2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Le Morte d'Arthur: King Arthur and the Legends of the Round Table by Thomas Malory.

Pages: 512 pages

Length: 2 months (July and August)

Participants: SarahKat, Lorraine, Allison, Rachael

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

I'll be reading the Kindle Editions that were free to download which means this title is split into two volumes: Books 1-9 in volume 1 and book 10 onwards in Volume 2. Not sure yet when I'll be starting it

This is the version I have

I'm not sure why it's so long compared to the main goodreads version. It is illustrated, but not heavily. The font is a little larger than normal but it's not "large print" size.

I'll probably start this one mid-month, after I finish my other physical books planned for July.

I do not know how to copy a title or an author but here is the version I have
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Starting mid-month works for me

Ok so I started this earlier than mid-month, but I'll be reading it pretty slowly. It's the kind of book I can't focus on for long periods of time so I figured it would be better to read a few pages daily over the next 2 months rather than waiting and having to read 300 pages in one sitting.

Book 1 is pretty short and I finished it. (view spoiler)[First thing I noticed was the whole Merlin training Arthur in the ways of being a king by turning him into all sorts of animals and stuff was apparently an invention of TH White. Arthur pulls the sword out really early in this one. I think it's less than 10 pages in.

Uther disguising himself as the Duke (or Merlin doing it for him) so he can sleep with Igraine was so icky. I have always thought of Merlin as a Gandalf/Dumbledore type of character. Morally-centered. But I guess all of those wizards do sort of bend the rules of morality for the sake of the greater good... So I guess it's on par.
This section of the story is VERY David/Bathsheba from the Bible. King wants married woman. King takes married woman because king is selfish. Married woman's husband dies (through the fault of king- directly or indirectly). King marries woman. Child of the union goes on to be great king.
Igraine being relieved that her new husband tricked her with the Duke's face when he slept with her was very sad. She'd rather have a dishonest husband than face the shame of a baby out of wedlock.

The jousting and feast stuff was a little hard to follow. Too many different names and I don't know which ones will be important later.

The lady of the lake scene was a little confusing because he already pulled the sword out of the stone and now he gets it again. I looked it up and I guess Malory just decided to include both options from the story.

The end of Book 1 is Arthur ordering the deaths of every child born on May Day, another very Bible-y story (Herod ordering the death of all boys under 2). This is a very unchivalrous act in my opinion. (hide spoiler)]

I will try to read book 1 this weekend.

I agree with you that this is the kind of book that can be read in one sitting. The language can be challenging!

I finished Book 1. Malory's version of the Arthurian legend aligns more closely with the other stories I'm familiar with. T.H. White's version was quite different.

(view spoiler)[ One question I've always had is why Merlin agrees so easily to disguise Uther as the Duke so he can sleep with Igraine. Is it because he knows Arthur will save England? Or because Arthur will accept the new religion on the rise (i.e., Catholicism)? Or is there no reason at all? It has never been clear to me.

I really liked your comments about Igraine:' It was very sad that she was relieved her new husband tricked her with the Duke's face when he slept with her. She'd rather have a dishonest husband than face the shame of a baby out of wedlock.' I also felt that she didn't mourn for long and excused the King very quickly. But was having a child outside of wedlock really that bad in those days?

'The Lady of the Lake scene was a bit confusing because he had already pulled the sword out of the stone, and now he gets it again. I looked it up, and I guess Malory just decided to include both versions of the story.' I had the same question—I didn't remember reading that he had lost Excalibur.

The end of Book 1, where Arthur orders the deaths of every child born on May Day, was completely new to me. I can't believe Arthur would do something like that. I'll try to forget it and pretend I never read it! ☹ (hide spoiler)]

Lorraine wrote: "I agree with you that this is the kind of book that can be read in one sitting. The language can be challenging!

I finished Book 1. Malory's version of the Arthurian legend aligns more closely wit..."

To your question about (view spoiler)[Merlin's willingness to help Uther sleep in Igraine, I think it's his ability to see the future. He knows and needs Arthur to come into existence (hide spoiler)]

Finished Book 2, which was even shorter than 1.

I think a lot more happened than what I actually absorbed. There are so many characters in such a short time.

(view spoiler)[It was a bit confusing. So Balin pulled out a sword for somewhere, and is basically cursed because he wouldn't give it back to the lady? Then Balin kills the Lady of the Lake?? That was shocking.

I liked the questing that Balin does. His fight with Pellam and the castle falling apart around them...

It was sad that Balin and Balan end up killing each other because Balin didn't have his own shield.

There were some foretellings about Launcelot and Galahad. (hide spoiler)]

Finished Book 2.
I also feel a bit lost here. Many characters I do not remember. (view spoiler)[ I was surprised to learn that Lancelot got Balin sword. Not sure I knew that and if yes, I did not remember it.
Surprised also that Lancelot and Galahad kind of appear at the same time in the story...not sure I get the timeline here...Maybe book 3 will help. (hide spoiler)]

Lorraine wrote: "Finished Book 2.
I also feel a bit lost here. Many characters I do not remember."

Glad I'm not the only one!

Book 3 was easier for me to grasp, but it didn't help round out the goings-on in book 2. (view spoiler)[A white hart, a brachet, and a lady run into Arthur and Guenever's wedding. I had to look up what a brachet is. It's a hunting dog. I'm still unsure if this was planned especially for the wedding or if it just randomly happened as if the quest was bestowed on them by a higher power.
Either way, Gawaine goes after the hart. It ends up in another castle and another knight kills it and Gawaine goes to kill that knight for stealing his quest I guess and ends up killing a lady that protects the knight! They gave him the hart but they made him ride back to Camelot with the lady's head around his neck and her body on his horse. Dark!

Tor goes after the dog and ends up killing a knight because some lady asks him to.

King Pellinore goes after the lady. At the beginning he ignores a lady who is asking for help for her wounded knight. He did bring back the lady after dueling (or murdering) the guys who she was with. Cousins I think. When he gets back Guenever is pissed at him for ignoring the lady and wounded knight. Turns out she was his daughter? And she killed herself because the knight died. Some kind of curse is on him now.

All these stories had some kind of run-in with a lady and a knight at the same time. And all of them would have been better-off if they had just done as the lady asked. Tor did, and I think he got off the best in these quests. Moral of the story: Listen to women. We are always right. :) (hide spoiler)]

SarahKat wrote: "Lorraine wrote: "Finished Book 2.
I also feel a bit lost here. Many characters I do not remember."

Glad I'm not the only one!

Book 3 was easier for me to grasp, but it didn't help round out the ..."

Rule #1: I am always right!
Rule #2: If I’m wrong, rule #1 applies!

I agree chapter 3 did not bring lights to the story. But have to say, your summary makes it funnier than when reading it! (view spoiler)[ And the father that kills his daughter! Wow, it felt like a soap opera here! (hide spoiler)]

I finished Book 4 and didn't really absorb any of it except (view spoiler)[Tor becoming a knight of the round table and one of the other knights being mad that he got it before him.

And also that Arthur fought someone's war for him in order to get free. (hide spoiler)]

There was a quote from book 4 that I laughed at... "but he was so full of knighthood that knightly he endured the pain." It just sounds like something Donald Trump would say.

Finished Book 5: (view spoiler)[Arthur is at odds with the emperor of Rome for not wanting to pay him.

I remember chapter 5 being about Arthur slaying a giant which seemed to go rather quickly.

Gawaine cuts the head off a Roman and starts a battle that could have been put off probably. He is very hot-headed. While it turned out okay for them this time, I don't think things will end well for him.
I didn't realize Arthur and company traveled through Europe and I was surprised to see them actually go to Italy. (hide spoiler)]

And Book 6: (view spoiler)[Launcelot goes on lots of adventures and quests. A lot of them merged together in my mind. Lots of other knights and damsels.
The 4 queens come and tell him to pick one and he refuses. When he leaves and spends the night somewhere, the owner of the place comes and starts kissing him so naturally they fight. This part was kind of funny. And then wife comes out and tells him to make him a knight of the round table. Always the women actually using their brain and thinking "how can this benefit us?"
Launcelot kills TWO giants, one-upping Arthur.
The falcon one was good. A knight tries to trap him unarmed to kill him but he beats him with a tree-branch. (hide spoiler)]

I have noticed that when 2 people fight they either wound each other and then potentially become friends and they are both fine rather quickly. But if one is going to die, he is decapitated. There's very little like... stabbing in the chest or dying of infection or something.

I also read Book 4 to 6. I still find this English difficult to read and, probably because of that, I have problems getting into this story. (view spoiler)[ I knew that Arthur was also in France but did not know about Italy. More and more this story makes me think of Alexander the Great. Will it be for the same reasons that Arthur will lose his kingdom?
There are a lot of fighting! Did they have that many wars in GOT? <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

Book 8 centers on Tristan and Iseult (Tristram and La Beale Isoud). (view spoiler)[ Interestingly, this tale likely inspired the story of Lancelot and Guinevere. Tristan and La Beale Isoud fall deeply in love, and after many adventures, Tristan seeks a reward from King Anguish: he asks that La Beale Isoud be given to his uncle Mark in marriage, as he had promised. Anguish is surprised that Tristan doesn't wish to marry her himself, but Tristan insists on honoring his word.

The queen provides Gouvernail with a potion for Isoud and Mark to drink on their wedding day, ensuring they will love each other forever. However, on the journey back, Tristan and Isoud mistakenly drink the potion, believing it to be wine, and their love becomes eternal. This sets a poor foundation for Mark and La Beale Isoud's marriage.

Later, during another adventure, Tristan is wounded. Unable to assist him herself, Isoud sends a lady to tell Tristan to seek help from King Howel in Brittany, where his daughter, Isoud la Blanche Mains, can nurse him back to health. Tristan and Gouvernail follow this advice.

Tristan, feeling ashamed, receives a letter from La Beale Isoud to Guenever, accusing him of betrayal for marrying Isoud la Blanche Mains and beginning to fall for her. Guenever responds, suggesting that Tristan must have been ensnared by female sorcery and will eventually hate his wife and return to loving Isoud.

One thing is certain: La Beale Isoud would not accept Tristan being with anyone else, even though she is also married. Some love lives are quite complicated! (hide spoiler)]

I'm still in Book 7 but I've made a few notes. (view spoiler)[Chapter 7 with the Black Knight had me picturing the scene from Monty Python the whole time. "It's just a flesh wound!"

Beaumains/Gareth. I didn't follow this super well but I thought it was funny the damsel kept calling him kitchen boy and giving him crap. He keeps besting all that's thrown at him but she just will not stop picking on him. Hehe (hide spoiler)]

I'm about to start reading this. I will catch up with your comments when I get to those points

Book 1 (view spoiler)[considering this was published in the 15th century it is remarkably easy to understand. It probably helps that the story is currently very familiar. A lot of "and then..." and characters mentioned as though Malory is just listing 'facts' and events rather than expanding the narrative with action and a bit of plot. I would like to know more of Merlin's motivations (I think other adaptations of Arthurian legend miss this out too). I can see many parallels with the Bible too. (hide spoiler)]
SarahKat, (view spoiler)[you mention above you were confused by the sword(s). The sword in the stone is NOT meant to be the magic Excalibur (think it's just a random one that Merlin (he's always meddling!) enchants to remain in the stone) but the one from the lady in the lake is that Excalibur so they are two different swords. From Wikipedia: Traditionally, the sword in the stone that is the proof of Arthur's lineage and the sword given to him by a Lady of the Lake are not the same weapon, even as in some versions of the legend both of them share the name of Excalibur (hide spoiler)]

Rachael wrote: "Book 1 [spoilers removed]
SarahKat, [spoilers removed]"

Thanks for the explanation about the swords. Makes more sense now!

Yes thank you for the sword info!

Moved this to the August Buddy Reads folder.

I'm glad we are doing this over 2 months. I'm still in Book 8. It feels like it's gotten denser than at the beginning.

Just finished Books 2 and 3. (view spoiler)[They were quick reads. Lots of characters again and a lot of battles/death. Would have liked a bit more time at the battles to figure out what is going on. The timeline is a bit confusing because having previously been aware of other versions I didn't think certain characters appeared at the same time (Lancelot and Galahad spring to mind!). The Balin and Balan story was sad and I believe is foreshadowing later events.
Side note: at one point because the formatting in my copy split a knight's introduction slightly oddly I saw "My name is" and could only think of the Eminem song 😂 (hide spoiler)]

I finally finished Book 8. Lorraine I like your summary. I really don't have anything to add about this one. It felt very looooong

Books 4-6. (view spoiler)[I also did not realise how far Arthur and Co travelled through Europe. Malory seems to gloss over some of the battles so I don't really know why they're fighting. (hide spoiler)]

Book 7. (view spoiler)[I think I may be confusing the Green Knight here with another Green Knight from the legends.
Funniest chapter title ever in this section: Chapter 23 How said Knight came the next night and was beheaded again. My thoughts: who is this knight?!? Doctor Who? Zaphod Beeblebrox? I didn't realise you could survive a beheading especially not at the time this was set with very little medicine (hide spoiler)]

Book 8. (view spoiler)[ Tristram and Isoud - this is probably my favourite part of these legends. These characters and their tale fascinate me so much and have for ages. So many different spellings for their names though in all the retellings wish they'd be consistent. (hide spoiler)]

Rachael wrote: "Book 7. I think I may be confusing the Green Knight here with another Green Knight from the legends.
Funniest chapter title ever in this section: Chapter 23 How said Knight came the next night and ..."

I caught that title too haha! And yes I kept thinking of Gawain the Green Knight. Same with thinking of the Black Knight from Monty Python.

Book 9: (view spoiler)[Tristram is just as good as Launcelot it seems. At least as much as I could tell with all of the incessant jousting and fighting. I wonder what will come of him using Morgan le Fay's shield. (hide spoiler)]

Book 10. (view spoiler)[ I think this is the longest book so far. Quite slow with a lot of smiting going on so a bit hard to keep track of all the characters. I can't help thinking that if there was less misunderstanding and more actually saying who you are they'd be less smiting (hide spoiler)]

Book 9: (view spoiler)[I wonder why Sir Kay is always mocking the newcomers, even though many of them could teach him a thing or two. I especially liked when Lancelot shamed the older and more experienced knights for letting La Cote Mal Taile take on the adventure of the Black Shield, known as the most challenging quest in the world.

I have to say, I'm having fun with some of the character names. For example, Sir Plaine D’Amour can be translated as Sir Full of Love, and Damosel Maledisant’s name was changed to Beauvivant, which has a completely different meaning! (hide spoiler)]

Sorry guys. I’ve been struggling personally this year and keep signing up for buddy reads as a way to make myself get excited about reading again but it hasn’t been working. Now I’ve let down another buddy read. My apologies.

Don’t worry about that Allison. Take care of yourself. You’ll join when you’re ready.

Books 11-13 (view spoiler)[ The Guinevere/Lancelot/Elaine love triangle. I didn't realise before how Lancelot was tricked to be with Elaine.
The quest for the Sangreal.
More smiting and swooning. (hide spoiler)]

Allison wrote: "Sorry guys. I’ve been struggling personally this year and keep signing up for buddy reads as a way to make myself get excited about reading again but it hasn’t been working. Now I’ve let down anoth..."

Sorry you're having a hard time Allison! This is quite a tome so I don't blame you for not having the energy for it right now.

Books 14-16 (view spoiler)[ We get the stories of Sir Bors, Sir Gawaine, Sir Percivale and Sir Ector* but I feel this section was a bit rushed and we didn't get enough time to learn more about these characters.
* It's not clear if this Ector is Arthur's foster dad or a different one. I think it's the latter? (hide spoiler)]

Book 10 (view spoiler)[ Books 8-10 shift from the central plot to focus on Tristram and his adventures, rather than Arthur and his knights. Tristram's power struggle with King Mark, lacking the loyalty seen in Launcelot and Arthur's conflict, stands out.

The love story between Tristram and Isoud evolves into a comfortable, complacent relationship. Like Launcelot, Tristram proves his love through extreme actions and experiences madness over perceived infidelity. Despite their devotion, Tristram and Isoud are involved with others, and their story ends tragically with Mark killing Tristram.

King Mark is depicted as treacherous and cowardly, relying on his crown's authority rather than personal prowess, making him despised in Camelot. (hide spoiler)]

Books 17-18. (view spoiler)[I've realised how little King Arthur appears in this book. It's more about his knights and their adventures - what has King Arthur been up to? Maybe Le Morte de Lancelot would be a better title as since book 10 there's been a lot about him.
Also, I wonder if the knights when they return to Camelot are exaggerating their injuries. Like Lancelot is telling the Round Table how an arrow pierced his buttock by 6 inches. Could it have just been a scratch but he's made it sound worse because he doesn't want to admit he was beaten by a woman? Would explain how they survive countless smites. (hide spoiler)]

I'm only reading 20 pages per day so I have time for my other million August reads. Still somewhere in the depths of book 10.

After Book 10, the books seem to get much shorter.

Rachael wrote: "After Book 10, the books seem to get much shorter."

Which is good for me as I have to say this one will not be a favorite of mine…LOL

Book 11-12: (view spoiler)[ Lancelot feels ashamed because he was tricked into sleeping with Elaine. However, he wouldn't have felt the same shame if he had slept with Guinevere, who is married to his king. The situation with Elaine is complex; although she deceived him, it was necessary for the birth of Galahad, just as certain events were necessary for the birth of Arthur. (hide spoiler)]

Books 19-21 (the end) (view spoiler)[Lancelot and Guinevere's betrayal, then Mordred's betrayal. I didn't realise Mordred attempted to marry Guinevere.
Edited to add: I liked the bit where Arthur told one of his knights to give the sword back to the lady of the lake and he knew it didn't happen twice. (hide spoiler)]

Rachael wrote: "Books 11-13

Finished Book 13. (view spoiler)[ I did not remember the quest for the Sangrael started with Galahad getting a sword the same way Arthur got his at the begining of the story..., (hide spoiler)]

Rachael wrote: "Books 14-16 We get the stories of Sir Bors, Sir Gawaine, Sir Percivale and Sir Ector* but I feel this section was a bit rushed and we didn't get enough time to learn more about these characters.
*..."

Finished Book 14. (view spoiler)[I think Sir Ector is Lancelot brother and not the same Sir Ector who took Arthur when he was born. (hide spoiler)]

Finished Book 17. (view spoiler)[ "I’m not sure I understand, but is Galahad a descendant of King Solomon? He was the purest knight and found the Sangreal, yet he died a year later." (hide spoiler)]

Finished Book 18-19. (view spoiler)[ "Surprised by how much Arthur seems not to want to know because of the rumors, and many knights are not okay with the Queen's behavior." (hide spoiler)]

I finally slogged through Book 10 and I cannot express to you how much I did not absorb. Why was that one so dull compared to some of these others??

This is the kind of book that needs tabbed. Like different colors for each character so you can follow where they go instead of them randomly popping up in a joust 5 books later and you're expected to remember their significance.

I did finish 11 and I think 12 as well. I am out of town so my brain is a little fried from "vacation" but those were much easier on me. Very similar to the events in Once and Future King.

I finish the book for the Readathon. Cannot say it will be a favorite of mine. On thing though, is that my next Arthur read will a modern one! This old English is very too difficult for me !

I am still reading this but I've sort of given up on getting anything out of it. Once and Future King was so much more accessible I think.