poikilia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Violence, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Body shaming, and Abandonment
topherisswell's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Poetic to the point where it sacrifices clarity.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual assault, Vomit, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Misogyny, and Violence
ehmannky's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a slow-paced novel, but it honestly I liked it once I accepted it for what it was. It's all about that weird time in between being a teen and becoming an Adult Adult, and how easy it is to get stuck in a familiar but unsatisfying way of life. It's not a straightforward portal fantasy, and it's a lot more ~*~metaphorical~*~ than fantastical.
I think where this book really shines is in its descriptions of nature. When Hugh shows up in the beginning place and just Contemplates the Stream for like 10 pages? That's art. I also feel like many problems could be solved if all Contemplated Streams.
I think where this book really shines is in its descriptions of nature. When Hugh shows up in the beginning place and just Contemplates the Stream for like 10 pages? That's art. I also feel like many problems could be solved if all Contemplated Streams.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual harassment
anice's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
beesknees's review against another edition
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Full disclosure, I went into this as my third Le Guin read, following The Left Hand of Darkness and A Wizard of Earthsea. I am giving this book 3 stars purely because Le Guin can write well, and the end portion of the book was enjoyable to read. This book is extremely slow-paced, and focuses more on the realism of our daily lives than the fantasy you hope to dive into when picking up this book. I found myself debating to put the book away before finishing multiple times because even by halfway through the book, no adventure had begun. The Beginning Place is an exposition-heavy book, with a sprinkle of adventure at the end. The main character, Hugh, is an average guy whose main draw to thinking him likeable is sourced from feeling bad for the guy. It feels like you get a lot less of the other main character Irene's life, which I felt was more interesting than Hugh's.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual content
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