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A review by _dust_
The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin
4.75
Really interesting philosphication going on here regarding death and life, balance between all things. Also follows a really great structure as the main narrative drifts from place to place, people to people, searching for knowledge and answers. My favorite pieces of this book are absolutely the smaller entrenched character and cultural stuff - culminating in the focus on the raft peoples who live on the sea. Do the people of the land need their existance just as life requires death? Ged's sacrifice is also very bittersweet in the way he must give up this thing so dear to him, but also it allows in a certain freedom he was restricted from.
Unfortunately, this book also has Arren in it. I understand what Le Guin is doing with him and his arc through out the novel. There are points where I like Arren. I never hate him. But I am always remembering I am stuck in his shoes. I just do not care about him all that much, there is so much less to him for me than there is for the likes of Ged or Tenah. I also find Cob to be underwhelming as a juxtaposition to Ged. The idea is great, someone who just couldnt turn away the way Ged had. An extension of the shadow self from Wizard of Earthsea. But on his own as a man he feels so flimsy. I have praised Le Guin's character writing before, through the simplest and smallest amounts of text she can evoke so much - and she shows that in spades throughout this book with people like the dyers and the chief of the raft peoples; however, this never makes it's way to any of the main cast besides Ged for me. Luckily I love Ged and the themes these characters are used to bounce off of with him. It's just a little disappointing after how much of an absolute masterpiece I found Tombs of Atuan to be.
Unfortunately, this book also has Arren in it. I understand what Le Guin is doing with him and his arc through out the novel. There are points where I like Arren. I never hate him. But I am always remembering I am stuck in his shoes. I just do not care about him all that much, there is so much less to him for me than there is for the likes of Ged or Tenah. I also find Cob to be underwhelming as a juxtaposition to Ged. The idea is great, someone who just couldnt turn away the way Ged had. An extension of the shadow self from Wizard of Earthsea. But on his own as a man he feels so flimsy. I have praised Le Guin's character writing before, through the simplest and smallest amounts of text she can evoke so much - and she shows that in spades throughout this book with people like the dyers and the chief of the raft peoples; however, this never makes it's way to any of the main cast besides Ged for me. Luckily I love Ged and the themes these characters are used to bounce off of with him. It's just a little disappointing after how much of an absolute masterpiece I found Tombs of Atuan to be.