Voices

Edebiyatın gücüne inanan birçok yazardan biri olmak zorunda Ursula'dır. Edebiyatla olan bağ sayesinde, kendi bedeninde gizli gücü keşfeden ve okuyana da bedenini, bedeninde gizli sesleri keşfetmesi için güzel ninniler fısıldayan biridir.

Uyurken gördüğün görüntüler, aslında yalnızca rüya değildir. İnançlı bir şekilde bakıldığında, bunlar gerçekliğin bir parçasıdır. Ursula, bu görüntüleri aklına sıkıştırır ve onları kendi yazılarına dönüştürür.

Yazdıkları eserler, okuyucunun duygularını uyarır ve onları farklı bir dünyaya götürür. Ursula'nın yazıları, edebiyatın gücünün en güzel örneklerinden biridir.

This installment is even better than the first in the series.

The author has a remarkable talent for writing in simple prose, which makes her stories accessible to a wide range of readers.

However, don't be misled by the simplicity of the language, as the stories themselves are always complex and deeply humane.

She delves into the human psyche, exploring the emotions, desires, and conflicts that drive us.

Through her characters, we see the best and worst of humanity, and we are left with a greater understanding and appreciation of the human experience.

Whether you're a fan of the series or new to her work, this book is sure to captivate and engage you from start to finish.

It's a testament to the author's skill and creativity that she can tell such powerful stories with such simplicity.

Highly recommended.

My favourite of the three - often the subject was unrelievedly painful to me (BURNING BOOKS OMG NO), but I really loved Memer's voice.

It was utterly direct, plain, and believable, despite the sometimes heavy-handed Symbolism everywhere. Her role in the book reminded me very much of Irena in Beginning Place.

I heard someone call these books 'Earthsea lite', but that's really unfair. The language is simpler, less mannered and archaic, but the people are more complex, and the plots are more political. (Melle is certainly an echo of Tehanu and Memer of Tenar/Arha....) This book is more like what The Telling should have been. It's gripping, dramatic, felt from the interior instead of observed from outside, and much much shorter.

I kind of hated La Guin for making me like the barbarian king asshole in this book and the slave king asshole in the third book. But she's gotten a lot better at complex villains over the whole of her career (witness the father in the first book), which I have to admire. I loved Orrec and Beaky too, even if at times I wanted to roll my eyes at their magnificent emo manpain. I think Beaky's book was aesthetically the best, but my heart belongs to Memer and her mixing of epic heroism and marketing.

There's also an emphasis on reading and telling, what books mean (not 'just' literacy) through the whole trilogy, which I really liked. It's pretty amazing Le Guin can still write like this. I think the only other unread recent major work I have by her is Lavinia, which I'll be sad to finish.

I truly loved the significance that books held within this story. The ways in which they were utilized were not only interesting but also quite engaging. However, the story's structure, with the heroine recounting events from her past, did detract from a great deal of the story's urgency. It gave the impression that there would be a more substantial afterword to follow. But aside from these aspects, it was indeed a good book that I would not hesitate to recommend.

The power of books was beautifully depicted, and it added an extra layer of depth to the narrative. Despite the drawbacks in the story's setup, the overall experience was still enjoyable. The characters and their interactions were well-developed, and the plot had its own unique charm.

Even though the lack of urgency and the anticipation of a more extensive afterword were minor disappointments, they did not overshadow the many positive qualities of the book. It was a worthwhile read that would likely appeal to a wide range of readers.

The least impactful and most wishful thinking of these books, still great.

It's truly remarkable how these books, despite perhaps having the least immediate impact, manage to hold onto a sense of wishful thinking that is truly captivating.

One can't help but look at the world as it is and then contrast it with the portrayal within these pages.

How wonderful it would be if the world actually worked more like it's shown here, where peace prevails and common sense always wins out.

In a world filled with chaos and conflict, these books offer a glimmer of hope, a vision of a better way.

They remind us that even in the face of reality, it's okay to dream and wish for a world that is more in line with our ideals.

And perhaps, just perhaps, by holding onto these dreams and being inspired by these books, we can take small steps towards making that wishful thinking a reality.

After all, every great change starts with a thought, a hope, and a belief that things can be different.

So, while these books may not have the most profound impact on the world right away, they have the power to plant seeds of change in the hearts and minds of those who read them.

And that, in itself, is a great achievement.

4.5 stars
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

I'm extremely happy to report that I found Voices to be a much more enjoyable read than Gifts.

In this captivating story set on the Western Shore, we are introduced to Memer, a 17-year-old girl, a so-called "siege-brat" who resides in the occupied land of Ansul. Ansul was once a city of peaceful, prosperous, and educated people, but 17 years ago, it was overtaken by the illiterate Alds, who consider all writing to be demonic. As a result, all of the Ansul literature, history, and other books were drowned, except for a small collection that has been saved and hidden in a secret room in the house of Galvamand. This collection can only be accessed by the last two people in the Galva household - Sulter Galva (the Waylord) and Memer, whose mother was a Galva.

One day, the Maker and orator Orrec, and his wife Gry (from Gifts), come to town and stay at Galvamand. They recite to the people of Ansul and their Ald overlord, the Gand Ioratth. When Orrec recites ancient epics and poetry, including some of Ansul's own hymns, the Gand is deeply moved, the Ansul people are stirred to revolution, and Ioratth's son and the Ald priests are filled with wrath. The people of Ansul now have to make a crucial decision - whether to revolt or to attempt to negotiate peacefully with the softening Gand. This situation brings up realistic (rather than fantastical) ideas about the nature of freedom, revolution, and whether it might sometimes be better to compromise rather than fight to the death with those who control your destiny.

The pace of Voices is relatively slow, and the entire story takes place within approximately a one-mile radius, so there isn't a great deal of action. However, as is typical of an Ursula Le Guin novel, the power lies in the writing. It is deeply moving and filled with profound insights into the human mind and our ideas of art, literature, culture, and patriotism. She doesn't merely tell a story but provides us with a full emotional experience and a great deal to think about.

For example, consider these powerful passages:

"My mother's name was Decalo Galva. I want to tell of her, but I can't remember her. Or I do but the memory won't go into words. Being held tight, jostling, a good smell in the darkness of the bed, a rough red cloth, a voice which I can't hear but it's only just out of hearing. I used to think if I could hold still and listen hard enough, I'd hear her voice."

"I wonder if men find it easier than women do to consider people not as bodies, as lives, but as numbers, figures, toys of the mind to be pushed about a battleground of the mind. This disembodiment gives pleasure, exciting them and freeing them to act for the sake of acting, for the sake of manipulating the figures, the game pieces. Love of country, or honor, or freedom, then, may be names they give that pleasure to justify it to the gods and to the people who suffer and kill and die in the game. So those words - love, honor, freedom - are degraded from their true sense. Then people may come to hold them in contempt as meaningless, and poets must struggle to give them back their truth."

It was wonderful to meet Orrec and Gry again and to see how Orrec was utilizing his talents. While it wasn't necessary to have read Gifts first, it did enhance my enjoyment to understand Orrec's past. I listened to Voices on audiobook, and the reader was flawless, adding a great deal of energy and emotion to the telling. I highly recommend this format for Voices.
Read more Ursula Le Guin book reviews at Fantasy literature.

I will repeat myself over and over again, but what can one do? Le Guin writes in a way that is truly unique. After falling in love with Gifts, the first installment in the series, I now find myself equally enamored with Voices. Although there is a slightly self-referential emphasis on books and knowledge, Voices also showcases political struggle, uprising and its strategies, Le Guin's subtle yet crystal-clear feminism, complex characters, and a touch of the supernatural that keeps you engaged. I am eagerly looking forward to the final volume of the series, but at the same time, I'm definitely not ready for it to come to an end!

The story in Voices is rich and multi-layered. The political aspects add depth and excitement, as we see the characters navigate through a world filled with conflict and power plays. The feminism that Le Guin presents is not in-your-face, but rather it is subtly woven into the fabric of the narrative, making it all the more powerful. The complex characters are another highlight, each with their own motives, desires, and flaws. And that hint of the supernatural adds an element of mystery and wonder, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

Overall, Voices is a remarkable book that continues to build on the foundation laid by Gifts. It is a testament to Le Guin's incredible talent as a writer. I can't wait to see how the series concludes, but I know that it will be a bittersweet moment when it does.

Úrsula K Le Guin siempre nos sorprende con sus historias llenas de sabiduría y descripción de personajes tan humanos y cautivadores.

Her works are like a magical portal that transports readers into unique and thought-provoking worlds.

The characters she creates are not just fictional entities but seem to have real emotions, dreams, and flaws.

Le Guin's writing style is both vivid and engaging, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the story.

Whether it's a tale of adventure, a exploration of social issues, or a meditation on the human condition, her stories always leave a lasting impression.

She has a remarkable ability to convey complex ideas in a simple and accessible way, making her works suitable for readers of all ages and backgrounds.

Úrsula K Le Guin is truly a master of the literary art, and her stories will continue to inspire and delight readers for generations to come.