Hugh is confined to suburbia and a dead-end job due to his mother's fear.

Desperate for an escape, one night he goes running and stumbles upon a gateway into an idyllically fresh world.

The clean water and air, and the absence of humans, draw him back again and again.

However, he is not the only one to have discovered the gate. Years ago, Irena found the way through while fleeing from her gruesome step-father.

She feels betrayed that someone else has found her secret spot, but the villagers who live in this perpetually twilit Arcadia are excited - he's the one they've been waiting for.

The roads to the village have been blocked by an unnameable fear. The villagers are slowly starving, and only Hugh, the outsider, can get through the roads. Irena demands to go with him, and the two set off together.

On the one hand, this is a pleasingly realistic book. Hugh and Irena spend a significant amount of time getting lost in the woods, and their internal lives are vividly described.

On the other hand, not much occurs, and what little does happen is never fully explained. The story is somewhat like a combination of Steinbeck's writing style and Patricia McKillip's at her most elliptical. This is my least favorite book by Le Guin. It's not terrible, but it's not outstanding either.

It is not a perfect book nor the best one by the author (fortunately, though, I still have a lot to read by her). However, in some way, the story of these two solititudes that meet in an imaginary world has entered into me. Maybe it's because this anarchic and completely off-the-beaten-path author manages to insert pearls of delicate beauty even in the simplest stories.

"The sparkle can rise and set at 22 years old, and after that, one can live for 20, 30, 50 years and work, get married, have children, and do everything else without a precise reason, without desire." This line really makes you think about the nature of life and how sometimes we just go through the motions without truly understanding our purpose. The author's ability to convey such profound thoughts in a simple yet powerful way is truly remarkable. It makes you want to keep reading and explore more of her works to see what other hidden gems she has to offer.

I didn't want to give 2 stars to this book and start the year in this way.

Yet, I truly dislike it when everything occurs so rapidly that it makes you exclaim, "Whoa, what just took place right now? How did you get from that to this?!"

I can assert that this story held potential. However, having things happen at such a breakneck pace really disillusioned me, especially when it pertains to falling in love, and it also squandered its potential.

Perhaps I wouldn't have felt this way if it were a lengthier book that permitted me to soak up and understand the details and the whys.

I was intrigued in the beginning, wondering what would transpire. But then, towards the end, the questions "What's happening?" and "What happened?" emerged.

Nothing is elucidated, and we don't know why the characters did what they did.

I desire to say more, but since the material at my disposal is very limited, I'm afraid I might be revealing spoilers. So, that's all I can convey about this book, I suppose.

Tembreabrezi is the starting point for Hugh and Irene as they flee from intolerable family circumstances, lives that seem to be at a standstill, and people who are trapped.

At first, slipping into the twilight world acts as an escape, a place that offers a moment of respite, a resting ground where they can discover themselves and sort through the challenges that life is hurling their way.

This is a magnificently realized short novel that is both lyrical and haunting, a fantasy novel of the highest caliber that shines a light on the human heart.

In many respects, it delves into the boundaries of fantasy novels in a way that Ursula Le Guin is renowned for.

The skillful way in which the author portrays the families and the situations that Hugh and Irene are experiencing has an incredibly delicate touch. It feels devastatingly accurate and filled with compassion.

The story takes readers on a journey through a world that is both strange and familiar, exploring themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning.

It is a book that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page, leaving you with a newfound appreciation for the power of fantasy to illuminate the human condition.

After a long and slow beginning, lacking a clear objective and facing numerous obstacles, the narrative gradually falls into a familiar pattern typical of fairy tales.

It brought to my mind the strange fantasies of William Morris to some extent. Although it may not be Le Guin's finest work, by the time I reached the end, I had an urge to cry.

There are aspects such as breaking away from parents, the ever-present universe of threats that women must traverse, and the unfairness of capitalism.

Despite having a happy ending, there is still something that触动s the emotions and makes one want to shed tears.

Perhaps it is the complex mix of these themes that evokes such a strong response within me.

The story seems to touch on deep-seated emotions and experiences that many can relate to, even if it doesn't reach the heights of Le Guin's other masterpieces.

Nevertheless, it leaves a lasting impression and makes me reflect on the various issues it presents.

Overall, it is a work that, despite its flaws, has the power to move and engage the reader.

The ideas presented in this work are truly cool, and the writing style is also really captivating.

However, it seems to take an incredibly long time to reach its destination.

Surprisingly, my copy was only 180 pages long.

I firmly believe that this could have been an absolutely super awesome short story.

If it were condensed and focused more on the essence, it would have had a much greater impact.

The cool ideas could have been presented in a more concise and engaging manner, without the need for such a drawn-out narrative.

Nonetheless, the potential for greatness is definitely there, and with a bit of refinement, it could have been a real gem in the world of short fiction.

I'm not so sure about this one.

Perhaps writing a review will help me sort it out.

The story begins by vividly describing the mundane and dissatisfying life of Hugh. He is a young man who lives with his unbalanced mother and works at a grocery store in the suburbs.

One day, quite literally, he stumbles into an alternate world. This world represents a tranquility and beauty that is sorely lacking in his own life.

The scene then shifts to a young woman, Irene. She is leading an equally unhappy life nearby and has also been frequenting the world in the forest where time in our world passes very slowly.

When the two meet, Irene is outraged and suspicious of Hugh, while he is baffled, shy, and apologetic.

During the course of the story, they are charged by the inhabitants of a rural mountain village they visit to help them. They are not sure what they are meant to do, but they know that when they do it, the villagers will be able to resume their lives, leaving the village if necessary and welcoming others (besides people from our world) back into it. There is considerable danger involved in this task.

During their grueling task, and after they accomplish it, the two gradually come together.

The forest/mountain world they happen upon seems to represent a beautiful escape, where they can replenish themselves and rest from the weariness of their existences in the real world.

But as the story progresses, we see that all is not so idyllic there. For some reason, they are the only ones who can restore it. In doing so, they destroy the thrall it has on them and realize that they must create it for themselves, together, in their own world.

I think that is the message, at least, that's what I take it to be, although LeGuin is unbelievably subtle.

Growing up, maturing, facing fears and shadows, courage, love, starting over, being reborn from the womb of the earth, being completed, transforming... The book ended, but I will probably continue to live within it for a while longer.

Growing up is a complex and often arduous process. It involves not only physical changes but also emotional and mental growth. As we mature, we encounter various challenges and difficulties that test our courage and resilience. Facing fears and shadows is an essential part of this journey, as it helps us to overcome our limitations and become stronger.

Love is another important aspect of our lives. It gives us the strength and motivation to keep going, even in the face of adversity. Starting over can be a daunting task, but it is also an opportunity for a fresh start and a new beginning.

Being reborn from the womb of the earth is a powerful metaphor for transformation and renewal. It symbolizes our ability to let go of the past and embrace the future with hope and optimism. Finally, being completed and transforming into a better version of ourselves is the ultimate goal of our journey through life.

I truly desired to have a deep affection for this book. I have a great fondness for the majority of what Ursula LeGuin pens. However, this particular one proved to be exasperating for me, just as numerous other reviewers have noted. It gave the impression that I was perusing someone's recollections of a dream state. The story simply..... halts. They pass through a gate and the book concludes. Not a single question is ever resolved. What precisely was the "dragon"? Why was it blind and white? Why was it present there? Why were the inhabitants of the land smothered by fear? Had individuals been offered as sacrifices to the dragon in times past? Did the townspeople have the intention for Hugh to be a sacrifice? How did the initial place come into existence in the first place? Why couldn't Irena enter and Hugh not exit? Had people been traversing the "gate" for centuries or were Hugh and Irena the very first?

The reader is left utterly befuddled and confused. It was an odd read, and I was left with a sense of haziness and uncertainty. And, to be quite frank, a bit irritated. I felt cheated.

Moreover, I cannot recommend this novel for children or for Christian teens. It contains (unnecessary) allusions to masturbation, a rape, a sexually molesting step-father, and then a sudden and abrupt sexual encounter between the two main characters, even though for three-fourths of the novel they were each "in love" with other characters, not each other. Then, at the end, they "decide" that they are "married" and move in together.

Not bad.

The story has its moments and keeps the reader engaged to a certain extent. However, it ends so abruptly that it leaves the reader with a sense of dissatisfaction.

It feels as if the author just stopped writing without properly concluding the plot or resolving the conflicts.

Despite this flaw, the theme of escapism that runs throughout the article is quite interesting.

Escapism can be a powerful tool for people to temporarily forget about their problems and immerse themselves in a different world.

Whether it's through reading, watching movies, or playing video games, escapism allows us to take a break from reality and explore new possibilities.

In this article, the protagonist seems to be using escapism as a way to cope with his or her daily life.

It would have been nice to see more exploration of this theme and how it affects the character's actions and decisions.

Overall, the article has potential, but it needs some work to improve the ending and further develop the theme of escapism.

Oh, I truly adored this story.

It had a certain charm that kept me engaged from start to finish.

Although there were some questions that remained unanswered, which would usually irritate me, in this particular book, they simply didn't hold the same significance.

The narrative was so captivating and the characters were so well-developed that I found myself more interested in the overall experience rather than focusing on the loose ends.

Perhaps this is a testament to the author's skill in creating a world that draws the reader in and makes them forget about the details that might not be fully resolved.

Regardless, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.

The unnecessary development of their relationship into a sexual one truly feels like the kiss of death for this already not so great story.

“He put his right hand on her hair and drew her against him. He was like a wall, a fortress, a bulwark, yet at the same time, mortal, frail, easier to hurt than to heal. He was the dragonkiller, the child of the dragon; the king’s son, a poor man, a poor, brief, unknowing soul. His desire for her stood up and throbbed against her belly, but his arms held her in a greater longing even than that, one for which life cannot give consummation. She held him so to her, and they stood there together.”

However, this description doesn't quite work for me. It seems forced and doesn't add much depth or value to the overall narrative. It might have been better if the author had focused on other aspects of their relationship rather than taking this rather clichéd and somewhat gratuitous turn.

Nope.