Reviews

The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin

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diyanux's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

2.5

This feels so harsh bc I love Ursula Le Guin, and this is the first of her books I’ve read so far that hasn’t been an absolute banger. Even given that the Earthsea books are kids books, this one felt more like a “kids book” than the first two. It felt like there wasn’t much in there for me as an adult.
Also this sounds so silly but I’ve concluded that I have a hard time getting into books that take place largely at sea. In the “adventure at sea” format, you frequently have brief sections of action punctuated with lulls that make it so easy to put the book down..

lunarpearl's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

saddlebread's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful inspiring medium-paced

lithicin's review against another edition

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dark reflective medium-paced

4.5

crickedcactus's review against another edition

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5.0

"When I was young, I had to choose between the life of being and the life of doing. And I leapt at the latter like a trout to a fly. But each deed you do, each act, binds you to itself and to its consequences, and makes you act again and yet again. Then very seldom do you come upon a space, a time like this, between act and act, when you may stop and simply be. Or wonder who, after all, you are."

hampri's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I can see why Le Guin didn't return to Earthsea for nearly twenty years. This felt like a beautiful conclusion to the tale and life of one of my favorite characters I've ever come across. I'm glad there is more, but I think I'll wait before reading the fourth book.

Truly excellent. Le Guin wrote exactly as much as she needed, and in a world that turns on words and names, it's fitting she did so.