Reviews

Agata e Pietra Nera by Ursula K. Le Guin

meyrathedreamer's review against another edition

5.0

I first read this book when I was 17 maybe 18, so many years ago. Back then, I finished in one sitting, now I did the same too. It was such a simple, yet touching story and there are too many good quotes that it took me longer to finish this because I wanted to write down every single of them.

squiggly_cj's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

This story felt basically similar to a few others I've read (most recently NAME apocalypse, and also All the Bright Places), but with more of a focus on the dynamics (social and institutional and power) that shaped the characters than the characters themselves. I liked the style of writing, which felt as untethered as Owen sometimes was, and that the author didn't condemn the characters for being stuck in dynamics they didn't choose.

I was struck by this quote when reading: "life isn't an answer, life is the question, and you, yourself, are the answer."

secemozmen's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

halieh's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

4.0

katherinelandes's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

esaurit's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

1.0

migimon2002's review against another edition

3.0

A short book I found in a basket on the shelf in my classroom. Written many years ago, there would still be a number of relatable moments for today's teens. I do think that many YA readers would be unsatisfied with the ending. However, from an adult perspective it is pretty realistic. The prose is quite lovely. This novella is like a slice of time within the character's lives...no big revelations, but rather sweet, smaller, coming of age moments. I had only known Ursula K. Le Guin for her Earthsea fantasy novels, so it was a surprise to see she'd written a more contemporary, realistic story.

carolina_has_an_idea's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I was really impressed with LeGuin's take on adolescence. I wasn't the thoughts of an angry teen. It was the thoughts of someone who has taken the time to analyze their place in the world. I really liked this book. It showcased a story about teenage friendship that I don't come across often anymore. I would have loved to read this when I was a teen. Non-spoiler quote ahead I'll add the spoiler tag just in case anyone doesn't want to see it.

"We talked about life. We decided that it was no good asking what is the meaning of life because life isn't an answer. Life is a question, and you. yourself are the answer."

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Car accident and Suicide attempt

billd's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

 Very Far Away from Anywhere Else by Ursula K. Le Guin, originally published in 1976, is atypical of the usual books I read by LeGuin, those being fantasy and Sci Fi. This is purely Young Adult fiction, a simple, beautiful story told from the perspective of high schooler, 17-year old Owen Thomas Griffiths. Owen tells his story into a tape recorder and transcribes later.
It's not too difficult to describe, although I'm sure I'll just cover the barest surface level of the story. But here goes. Owen is a nerd and finds high school difficult. He has a few friends but it's mainly on the young man joking level. He likes the sciences, enjoys analyzing and wants to go to MIT or CalTech, maybe to study psychology.
His father buys him a new car for his 17th birthday and Owen resists driving it to school as he feels it's just makes him 'one of the crowd', something he doesn't really want. Coming back from school on a very rainy day, he takes the bus and sits beside Natalie Fields, a girl he's seen but doesn't know that well. They seem to hit it off and later that night when Owen is feeling adrift, he goes for a drive, stops outside her home and spends the evening in her room, talking, more talking and listening to her play her viola (she is a music student)
Their friendship hits off but something will happen that changes everything. So I'll leave it at that. It's not drastic or traumatic really but it is something that has a profound affect on Owen.
Simply told, very readable but also very emotional and quite excellent. Check it out. Have your teenage kids check it out. (5.0 stars) 

hjweigel's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75