It’s a three-star story, yet it is enriched with four and five-star language and profound insight.

Le Guin has this remarkable ability to craft words in a way that makes the reading experience truly captivating.

Even though the story might not be rated at the highest level in terms of its overall plot, the language she employs and the insights she offers more than compensate.

I have always had the feeling that whenever I spend time reading Le Guin’s works, it is almost always time well spent.

Her writing has a certain charm and depth that draws the reader in and makes them reluctant to put the book down.

It’s as if she is taking us on a journey through her imagination, and we are more than willing to follow.

Whether it’s the beautiful descriptions, the thought-provoking ideas, or the unique characters she creates, there is always something to discover and appreciate in her writing.

Overall, I would highly recommend Le Guin’s works to anyone who enjoys good literature and wants to be transported to another world through the power of words.

This is a truly hard book to summarize. It might prove maddening for those who prefer their stories to be more straightforward. There isn't much to it on the surface; it's a slim volume that can be read within a matter of hours. However, it manages to cram its different threads into one compact package.

The protagonists, Hugh and Irena, are decidedly adolescent in their behavior and outlook. Yet, the nature of their individual dilemmas brings this book firmly into the adult arena. Hugh tiptoes around his obsessed, needy, vicious, and contradictory mother. Irena is torn between saving her too-faithful mother from her abusive, drunken second husband and steering clear of her family before her stepdaddy gets his way and rapes her.

These aren't children suffering from mere boredom like some well-known literary characters. But, like their counterparts, Hugh and Irena's discontent leads them into a world of escape. It's a world of other humans who speak a different language, where time plods at a different pace and it's always in a state of perpetual twilight, never day, night, dawn, or sunset.

Ms. Le Guin has masterfully captured the aura of Tembreabrezi, a nebulous land as impenetrable and mysterious as the spectral not-day, not-night time that always hovers over it. In just a few spare chapters, she shows the gradual shift from the supposed idyll that the humans think it to be to the sullen horror that lies at its core.

There are double meanings throughout this book, with shades and shifts hidden beneath the simplest phrases. Everything seems fraught and heavy with portent, discouraging Irena, who struggles to understand but can't, and Hugh, who doesn't even know that he should ask questions and wait for answers.

The Beginning Place could have been deeply pretentious in its weighty ponderousness, but it manages to avoid that fate by the slimmest of margins. (It has an utter lack of humor, but that has never been Ms. Le Guin's forte.) The people of Tembreabrezi remain ciphers, but the book isn't about them. They are friendly yet distant, kindly yet ruthless. They love Irena and worship Hugh, but they are willing to send them into danger to protect themselves. Without ever explicitly stating it, they know that Hugh and Irena are outsiders and don't belong.

Thus, The Beginning Place is more and less than an adventure story. It's a long journey where the traveling itself is far more important than the destination. In their seemingly bitter wanderings in a directionless land, without animals, insects, or flowers, where water refreshes but doesn't quench thirst, and there is nothing but the endless road, Hugh and Irena finally learn what they needed to all along. In saving Tembreabrezi, they save themselves.

In 2024, I've made a firm decision that I will center my attention on the remarkable works of Ursula K. Le Guin. Amidst various other reading challenges, "The Beginning Place" has become my fourth read. It is one of Le Guin's standalone novels, first published in 1980.

This captivating story revolves around two very different individuals, Hugh and Irena. Both are grappling with dissatisfaction in the ordinary world. They encounter each other in a separate and strange place 'across the creek'. Eventually, they come together to assist in saving the world of Tembreabrezi.

The narrative commences with Hugh. He is a frustrated young man, still residing with his overbearing mother who dictates every aspect of his life. He works as a checker in a local grocery store. One particular day, instead of heading home, he embarks on a long walk. After crossing the creek, he finds himself in a serene and peaceful location. Upon returning home, he realizes that time seems to have either stopped or slowed down significantly while he was in his haven. He begins to visit this place regularly, leaving for work early and telling his mother that he is out jogging, relishing the fresh water and the tranquility of the spot.

Then we switch to Irena. It turns out that she has been frequenting the same place for a long time. In fact, she has delved much deeper into Tembreabrezi, discovered the Mountain town, learned their language, and enjoys the company of the locals. She is dismayed when she discovers that Hugh has crossed over as she is reluctant to share this special place.

However, something sinister is unfolding in Tembreabrezi. Ultimately, both Hugh and Irena will undertake a further journey in an attempt to rescue their friends. The latter half of the story details this adventure and the final outcome. It's a charming little story, brimming with emotion and powerful feelings. It's not without its flaws, as some elements are left unexplained. But it features some engaging characters and is a fascinating tale that is easy to read and leaves you content with the resolution. It showcases the depth and breadth of Le Guin's writing styles and her boundless imagination. (4.0 stars)

What is told between these pages is a personal path of growth. Both Hugh and Irene seem to be blocked in real life. With an oppressive mother and a violent stepfather. They want to realize their dreams, but they are also themselves and their affection that ties their wings. So we are facing a kind of journey not only beyond the threshold of a fantastic, magical world, but also within themselves. And that female-shaped dragon perhaps represents something more than just a simple fantasy monster to be defeated.

3.5

It is not just a simple self-contained fantasy, but also something more psychological and formative. Apparently banal, but I didn't dislike it.

S above all, I was very impressed by the "figures" of the protagonists. They are very ordinary people, not perfect. Hugh, with his extra kilograms, may seem light-years away from the beautiful, spotless and fearless knights. Well, I really liked this. Going to look for ordinary people and making them face a difficult but necessary path, to find the true way home, the true meaning of their lives. To untie the knots that block their wings and understand that there are new possibilities. And that one must not remain blocked, but go beyond, facing one's fears, blocks and limitations. And also rediscovering trust in others.

Full review here:
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\\n  The Beginning of Nothing\\n

This book, "The Beginning of Nothing", is truly the most uninteresting one I've come across this year. It's written in a competent manner, and we do get to know a fair amount about the two main characters. However, the plot is so simplistic that I could easily summarize it in just three sentences, and yet, absolutely nothing happens. There is so little going on that I find myself struggling to find anything substantial to criticize.

Halfway through the book, our heroes still have no crisis to solve. Each character is given a quarter of the page count to develop their rather dull lives through long and tiresome internal monologues. We learn about their ordinary jobs, their pasts, and their less than ideal familial relationships. The supposed threat to Mountaintown isn't even brought up until the midway point, and even after that, there is more focus on meadows and flowers than on the shadowy antagonist.

The entire plot is essentially contained within the marketing blurb at the back of the book. The romance aspect is, at best, laughable. The only thing that progresses with any speed is the ending, which is executed in a rather abrupt manner. If detailed descriptions of generic forests, meadows, streams, and mountains are what excite you, then perhaps you might want to pick up The Beginning Place. But for me, it's a definite Not Recommended.

The following is in spoiler tags, and I say so since some Goodreads clients may not respect it. You've been warned:

1. Hugh and Irena enter the gateway to Mountaintown, only to discover that the inhabitants are starving as the roads lack travellers.
2. As baseline urban teenagers from a generic USA town, Hugh is given a sword, and Irena leads him up the mountain where they engage in home invasion and kill some random screaming beast.
3. They then walk back and magically return to the USA, where Hugh receives medical treatment and the two decide to move in together.

I... really don't even know if the thing they killed has any connection to the plot? And since they never go back to Mountaintown, did they actually save the people? Who can say!

Oh, and to make matters worse, the two of them have sex after only knowing each other for a couple of days, despite Irena having suffered from child sex abuse at the hands of her stepfather.

Mielenkiintoinen

This book truly holds back, and unfortunately, not in a positive manner.

Rather than presenting an enticing mystery that gradually unfolds as secrets are disclosed and characters are thoroughly explored, it gives the impression of the author simply dragging their feet, delaying the inevitable.

And when that inevitable moment finally arrives, it does so far too easily and lacks any real passion. The emotional lives of the characters are not effectively revealed through their actions and relationships, causing the entire story to feel somewhat flat.

As they often say in creative writing workshops, it's a case of "telling" rather than "showing."

It's highly disappointing because Ursula K Le Guin is by no means a bad writer. There are indeed some scenes and characters that possess great potential.

However, it seems that these elements ultimately amount to a somewhat allegorical journey through a parallel psychological landscape that is rife with pastoral clichés and an unbelievable romance.

So what?

This book fails to live up to its initial promise and leaves the reader feeling unfulfilled.

Just beautiful.

The narrator, Rob Inglis, is simply amazing. His voice brings the story to life in the most captivating way.

Every word he utters seems to have a special charm and魔力.

His tone and inflection add depth and emotion to the narrative, making it a truly immersive experience for the listener.

Whether it's a thrilling adventure or a heartwarming tale, Rob Inglis' narration enhances the overall quality of the story.

He has a unique ability to engage the audience and keep them hooked from start to finish.

It's no wonder that he is a fave narrator among many.

His talent and skill are truly remarkable, and I can't wait to listen to more of his narrations in the future.

Paradoxically, this book holds a unique position in Le Guin's oeuvre.

On one hand, it is one of her works that is most deeply steeped in realism. The details of the protagonist's life are presented with a raw and unvarnished authenticity. We see a twenty-something guy trapped in a deadbeat job, dealing with a mother who has abandonment issues, and having no real prospects in life.

Yet, at the same time, it is also the most escapist. Instead of delving into intricate explorations of gender, an examination of anarchism, or a search for meaning, it offers a deceptively simple story. The protagonist finds an escape in this "beginning place", which could have easily been written by Calvino as part of his Our Ancestors trilogy. It has a more magical realist quality than being straight-up speculative fiction.

In essence, it is an escapist romance that manages to balance the harsh realities of life with a touch of magic and wonder. It invites readers to step into a world where they can temporarily forget their own troubles and lose themselves in the story.

Overall, this book is a fascinating exploration of the human condition, offering both a mirror to our own lives and a portal to a different reality.

An interesting short novel presents a captivating tale of two individuals and a mysterious gateway to another world.

The events within the novel serve as snapshots that offer glimpses into larger and more complex histories. However, a significant amount of detail is deliberately left out, adding an air of mystery and leaving room for the reader's imagination to fill in the blanks.

The novel initially follows Hugh until Irena makes her appearance. From that point on, the points of view mostly alternate between them in distinct sections of the chapters. These sections vary not only in terms of the internal perspectives of the characters but also in the portrayal of the environment. For example, there are waves of depression that seem to emanate from the villain, creating an atmosphere of unease and foreboding.

Much of the story has a mythic quality to it, and it has been favorably compared to renowned works such as Narnia, Alice's Looking Glass, and even Shakespeare's As You Like It. While these are heavyweight literary references, this novel has a much lighter tone.

The story of the villagers and their decline is not thoroughly explored, and there is no clear resolution within the book. Although I appreciated the psychological terror that was expertly woven into the narrative, it did make the plot a bit more challenging to follow. The ending, too, felt a little rushed, and despite the dependence of the two main characters on each other, I failed to sense the expected chemistry between them.

Nevertheless, I am looking forward to delving into more of Le Guin's books in the near future, including a reread of her beloved Earthsea novels. I have a feeling that each new exploration of her works will uncover new layers of depth and complexity, further enriching my reading experience.

If I had known Ursula K. Le Guin through this book, it would most likely have been the first and only book I read. Starting with "The Dispossessed" and continuing with "The Left Hand of Darkness", "The Word for World Is Forest", "The Tombs of Atuan".... as it went on, "The Beginning Place" became rather dull. Neither Hugh nor Irena nor the people of the mountain village reached the level of the impressive characters created by the magnificent imagination that you know from Le Guin's other works; I couldn't find the depth that was in the other books, and unfortunately, I couldn't get into the book no matter what when reading. If you haven't started yet, I recommend that you choose another one of her books.

In my opinion, "The Beginning Place" lacks the charm and depth that are characteristic of Le Guin's other masterpieces. The story doesn't seem to grip the reader as strongly, and the characters don't come alive in the same way. It's a bit of a disappointment compared to her other works. However, it's important to note that everyone's reading experience is different, and some people may still enjoy this book. But for those who are new to Ursula K. Le Guin's works, it might be better to start with one of her more renowned novels to get a true sense of her genius.

An Unusual and Captivating Book

This is truly an unusual and beautiful book that has left a lasting impression on me. It vividly reminded me of several of my all-time favorite books, where the characters embark on a journey along a particular path and enter a different world, often making profound discoveries about themselves in the process.

At times, the story can be a bit confusing, but it's no more so than is necessary. In fact, this confusion is all part of the learning process that the book takes the reader on. It challenges our perceptions and makes us think deeply about the themes and ideas presented.

I would highly recommend this book to fans of Storm Constantine, Tanith Lee, and of course, Le Guin. If you are one of those who appreciate the slower pace of a well-crafted fantasy, then you should read this book unhurriedly and with great enjoyment. However, if you are looking for a quick fantasy romp, this book is probably not for you. You might be like those folks who gave this book only one star, not fully understanding or appreciating its depth and beauty.