tjwallace04's review against another edition
5.0
"There was nothing she could do, but there was always the next thing to be done."
"Tehanu" is my favorite book from the Earthsea series and is among my favorite books I have ever read. It is just. so. good. I don't feel like I can do it justice, but I will blather on about it anyway!
Earthsea is a fantasy series, but "Tehanu" is notably lacking in fantasy and magic and adventure. Instead, it focuses in on day-to-day life in a world where magic and power imbalances exist. It is a beautiful exploration of what it means to be human, of the power of love over evil, of pain and resilience and recovery. As LeGuin explained, she is looking at the other side of the fantasy world: "...heroics from outside and underneath, from the point of view of the people who are not included. The ones who can't do magic. The ones who don't have shining staffs or swords. Women, kids, the poor, the old, the powerless."
And this might sound kind of boring, but I couldn't put it down. It is so carefully and sharply written, and there is so much plainspoken, heartfelt wisdom.
In "Tehanu," Tenar from "The Tombs of Atuan" returns to us as a middle-aged woman, widowed with grown-up children, living peacefully on her farm on the Island of Gont. She adopts Therru, a little girl who has been cruelly abused and burned by her guardians. Ged is delivered by the dragon Kalessin to the island, his power leached out of him by the ordeals described in "The Farthest Shore." Together, the three begin to make a kind of family, each trying to recover from losses and bridge the gap to mutual understanding. There is a villain in the book, and the ending is stunning (and exciting!), but it is the scenes of daily life that I loved the most.
And so this book has my heart. I think it is a work of genius.
"Tehanu" is my favorite book from the Earthsea series and is among my favorite books I have ever read. It is just. so. good. I don't feel like I can do it justice, but I will blather on about it anyway!
Earthsea is a fantasy series, but "Tehanu" is notably lacking in fantasy and magic and adventure. Instead, it focuses in on day-to-day life in a world where magic and power imbalances exist. It is a beautiful exploration of what it means to be human, of the power of love over evil, of pain and resilience and recovery. As LeGuin explained, she is looking at the other side of the fantasy world: "...heroics from outside and underneath, from the point of view of the people who are not included. The ones who can't do magic. The ones who don't have shining staffs or swords. Women, kids, the poor, the old, the powerless."
And this might sound kind of boring, but I couldn't put it down. It is so carefully and sharply written, and there is so much plainspoken, heartfelt wisdom.
In "Tehanu," Tenar from "The Tombs of Atuan" returns to us as a middle-aged woman, widowed with grown-up children, living peacefully on her farm on the Island of Gont. She adopts Therru, a little girl who has been cruelly abused and burned by her guardians. Ged is delivered by the dragon Kalessin to the island, his power leached out of him by the ordeals described in "The Farthest Shore." Together, the three begin to make a kind of family, each trying to recover from losses and bridge the gap to mutual understanding. There is a villain in the book, and the ending is stunning (and exciting!), but it is the scenes of daily life that I loved the most.
And so this book has my heart. I think it is a work of genius.
bethebookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Tehanu is the strangest and best of the Earthsea novels. And not a kids book.
secanno's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
klettie's review against another edition
4.0
It would have been such a pity for Le Guin to have stopped with The Farthest Shore. I am glad we get this reflection.
ypres's review against another edition
Hace falta ser valiente para escribir un libro así, un libro que en su momento tú misma dijiste que sería el último de la saga*. Durante un lustro construiste un mundo fantástico, con su mitología y sus reglas propias, y diste vida a una serie de personajes interesantes que se salían bastante del tipo de personajes que yo estaba acostumbrado a leer en este género, personajes para los que el fracaso era una opción muy real y que comprendían el aprendizaje como algo que no viene regalado.
Y en el libro final de la saga (escrito 18 años después del anterior) rompes con todo eso, de un mundo enorme y lleno de posibilidades reduces toda la acción a un par de ciudades de una isla rural y despojas a los personajes de lo que más les definía, a una mujer famosa en todo el mundo la transformas en una campesina viuda y al mago más grande y poderoso de Terramar le arrebatas sus poderes, con el fin de preguntarte como se construye una identidad cuando te han quitado todo lo que has sido a lo largo de tu vida, para hablar de como afecta la magia, o más bien como afecta la falta de ella, al mundo sencillo y rural, al mundo cotidiano.
Y lo más alucinante es lo entretenido que logras hacerlo, porque, a primera vista, tus lectores podrían llevarse un chasco con la aparente simpleza del planteamiento, ya que en principio esta saga es una aventura fantástica y mágica en la que se recorre todo el mundo y se derrota a magos poderosos y la has reducido a una novela rural con ligeros tintes mágicos y mitológicos. Pero no, en ningún momento se me hizo aburrida, pesada o desilusionante. Profundizar en las vidas y en el carácter de los personajes, entender sus perspectivas y sus sentimientos al, por ejemplo, verse discriminados, ninguneados, odiados... si para mostrar esa parte de la Historia hay que sacrificar las aventuras y las peripecias, adelante.
Chapó, Ursula.
*11 años después sacó el siguiente.
Y en el libro final de la saga (escrito 18 años después del anterior) rompes con todo eso, de un mundo enorme y lleno de posibilidades reduces toda la acción a un par de ciudades de una isla rural y despojas a los personajes de lo que más les definía, a una mujer famosa en todo el mundo la transformas en una campesina viuda y al mago más grande y poderoso de Terramar le arrebatas sus poderes, con el fin de preguntarte como se construye una identidad cuando te han quitado todo lo que has sido a lo largo de tu vida, para hablar de como afecta la magia, o más bien como afecta la falta de ella, al mundo sencillo y rural, al mundo cotidiano.
Y lo más alucinante es lo entretenido que logras hacerlo, porque, a primera vista, tus lectores podrían llevarse un chasco con la aparente simpleza del planteamiento, ya que en principio esta saga es una aventura fantástica y mágica en la que se recorre todo el mundo y se derrota a magos poderosos y la has reducido a una novela rural con ligeros tintes mágicos y mitológicos. Pero no, en ningún momento se me hizo aburrida, pesada o desilusionante. Profundizar en las vidas y en el carácter de los personajes, entender sus perspectivas y sus sentimientos al, por ejemplo, verse discriminados, ninguneados, odiados... si para mostrar esa parte de la Historia hay que sacrificar las aventuras y las peripecias, adelante.
Chapó, Ursula.
*11 años después sacó el siguiente.
truthlessofcanada's review against another edition
slow-paced
4.0
Tehanu was another unique story, and we are back to the protagonist of The Tombs of Atuan, and in my opinion this is the same level of quality.
This is very much a slice of life book. The protagonist of ToA has lived a life, it takes place about 25 years after that. One day she finds a child who has been the victim of a horrible crime, and has had half of her face and a lot of her body burned from being pushed into the fire. Tenar adopts this child, who is named Therru, and the book is largely about their relationship, and raising this child.
It also deals with grief, as some familiar faces you have seen are getting very old.
For those who have read The Fitz and The Fool Trilogy, this book give of serious Fool's Assassin vibes.
I think those who like the found family trope, and a slower burn slice of life book will really enjoy this.
One thing that is kinda annoying me in these last couple books, is how having a king is solving so many problems. Historically it seems a lot more likely they will cause problems, but whatever.
8.2/10, same score of The Tombs of Atuan, but I think I like the Tombs of Atuan a little bit more. Although in general I like the Tenar focused stories more then Ged stories.
This is very much a slice of life book. The protagonist of ToA has lived a life, it takes place about 25 years after that. One day she finds a child who has been the victim of a horrible crime, and has had half of her face and a lot of her body burned from being pushed into the fire. Tenar adopts this child, who is named Therru, and the book is largely about their relationship, and raising this child.
It also deals with grief, as some familiar faces you have seen are getting very old.
For those who have read The Fitz and The Fool Trilogy, this book give of serious Fool's Assassin vibes.
I think those who like the found family trope, and a slower burn slice of life book will really enjoy this.
One thing that is kinda annoying me in these last couple books, is how having a king is solving so many problems. Historically it seems a lot more likely they will cause problems, but whatever.
8.2/10, same score of The Tombs of Atuan, but I think I like the Tombs of Atuan a little bit more. Although in general I like the Tenar focused stories more then Ged stories.
limbero's review against another edition
4.0
Ursula K. Le Guin is unparalleled in writing about relatable ordinary people in both ordinary and extraordinary circumstances, and Tehanu is no different.
ddmgembala's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite of all the Earthsea Cycle. Le Guin's fantasy is able to evoke a rich and complex world while at the same time taking place on the level of the ordinary. Beautifully written, a wonderful tale, and amazing characters.
rachelish's review against another edition
2.0
I can't really remember but it def wasn't as good as the original trilogy...
landminecat's review against another edition
3.0
The dark and honest portrayal of serious themes such as child abuse and sexism, is very well executed and thought provoking, but the story itself is not a strong enough frame to hold it up and solidify the weight of the subject matter. Overall i thought it was a mostly good book that didn't quite flow properly.