Nja,

When it comes to fantasy, this book could have done more. The storyline seems to drag on throughout the book.

It lacks the excitement and adventure that one would expect from a fantasy novel. The characters are not developed enough, and it's hard to really connect with them.

The world-building is also rather simplistic, not fully immersing the reader in a magical and enchanting realm.

There are moments when the writing shows promise, but overall, it fails to deliver a truly engaging and captivating fantasy experience.

Perhaps with some more polish and a stronger focus on the elements that make fantasy so appealing, this book could have been a lot better.

As it stands now, it just doesn't quite measure up to the standards set by other great fantasy works.

It was magnificent.

It was a soft and sometimes brutal fantasy.

It was captivating and superb... a first volume where magic is latent and almost never used.

It was subtle.

I adored it!

This story takes the reader on a journey through a world that is both enchanting and dangerous.

The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat from beginning to end.

The author's writing style is beautiful, painting a vivid picture of the world and its inhabitants.

Overall, this is a must-read for fans of fantasy literature.

It is a unique and unforgettable story that will leave you wanting more.

In 2009, from May 21st to May 29th, I read a book. I gave it 2.5 stars, but since there's no such option, I rounded it up to 3 stars.

The story is told in the first person past tense, through the eyes of a young man named Orrec. His heterogeneous blood line might have given him the unstable gift of great power.

In standard Le Guiniean fashion, "Gifts" started out slow and a bit obtuse. It followed the normal, rambling pattern that I've come to expect in books by Le Guin. It was as if she needed to build up momentum to get going and didn't use an editor to smooth out the beginning. However, by the end of the story, the reasons for almost every element of the narrative were revealed or at least hinted at.

I enjoyed this book. Because of it, I will read the other two "Annals of the Western Shore" novels. I would rate the text from 40 (it was okay) to 60 (I liked it) percent of excellent. The average of those two values is 50 percent, which rounds up to 3 stars.

Between "It was okay" (2 stars) and "I liked it" (3 stars), and the fact that I enjoyed it, I gave it 3 stars. I liked it.

(Note that this system of evaluation is a bit silly. There are elements that aren't comparable, like re-readability, overall experience, and other non-quantitative or at least non-comparable quanta. I might try to set up a multi-vector evaluational system at some point to approximate a better descriptive taxonomy, but I don't really have the time for that right now.)

3.5 stars

At the outset, this book had a somewhat sluggish pace, yet I found myself drawn to it. Ursula K. Le Guin possesses a truly remarkable gift. Her writing is highly poetic and suggestive, endowing her story with the comforting aroma of an ancient tale recounted beside a crackling firelight.

The evolution of the central character, Orrec, and the journey that culminated in his ultimate decision were aspects that I truly valued. It was fascinating to witness his growth and transformation throughout the narrative.

However, the sole shortcoming I perceived was my inability to fully empathize with him. At times, he appeared overly self-absorbed, seemingly incapable of fathoming the emotions of others, particularly those of his father. Granted, he was merely a boy, but this still left me a touch disappointed. Nevertheless, despite this minor flaw, the overall quality of the book and the engaging nature of the story more than compensated for it.

I have a deep affection for Ursula Le Guin precisely because she never looks down upon her readers. Her prose in this work is every bit as exquisite as in her adult novels. The characters she creates are distinct individuals, and the story is equally captivating. Although I would have preferred the plot to possess a bit more momentum, considering all the other wonderful aspects, I can easily overlook this minor shortcoming.

The narrative revolves around a young man who has inherited a "gift" from his father. Gifts are talents that are passed down through bloodlines, from father to son and mother to daughter. These gifts can be employed as weapons or, at times, to assist the clan.

The plot predominantly focuses on Orrec and his friend Gry, both of whom grapple with not meeting their parents' expectations, yet in different manners. They cherish their families deeply, which compels them to face difficult decisions.

Moreover, there is the issue of growing up in a place that is perpetually on the verge of battle. I found the intrigues and machinations of the various clans to be highly interesting. Each clan had its own concerns, and while many strived to preserve their gifts, they were sometimes subsumed by more powerful clans.

I believe that what I adored the most was the way grief was portrayed. There were several lines that resonated profoundly with me. The author adeptly demonstrated that grief is a process that affects different people in diverse ways.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book. However, it should be noted that one can rarely go wrong with any literary offering penned by Ursula K. Le Guin.

Overall, I truly relished the story of Gifts and the profound issues and thought-provoking questions that Le Guin presents through it.

At the outset, it was a tad challenging to immerse myself in the narrative as everything in Orrec's life appeared so desolate. The mostly destructive gifts, the implied poverty, the harsh way of life, and his stoic father all contributed to this somber atmosphere. However, once the setting was firmly established, I found myself deeply invested in the characters of Orrec and Gry.

One of the most captivating aspects of the book for me was the concept of restraint. It made me realize that even when one has power over others, sometimes the wisest choice is to hold back that power, much like a parent's authority over a child or a nation's power over its people. Additionally, the idea of using one's power (or in this case, Gift) for good rather than for destruction is a central and compelling theme.

Nevertheless, I had two concerns regarding the book that I felt compelled to mention. Firstly, the place and people names seemed rather arbitrary and overly difficult to remember, especially considering the relatively small number of characters in the story. This might be due to Le Guin's penchant for using gender-neutral names, or perhaps it was just my personal struggle. The book could have benefited greatly from a map (or perhaps my edition simply didn't include one?). Secondly, there seemed to be a major plothole. While the concept of the Gifts was ingenious and engaging, the idea that these fearsome abilities could coexist in a functioning society seemed a bit contrived and unrealistic, even for a work of fantasy. For instance, individuals like Crannard or Canoc had the power to destroy anything they desired, which meant that just a few "bad apples" like Crannard could potentially disrupt the entire system and leave only the most powerful family or individual standing. Le Guin attempted to explain this by introducing the concept of "the gift's gift," where a price was expected to be paid each time the power of a gift was exercised. However, this was merely a courtesy and not enforceable in any way. I would have appreciated a more detailed explanation of how this culture managed to sustain itself without collapsing.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and will likely read the next installment in the series. It was a wonderful return to reading Le Guin's young adult books after having explored the Earthsea cycle in my younger days.

3.5
Linda lectura. I have the other two bought, so I read this one quickly to devour them as soon as possible. The concept was very good, but the story is a bit, how to put it? There is no action or discoveries that leave you open-mouthed, but there is a huge value judgment on many issues (family, inheritance, love, power). It has a lot of autobiographical tint, because Orrec tells his story even before he is born. But it ends perfectly. And I really want to read the others. I'm curious to see how the other parts of the story unfold and what new insights and emotions they will bring. The way the author presents these complex themes in a seemingly simple narrative is quite remarkable. It makes me eager to explore more of his works and see how he continues to develop his ideas and characters.

Man, it's truly hard for me to envision marketing this particular work as a Young Adult (YA) novel in the present day. When it comes to Le Guin's world-building in this case, it is relatively uncomplicated. There is an abundance of exposition, while the action is somewhat lacking. The main characters are rather subdued, and the plot does not follow the typical explosive trajectory that one might expect from a YA trilogy. There is a great deal of groundwork being laid, with numerous down-to-earth coming-of-age elements that seem to overshadow the more intense themes and plot points.

I don't think this work reaches the level of playfulness, imagination, and compelling nature that characterizes a lot of Le Guin's finest creations. However, I also have the sense that I cannot pass a full judgment on it until I have had the opportunity to read the other two novels in the series. It's possible that they will offer a more complete and engaging picture, perhaps revealing hidden depths and connections that are not immediately apparent in this first installment. Only then can I truly assess the overall quality and impact of this trilogy within the context of Le Guin's body of work.

Ordinarily, I have a great affection for Ursula Le Guin novels. However, I simply could not engage with Gifts. The writing is indeed beautiful, just as we would anticipate from Le Guin, which is why I gave it 4 stars. Nevertheless, I found this particular novel to be rather dull for my taste.

Most of the story is narrated by Orrec as events that occurred in the past, a technique that I struggled to appreciate. He relates several tales that his mother told him. Orrec and his best friend Gry reside in a culture where magical gifts are employed for destructive ends, and they face pressure from their parents to develop these powers. They resist, and Orrec even blinds himself to prevent himself from causing any destruction. This presents a lovely philosophy, but there is not much action and even fewer moments of happiness. I suppose I was in the mood for something different. Nevertheless, there is a great deal of interesting potential within the culture of The Annals of the Western Shore, and I may decide to give the next one a try.

By the way, I listened to this on audio, and it was well done.

Read more Ursula Le Guin book reviews at Fantasy literature.

9/10

This is a captivating coming-of-age story that is made complex by the presence of mysterious “gifts” and the intricate web of clan politics.

Just like in her renowned Earthsea books, Ursula K. Le Guin has once again managed to explore profound themes beneath the surface of what appears to be a simple and straightforward narrative.

The story follows the protagonist's journey as they navigate through the challenges and revelations brought about by these mysterious “gifts” and the power struggles within the clan.

Le Guin's masterful storytelling draws the reader in, making them invested in the character's growth and the resolution of the various conflicts.

The exploration of themes such as identity, power, and responsibility adds depth and substance to the story, making it a truly engaging and thought-provoking read.

Overall, this is a remarkable work that showcases Le Guin's talent for creating rich and immersive worlds and telling stories that resonate with readers on a deep level.

Orrec and Gry are adolescents in a world where certain families are endowed with special gifts or abilities that are passed down from generation to generation.

Orrec's gift is "Deshacer," which means that the members of his family can destroy with a look and a word. Meanwhile, Gry's ability is communication with animals, which is expected to be used to assist in hunts. Their world is governed by the constant fear that enemy clans will attack using their gifts, as the gifts are used both as weapons and threats.

Within this society, Orrec and Gry make the decision not to use their gifts, and both face the consequences of their decisions.

The main story is very good and entertaining, but I also loved it for the underlying themes: the difficulties of growing up with ideas that differ from the traditions of your family, the burden of government and the difficult decisions that come with it, and the danger of pride and anger. Definitely recommended.

Years later, the joy of reading Le Guin :) I really liked that showing her magic had a price.

It's been a long time since I first discovered the works of Ursula K. Le Guin. Her stories have always had a special charm for me.

Recently, I revisited some of her books and was once again amazed by her creativity and imagination.

What struck me this time was the idea that there is always a price to pay for showing one's magic.

In her stories, the characters often have to face difficult choices and sacrifices in order to use their powers or show their true selves.

This made me think about how in real life, we also have to be careful about how we use our abilities and what we are willing to give up in the process.

Reading Le Guin's books is not only a source of entertainment but also a source of inspiration and reflection.

I'm looking forward to exploring more of her works in the future and continuing to discover the magic within them.