Genre: Self-Help
Year Published: 2005
Pages: 224
Rating: 4/5

"Are you sick and tired of being fat?"

I didn't expect to like this book, but I read it when a friend loaned it to me after I decided to go vegan for Lent. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The author's are rude, lewd and in-your-face, which I found refreshing and amusing. But what stuck most with me--and kept me vegan even though Lent has ended--is the graphic descriptions of the torture animals endure in factory farms and slaughterhouses.

Book-a-Week #: 16
Date Read: 3/3/09