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Review
'Told with shimmering lyricism, this coming-of-age saga will leave readers transformed' (BOOKLIST )
'a psychological novel for teenagers and adults using one young man's long adolescent trials to explore and illustrate some abstract but important themes. ****' (BOOKS FOR KEEPS ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
'a psychological novel for teenagers and adults using one young man's long adolescent trials to explore and illustrate some abstract but important themes. ****' (BOOKS FOR KEEPS ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
BOOKS FOR KEEPS
'a psychological novel for teenagers and adults using one young man's long adolescent trials to explore and illustrate some abstract but important themes. ****'
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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First Sentence
"Don't talk about it," Sallo tells me. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
"Don't talk about it," Sallo tells me. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I kept glancing back at the cover when I started reading Ursula K. Le Guin's POWERS. It sounded so different from the EARTHSEA series that it didn't even seem like the same author. It was much longer and more personal than anything I had ever read from her before. But, as I read on, a lot of what I loved from older books, like the descriptions and the colorful characters, gradually surfaced here.
Set in a world much like Ancient Rome or Greece, this five-hundred page epic follows Gavir, a bright young boy who was stolen as a baby and sold into slavery. Unlike most slaves, Gav is comfortable and happy. He lives with a wealthy family along with his older sister, Sallo. Despite hearing rebellious talk from other slaves and seeing hints of cruelty from freemen, Gav is fiercely loyal to his house and city. His impeccable memory makes him the perfect candidate to be a future teacher for his house. He also has another remarkable ability, the power to see snippets of the future and the past. Unfortunately, his gift does not warn him of the tragedy that is to come. His trust in his masters is betrayed and, mad with grief, he flees home. As always, Ursula K. Le Guin tackles hard subjects such as slavery, culture clashes, and the definition of freedom in this coming-of-age novel.
Though it starts slowly initially, once it picks up POWERS will have readers engrossed. Magic takes a backseat in this fantasy. Here the adversaries are not magical, rarely evil, and purely human. One of the strongest points in this novel is that all characters big and small are well thought through and carefully drawn. The kind and brave aristocratic son Yaven, the hermit Cuga, and the charismatic rebel slave Barna are just a few.
Ursula K. Le Guin has delivered yet another thought-provoking and engaging novel. While not packed with duels and dragons, the latest edition to the ANNALS OF THE WESTERN SHORE series has its own share of adventure and heartache.
Reviewed by: Natalie Tsang
Set in a world much like Ancient Rome or Greece, this five-hundred page epic follows Gavir, a bright young boy who was stolen as a baby and sold into slavery. Unlike most slaves, Gav is comfortable and happy. He lives with a wealthy family along with his older sister, Sallo. Despite hearing rebellious talk from other slaves and seeing hints of cruelty from freemen, Gav is fiercely loyal to his house and city. His impeccable memory makes him the perfect candidate to be a future teacher for his house. He also has another remarkable ability, the power to see snippets of the future and the past. Unfortunately, his gift does not warn him of the tragedy that is to come. His trust in his masters is betrayed and, mad with grief, he flees home. As always, Ursula K. Le Guin tackles hard subjects such as slavery, culture clashes, and the definition of freedom in this coming-of-age novel.
Though it starts slowly initially, once it picks up POWERS will have readers engrossed. Magic takes a backseat in this fantasy. Here the adversaries are not magical, rarely evil, and purely human. One of the strongest points in this novel is that all characters big and small are well thought through and carefully drawn. The kind and brave aristocratic son Yaven, the hermit Cuga, and the charismatic rebel slave Barna are just a few.
Ursula K. Le Guin has delivered yet another thought-provoking and engaging novel. While not packed with duels and dragons, the latest edition to the ANNALS OF THE WESTERN SHORE series has its own share of adventure and heartache.
Reviewed by: Natalie Tsang
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a fine story told, as one would expect from Le Guin, well. The ambiguities of freedom, responsibility, and slavery are explored. Extreme bullying, power, loyalty, love, childhood abuse and idyllic times are contrasted.
This is perhaps the weakest of the three 'Western Shore' books. It maybe that it tries to tell too much, and the three books should have been four, we can only wish for such ideals. It slips too far into stereotype and cliche to be as good as the preceding books. I would recommend it and if you read the first two books and enjoyed them you won't feel you have much choice.
The 'Annals' should be read in order but it is not essential and each stands alone as an individual novel.
This is perhaps the weakest of the three 'Western Shore' books. It maybe that it tries to tell too much, and the three books should have been four, we can only wish for such ideals. It slips too far into stereotype and cliche to be as good as the preceding books. I would recommend it and if you read the first two books and enjoyed them you won't feel you have much choice.
The 'Annals' should be read in order but it is not essential and each stands alone as an individual novel.
Format:Paperback
Urusula le Guin's Annals of the Western Shore have drawn me in yet again to her fabulous story telling, teaching truths along the way. These three books make me feel like I am getting to know the history of a people and living it with them.
They are not really children's book, though children and young adults will enjoy them. I feel adults are likely to appreciate her wonderful style, full of ease and elegance, and well as the universal themes in them. Having said that - my kids will love reading these in a few years.
They are not really children's book, though children and young adults will enjoy them. I feel adults are likely to appreciate her wonderful style, full of ease and elegance, and well as the universal themes in them. Having said that - my kids will love reading these in a few years.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Powers (Annals of the Western Shore)
This is a great book. I was a bit sceptical about reading the last part of a trilogy before I'd read the other two books, but I was so impressed with the style of writing that I... Read more
Published on 20 July 2009 by Ms. Lynne Farrer
Writing style is just too vague.
The author seems to tell a good tale but there is just no detail or real depth to the descriptions of the scenes. Found myself skipping bits.
Published on 22 Jun 2009 by MR
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