I have a penchant for the Arthur story. I'm not sure why. In fact, I've read this story more than any other, and I'm always disappointed. Arthur just isn't that great, no one in this story is. Everyone is mean and petty. It's ok to have flaws, especially if it has a purpose, but for the most part, there's no point to the flaws, or the multitude of ministories that express them. That's the other problem. There's ten thousand subplots that tell about day to day life that have no bearing on an overall plot and are never resolved or picked up again later so we can think "oh THAT's why he told about that stupid knight fight." Toward the end Steinbeck seemed to stop paraphrasing Malory as much, and I began to appreciate it more as there was more depth to the characters. However, it ends not long after that, as Steinbeck never finished his opus. Since I STILL have a penchant for Arthur stories, and can't resist them, I gave it four stars.