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adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Le Guin writes as if telling a story to the reader. She describes only settings in detail, while the rest—dialogue (internal and external), characters, relationships—are relegated to a few sentences. I felt like I was teetering on the precipice of immersion while reading this book. I was immersed in the world of Earthsea, but at the same time, I didn't have a deep understanding of Ged's personality or his relationships with the other characters, even though the book follows him from childhood. There was something melancholy and magical about it.
The book's strong thematic and philosophical elements brought it up to four stars—Le Guin explores youthful pride and wholeness/interdependence of "light" and "dark" in a thoughtful and unpretentious way. In her author's note, she says that she wanted to reject war as a metaphor & the typical good/evil binary that prevails in fantasy novels, which I thought was quite compelling.
The book's strong thematic and philosophical elements brought it up to four stars—Le Guin explores youthful pride and wholeness/interdependence of "light" and "dark" in a thoughtful and unpretentious way. In her author's note, she says that she wanted to reject war as a metaphor & the typical good/evil binary that prevails in fantasy novels, which I thought was quite compelling.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Obsessed with Ursula’s writing and story building ability, as always. I think had I read this as a young adult, I would have been obsessed and constantly looking for more like it. As an adult, it lacked depth.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was very impressed with the world building of this book.
beautiful world building and prose. The plit and characters I felt some disconnect from, maybe as a consequence of this.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This time, the third time, after my first teenage reading of this book, my recent reading of the graphic novel adaptation; brilliant as that was, I finally listened to A Wizard of Earthsea and found it truly come into its own. A radiant brilliance, partly awakened by the excellence of the narrator, Kobna did as amazing job depicting the world and the personality, doubts and hopes and uncertainty of Geb, as he struggles with realising the true nature of his shadow self.
It is a rare thing to come upon an old classic yet again and find it renewed and better than ever before.
I will return to this narration again, of that I am sure.
It is a rare thing to come upon an old classic yet again and find it renewed and better than ever before.
I will return to this narration again, of that I am sure.