A review by ehmannky
Gifts by Ursula K. Le Guin

emotional reflective medium-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

4.25

Le Guin's "Gifts" takes place in a rural, highland environment where the ruling families have certain gifts that help them keep order, rule over their land, and control those around them. The gifts range from the relatively benign (such as being supernaturally good at healing) to terror-inducing (like the gift of our main character's family, which is to "unmake things"). Rather than risk harming those around him with the gift of "unmaking," our main hero Orrec chooses to constantly wear a blindfold rather than accidentally harm someone with his gift. Le Guin uses this reflective story to explore the ideas of the purpose of skill and power, accepting the path your patriarch and other powers that be set for you, and how to handle our potential to do harm. Like all Le Guin books, this isn't an action-filled book--it's reflective and slow and philosophical. But it's such a lovely story and I am excited to see what else she had in store for these characters. 
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