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rianainthestacks 's review for:
The Farthest Shore
by Ursula K. Le Guin
A continuing draw of the Earthsea cycle for me has been the excellent world-building. The setting of the first two books and now of The Farthest Shore, has all been in the same world, with more focus on certain islands and lands in each book. And there is always the connection of the sea— of land, sea, air, and fire, as all elements come together in balance to create nature. In fact, this installment to the cycle seems to place the most focus on the importance of balance, though it has certainly been a strong theme through the first two books as well. Finding the balance is something Ged had to learn the hard way, at a young age. Now, Sparrow-hawk seeks to pass this knowledge on to a young man, Arren, his sole companion on a journey to save the world.
Arren first comes to Ged with news of people in Enlad loosing the words of the old language, which is what enables the use of wizardry. However it is soon discovered that this art is not the only thing being drained away, but hope and motivation as well. On their journey to find the cause of this darkness, the two men travel through many lands. Arren has never left Enlad, and as he sees new places, meets new people, and most of all as he learns from Ged, he grows tremendously as a person in a very short period of time. There were definitely growing pains involved, it certainly wasn’t all smooth sailing, but the difficult way is the way that has something to teach you and the ability to change you.
I was particularly fond of the descriptions of each new community and land the travelers came upon. I also enjoyed seeing how much, once again, the storyline centers around the consequences of actions that Ged has made over his lifetime. And of course just as there are actions and consequences, there is good and bad, and dark and light, and so there are the good and the bad consequences and the need to accept both in order to have either, and to live the whole.
I once again took forever reading an Ursula K Le Guin book, because to truly take it all in, it must be done slowly. And even then, I am positive there are some themes and connections and symbolism I have missed. The Farthest Shore greatly parallels Wizard of Earthsea, with the exception that Ged has already taken his life-changing journey and on this one he is taking along Arren to experience a similar journey as to the one that transformed him so long ago. I was very glad to return to a style more like the first book, because though I loved the second one, I found it to have a much slower pace.
I would certainly, and do quite often, recommend both this book and the two before it of the Earthsea Cycle. Le Guin once agains takes us deeper into this beautiful world, and into the minds of such poignant characters. I cannot wait to continue on with the next book of the cycle, Tehanu.
Arren first comes to Ged with news of people in Enlad loosing the words of the old language, which is what enables the use of wizardry. However it is soon discovered that this art is not the only thing being drained away, but hope and motivation as well. On their journey to find the cause of this darkness, the two men travel through many lands. Arren has never left Enlad, and as he sees new places, meets new people, and most of all as he learns from Ged, he grows tremendously as a person in a very short period of time. There were definitely growing pains involved, it certainly wasn’t all smooth sailing, but the difficult way is the way that has something to teach you and the ability to change you.
I was particularly fond of the descriptions of each new community and land the travelers came upon. I also enjoyed seeing how much, once again, the storyline centers around the consequences of actions that Ged has made over his lifetime. And of course just as there are actions and consequences, there is good and bad, and dark and light, and so there are the good and the bad consequences and the need to accept both in order to have either, and to live the whole.
I once again took forever reading an Ursula K Le Guin book, because to truly take it all in, it must be done slowly. And even then, I am positive there are some themes and connections and symbolism I have missed. The Farthest Shore greatly parallels Wizard of Earthsea, with the exception that Ged has already taken his life-changing journey and on this one he is taking along Arren to experience a similar journey as to the one that transformed him so long ago. I was very glad to return to a style more like the first book, because though I loved the second one, I found it to have a much slower pace.
I would certainly, and do quite often, recommend both this book and the two before it of the Earthsea Cycle. Le Guin once agains takes us deeper into this beautiful world, and into the minds of such poignant characters. I cannot wait to continue on with the next book of the cycle, Tehanu.