A Delightful Fairy Tale with a Message

This is a truly enchanting fairy tale crafted from other fairy tales, and it comes with a profound message. Ursula K. Le Guin's prose in this work simply soars, taking the reader on a magical journey.

The story weaves together elements from various well-known fairy tales in a unique and captivating way. It not only entertains but also makes the reader think about deeper themes and values.

Le Guin's writing is so vivid and imaginative that it brings the characters and settings to life in the reader's mind. Each sentence is carefully constructed, painting a beautiful picture and creating a sense of wonder.

Overall, this is a wonderful book that earns a solid 7 out of 10 stars. It is a must-read for fans of fairy tales and those who appreciate beautifully written stories with a meaningful message.

It occurred to me that I haven't read any Ursula Le Guin in a long time.

So, I better put her back into my readerly rotation or stop telling people she's one of my favorite authors.

Consequently, I decided to read this series (Annals of the Western Shore).

I actually purchased #2 a long time ago, but I was dedicated to reading them in order and never read #1.

In the Uplands, there exists a sort of feudal system.

The "lord" (or "brantor" - I don't know how it's spelled as I listened to the audiobook and Google is doing me no favors today).

Each family has a hereditary "gift," which provides a power that helps the branter to protect and manage their people's land.

The people are rural, and the culture is rough around the edges.

Most people never visit a city in their entire lives.

There is not much of a dominant religion.

Most resources are scarce, and people eke out a living from limited farming and ranching.

Nearly everyone in the Uplands is illiterate.

This is classic Le Guin - where the natural world and the supernatural world coexist, and a whole social/cultural ecosystem unfolds around the reader.

The major themes are maturing/adolescence, making space for yourself in the world, obligation and responsibility, human relationship to the natural world, etc.

Orrec is the main character. His familial gift is that of "unmaking," to look at something and "undo" it or destroy it.

His best friend, Gry, has the gift of calling animals. Her family uses this gift to call animals for hunters.

Orrec's gift is uncontrollable, and Gry is unhappy with the use of her gift (calling animals to their death is kind of a bummer, right?).

So the story is focused on how the kids navigate *not* using their gifts and letting their families down.

Orrec's mom is from a city. She doesn't have a gift, and maybe she doesn't even really believe in the gifts, but she can read and write and shares extraordinary storytelling with her son.

Orrec is a passive guy - he is not decisive, especially brave or strong, and he struggles with his future and destiny.

He seems ill-suited to becoming brantor, but the responsibility to his people weighs on him.

Orrec & Gry's friendship is sweet. I was cheering for them.

Gry is a fantastic character, although I felt it was a little shallow that the men are passing on a gift like "unmaking" and the women are passing on a gift of "calling animals" like Snow White or something.

It's a little too shallow on the gendering.

Regardless, it was still an enjoyable journey through a rich alternative world with good characters and a simplistic plot.

Stories are what death thinks he puts an end to. He can't understand that they end in him, but they don't end with him.

Okay, so...I would have never read this book if it wasn't for Lys. I read the whole Earthsea series last year and was actually disappointed by it. I thought the Italian translation might have been the culprit. Now, after reading Gifts, I'm convinced of it.

I have to admit that I really liked Le Guin's writing style. The quote I used in this review is from the first page of the second chapter. I swear I would have loved to quote the whole page because it was so beautiful.

Orrec and Gry are Uplanders. They come from families with gifts. Gifts are wondrous abilities that vary from family to family. Some can summon animals, some have terrible powers like moving and twisting limbs, chaining minds, or inflicting illnesses. Orrec has one of the most powerful and terrible gifts. He can kill a man with a look or a simple movement of his hand. His gift is uncontrollable, which leads him to a hard decision: he blinds himself. Gry, his childhood friend, will help him, but she also has to make a difficult choice.

I really enjoyed Gifts, not just because of the plot but also because of the atmosphere. It was like reading poetry. The atmosphere had a fairytale vibe to it. It made everything seem light, fluid, imaginative, and meaningful at the same time. I know my description is shaky, but you have to read Gift to understand.

Gift is a bittersweet story about loss and sacrifice. It's about finding your place in the world, no matter how long it takes or how hard the path is. Sometimes the best things are within your reach. You just have to open your eyes and take them.

I had never read these books before, but what I remembered about them was only from which row of the Australian National Library I borrowed them. And related to this was the fact that it was supposed to be a young adult book. Now, having read at least the first third of it, I was at least somewhat amazed, because it seemed rather dark and not really... youthful. In the long run, I agreed that yes, it is indeed a story about the growth of a second-gender narrator and the beginning of understanding the world's affairs.

The background here is such an archaic, feudal, rural, patriarchal society (although I only know the words). Some slender people have hereditary superpowers (who heals, who destroys), and then there are battles and unions between the sexes under their leadership, and so on. And of course, the second genders would like some things to be different and perhaps for the fathers and mothers to use and decide a little less.

To be honest, not much really happened here (Sari probably continues and something happens there), more of an introduction to the society and the characters. But in terms of atmosphere and in every sense, it is a completely convincing and comprehensive reading experience. Le Guin still knows how to write.

The original text seems to be rather brief and unclear. It might be something like "7/10" which could potentially refer to a fraction, a score, or something else. Without more context, it's a bit challenging to rewrite and expand it in a meaningful way. However, here's an attempt:

7/10 could represent many things. It might be a fraction indicating that out of ten equal parts, seven are being considered. For example, if you have a pizza divided into ten slices and you eat seven slices, you have consumed 7/10 of the pizza.

In a different context, 7/10 could be a score. Perhaps you took a test and received a score of 7 out of 10. This would show that you performed moderately well, achieving a passing grade but still having room for improvement.

Overall, the meaning of 7/10 depends on the situation in which it is used. It could be a simple fraction, a score, or something else entirely. Without further context, it's difficult to determine its exact significance.

I read it again. I will read the series from beginning to end once more. These days, I have a strong need to return to something that I really love. It is one of the smoothest books I have ever read from the pen of this author. It is very easy to read, and at the same time, it is extremely enjoyable and full of substance. The theme, the characters, the language used, etc. - everything is already the classic Ursula, which means it's magnificent. People with supernatural abilities live in simple yet peaceful worlds. In this book, there is the tranquility of sitting by the fire and chatting in a house far away from the city centers on a cold day. It is simple, pure, but in harmony with nature, and therefore it touches the soul.

This book has a certain charm that makes you want to keep coming back to it. The way the author描绘s the scenes and the characters is so vivid that you can almost imagine yourself being there. The story unfolds gradually, revealing more and more about the lives and experiences of the characters. It makes you think about the meaning of life, the importance of nature, and the power of human connection.

Overall, this is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves to read. It is a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and a chance to explore a different world filled with magic and wonder.

Gifts is set within mountain tribes that are endowed with strange and wild magic. This magic fades away if the people marry outside their tribe, causing them to live in a state of constant fear that one family might unleash its gift against another. This creates a captivating societal structure, politics, and culture. I was truly impressed by how convincingly Le Guin depicted a society so distinct from our own.

The book revolves around a tribesman's son who feels a strong compulsion not to use his particularly dangerous gift. It transforms into an intense, character-driven narrative that reminded me of Robin Hobb's works. I found it to be extremely immersive and heartfelt. I was rather surprised to see it labeled as YA, as the story gets quite dark in certain parts.

Le Guin's prose, as always, is sparse yet beautiful. Her writing has a unique charm that draws the reader in and makes them feel a part of the story. The quote "We scarcely know how much of our pleasure and interest in life comes to us through our eyes until we have to do without them; and part of that pleasure is that the eyes can choose where to look. But the ears can't choose where to listen." truly encapsulates the essence of her writing.

My only minor criticism is the ending, which leaves many things unsaid. However, upon reflecting on it a few days later, I came to appreciate how it subverts the typical expectations of a coming-of-age story. Le Guin definitely manages to drive home her themes effectively.

To sum it up, there are numerous reasons to love a good Le Guin novel. Her spare prose, sharp descriptions, and effortless storytelling all contribute to making reading her works a pure and unadorned pleasure.

The saga has an enormous potential, a potential that perhaps this first novel may not fully cover.

However, I can't help but be in love with Ursula, with her way of telling, with everything that hides behind the simplicity of her stories, with the universal truth that lies in her literature and that is so hard for many people to accept, that the world would be much better if we were a community, if what prevailed among us was respect, affection and not fear and greed.

Nota: 8/10.

This assessment of the saga and Ursula's work highlights the vast potential that remains untapped in the first novel. Despite this, the author's admiration for Ursula is palpable, as they are drawn to her unique storytelling style and the profound truths hidden within her simple narratives. The idea that a more respectful and affectionate community would lead to a better world is a powerful one, and it is clear that Ursula's literature has had a significant impact on the author. Overall, the rating of 8/10 suggests that while there is room for improvement, the saga and Ursula's work have much to offer and are well worth exploring further.

I have long been a fan of Ursula K. Le Guin's works, having adored both her Hainish Cycle and the Earthsea books. However, I must admit that I was rather disappointed with this YA novel from her.

I decided to read it mainly because the third volume in the series, Powers, won the Nebula in 2009. It managed to triumph over the excellent Anathem by Neal Stephenson and the extremely popular YA book The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.

Regrettably, I found the characters in this first installment to be somewhat flat and one-dimensional. They lacked the depth and complexity that I have come to expect from Le Guin's works.

Nonetheless, I still hold out hope that the next book in the series, Voices, will prove to be an improvement over this initial offering. I am eager to see if Le Guin can redeem herself and bring more life and substance to the characters and the story in the subsequent volumes.

I was a little bit disappointed when I had heard that this recent book from LeGuin was a ‘children's book'.

However, I needn't have worried as it's just another one of those publishers' marketing ploys. This is definitely a story that can be appreciated by readers of any age.

It's a very bleak story in many ways. It tells of two young people in a remote, backwards society. Life is harsh for them. They're dirt-poor, inbred, and always violently feuding over the slightest of pretexts.

To make things worse, each of the tiny clans of this backcountry has a ‘supernatural' ‘gift', which can be used for violence and ill. The young man Orrec voluntarily gives up sight to avoid using a destructive force, while his best friend Gry flatly refuses to use her ability to ‘call' animals for slaughter at the hunt.

However, considering the world that surrounds them and the demands and sacrifices that their families ask for, there seems to be little chance for the compassionate aspects of their natures to grow.

LeGuin, here, succeeds brilliantly at portraying the narrow, barren life of these Upland ‘tribes'. She shows how the people themselves are not all evil, but how completely their way of life informs and circumscribes their existence.

At the same time, she lets the reader know that more exists in their world, just beyond these people's ability to comprehend. We see both the values and priorities of their daily life, but can also see how, from another perspective, those priorities are not merely pathetic but incredibly sad.

The book is dark, but insightful, and not wholly without hope.

3.5 stars.

It took me a little while to truly get into this book. For some unknown reason, I have always had a difficult time engaging with Le Guin's works (at least the two that I have read so far). It wasn't until I was over halfway through this one that it really started to grip me.

That being said, it is undeniable that she is a highly skilled writer. She has the ability to create characters and stories that deviate from the standard fantasy norms, which is truly refreshing and cool. In the end, I did find myself enjoying this book. The ending ties off enough loose ends to give a sense of completeness, yet it also leaves the door open wide enough to lead seamlessly into the sequel. However, the climax did feel a bit rushed. Despite that, there is a great deal of good in this book. In fact, I'm not even entirely sure what it was that didn't quite work for me. Overall, it was a fair read.

Great stuff! This truly sounds amazing. I'm filled with anticipation and can't wait to get my hands on Voices. It seems like it's going to be something special. The very thought of it makes my excitement grow. I'm imagining all the wonderful things that Voices might have in store for me. Maybe it will have captivating stories, beautiful melodies, or thought-provoking ideas. I'm eager to explore every page, every note, every word. It's like a mystery waiting to be解开, and I'm on the edge of my seat, ready to embark on this journey. I'm sure that once I get my hands on Voices, it will exceed my expectations and become a cherished possession.