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A review by squiggly_cj
Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
This is the first of Le Guin's books I've read, after a short story and essays, some of which were about what she values in writing. This context made it really interesting to see her long-form writing in practice.
I love the premise of giving life and character and agency to a woman who was not afforded those by the poet who invented her. I think Le Guin did this very successfully, in what felt like an authentic, informed manner.
There were three ideas I was most struck by in this work. First was the idea of existence contingent on others - where Lavinia's existence was contingent on Aeneas, and Aeneas' on her. Second was of exile, especially the idea that women are raised to understand and nurture their home environments, only to be exiled to the foreign home of their husband. Third was of piety, and how this was used to describe a nexus of personal conscience, religion and community responsibilities.
I love the premise of giving life and character and agency to a woman who was not afforded those by the poet who invented her. I think Le Guin did this very successfully, in what felt like an authentic, informed manner.
There were three ideas I was most struck by in this work. First was the idea of existence contingent on others - where Lavinia's existence was contingent on Aeneas, and Aeneas' on her. Second was of exile, especially the idea that women are raised to understand and nurture their home environments, only to be exiled to the foreign home of their husband. Third was of piety, and how this was used to describe a nexus of personal conscience, religion and community responsibilities.