decemberthirty | Entries tagged with ursula k. leguin

Still working my way through the Earthsea series. I'm almost done with -The Tombs of Atuan-, which I have always found to be the least interesting of the series. It seems like it doesn't have as much to say as the other three books do. And of course, there's much less of Ged in it, which is always a detraction for me.

It must seem from this journal that I'm a big science fiction reader, which is kind of funny because I'm really not... Ursula K. LeGuin is really the only sci-fi/fantasy writer whose work I read. It just so happens that most of my writing here has been about her books. Well, as soon as I'm done with Earthsea, I'll move to something else, and some more of my tastes will be revealed...

I finished -A Wizard of Earthsea- yesterday, and am now on to the second book of the series, -The Tombs of Atuan-. It's always interesting to read this series that I have read so many times before, because every single time I come back to it, I react differently to the different books. My favorite varies between the first, third, and fourth books, and different things speak to me in different ways...

I wonder when it will be time for me to stop returning to these books. I felt very little drive to read them this year, although once I began -A Wizard of Earthsea- I did enjoy it. Mostly for the language however. I seemed to read it less thoughtfully than I have in the past. I wonder if the same will happen with -The Farthest Shore-. That is usually the most moving book of the series for me. I remember reading these books in my melodramatic youth, and just being moved to tears every time, having such strong feelings year after year as I read the books again. I wish I could get back there... I do hope that I know enough to stop reading the books before I read a point where all of that magic is gone.

In other news, today should be a big day for me on the job front, whether for good or ill...

Current Mood: Melissa Ferrick

Since -The Telling- wasn't really the phenomenal book that I had hoped it would be, I've decided to reread what I consider to be Ursula K. LeGuin's absolute best work. I'm a big fan of rereading, and I tend to reread her Earthsea series almost every year. (And I have since I was in eighth grade-scary!) I can't think of any other books that can even compare to this series in terms of being moving, thought-provoking, and beautiful. The four books are -A Wizard of Earthsea-, -The Tombs of Atuan-, -The Farthest Shore-, and -Tehanu-. I don't care if you are someone who is diametrically opposed to science fiction and fantasy, you should read these books regardless. They are beautiful, and that's about all I have to say.

Current Mood: peaceful
Current Music: edie brickell

Well, I was searching for something to fill the void after the heartbreak of -Lonesome Dove-, and I settled on an old standard, Ursula LeGuin. I got -The Telling-, her latest book, for Christmas and still had not read it, so now I'm about halfway through.

It's good. Like all of her books, it's extremely well-written, full of beautiful, clear, luminous prose. It's got an engaging story and a really fascinating setting. However, it's not great. It may be better than many other authors could do, but it just doesn't measure up to her masterpieces like -The Left Hand of Darkness-, the Earthsea books, -Searoad-, -Always Coming Home-, etc... Of course when a writer has that many books that count as masterpieces (and I could list more!), I suppose it's excusable to produce a book that's merely good.

Current Mood: content
Current Music: dar williams - iowa

i'm a very very complex person

i try to improve but you see how i worsen

Entries tagged with ursula k. leguin

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

new book

Profile