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A review by shandyt
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
3.0
3.5/5 stars.
If I had read this book as a child, I might have rated it differently. Adult Me didn't find it 'toothy' enough. The book wasn't completely substanceless, but I wouldn't call it much of a novel, or even a novella. It's more like a fancy plot summary, or an extremely literary bedtime story. I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters--even Ged. We never got a real look inside his head, nor was it easy for me to picture him, the scenery, or even the world itself. If you missed this book as a kid, I'd say go ahead and read it if you're ticking off a list, or if you feel like you're missing out on allusions and references from other works. Otherwise, maybe start with Le Guin's sci-fi oeuvre instead.
If I had read this book as a child, I might have rated it differently. Adult Me didn't find it 'toothy' enough. The book wasn't completely substanceless, but I wouldn't call it much of a novel, or even a novella. It's more like a fancy plot summary, or an extremely literary bedtime story. I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters--even Ged. We never got a real look inside his head, nor was it easy for me to picture him, the scenery, or even the world itself. If you missed this book as a kid, I'd say go ahead and read it if you're ticking off a list, or if you feel like you're missing out on allusions and references from other works. Otherwise, maybe start with Le Guin's sci-fi oeuvre instead.