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The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin

34 replies

EyeoftheStorm · 12/02/2015 12:36

Almost finished reading this with DS1 (10). One of my favourite childhood books and I hadn't revisited it for a long time.

Reading it aloud to him was like reading it for the first time. So beautifully written that it's more like poetry than prose. So dark and powerful and fascinating.

Every time DS asked a question to clarify what was happening or what something meant, his question was answered in the next couple of sentences. Like the writer was answering him.

I love reading books with him. We have similar tastes. Though he plotted Sparrowhawk's journey on the map of Earthsea, while I've never given it more than a quick glance.

What shall we read next? This book has been the pinnacle so far.

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Messygirl · 20/02/2015 13:38

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MaCosta · 20/02/2015 12:55

love Marianne Dreams. Its on DS1's bookcase and I'm desperate for him to read it. It haunted me.

Ubik1 · 20/02/2015 12:49

Loved Wizard of Earthsea. Ursula Le Guin is a quality writer. I often think that you can tell wonderful writing much more easily when reading aloud; it's easy to read, the language flows.

Marianne Dreams is an eerie novel.

MaCosta · 20/02/2015 12:44

Every year Father Christmas buys DH a book to read to his sons. This year it was the Wizard of Earthsea series.

Last year's was an enormous hit. The Princess Bride. Never have we had such a hit in the house. DSs are nearly 10 and nearly 8. They still talk about the book regularly and the frequent squeals, cries of "No!" and bursts of laughter as we read were fantastic

The Letter for the King is one of DS1's favourite books. We all really enjoyed the Weirdstone of Brisingamen (although found the sequel more difficult to get into initially) and we have all just loved Philip Pullman's Northern Lights and can't wait to start the next in the series.

We do a lot of reading aloud and listening to audio books as a family.

Original poster
EyeoftheStorm · 13/02/2015 16:43

These suggestions are so great - it's a walk down memory book lane. So many good books that have stayed with us for so long. I hope they stay close to our DCs' hearts too.

I have packed The Eagle of the Ninth and Skellig for half term in the north.

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BlueChampagne · 13/02/2015 15:57

Another Green Knowe fan here too!

How about Leon Garfield?

TinklyLittleLaugh · 13/02/2015 10:06

Eyeofthestorm Tales of Earthsea and The Other Wind are very much worth a read. Who could resist Tenar and Ged in their autumn years?

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 13/02/2015 00:18

There's also a very funny series set in a forest with all fairytale characters woven in which I really enjoyed. I think the first one's called Goodknight, then there's Whizzard, Trollogy, maybe Knightmare?

Anyway, they're good fun for adults too - there's Luigi, an Italian restaurant owner with dreadlocks who's a 'pastafarian', Humphrey Boggart (a boggart who's a detective) and all other little jokes like that.

Oh, and have a look at Garth Nix too - maybe the tower series, or the days of the week one. His old kingdom ones are also really good, but might be a bit scary, not sure (quite a bit of necromancy etc.).

And as a stand alone (but very different - not fantasy), I'd suggest Airman by Eoin Colfer.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 13/02/2015 00:09

I was going to suggest the Snow Spider ones too, and maybe Griffin's Castle.

Inkheart is good, so's The Thief Lord (both Cornelia Funke).

Um, Skellig perhaps?

Oh, and one I absolutely love is The House on Falling Star Hill by Michael Molloy.

HoundoftheBaskervilles · 12/02/2015 23:57

Thank you for this thread, I have nothing to add that hasn't already been said but I've been trying to remember the name of the Dark is Rising series for the last few weeks, I've just had a couple of scenes playing over in my head and couldn't place them.

DS is coming up to the age when he'll appreciate them, I can't wait to share them along with Alan Garner & Ursula le Guin.

madamehooch · 12/02/2015 22:02

Try 'Letter for the King'

Original poster
EyeoftheStorm · 12/02/2015 21:49

I've read the fourth Ursula Le Guin - Tehanu? - and I agree. Wizard of Earthsea is very much a male coming of age book.

He just got the Eagle of the Ninth for Christmas - I'm looking forward to that one.

I remember the Green Knowe books - quite sinister. I liked them a lot.

Someone was talking about the Snow Spider books recently - I hadn't heard of them before that.

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TinklyLittleLaugh · 12/02/2015 20:36

I adore Ursula Le Guin. Have you read her later Earthsea books? They are rather more feminist and reflective than the original three. Also love the Gifts trilogy.

How about The Eagle of the Ninth for your boy?

SecretNutellaFix · 12/02/2015 18:20

The Snow Spider trilogy by Jenny Nimmo?

Messygirl · 12/02/2015 18:10

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Original poster
EyeoftheStorm · 12/02/2015 17:55

Thanks STDG and Temps I like the sound of those.

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Takver · 12/02/2015 17:54

Have you read Sword in the Stone? Again lovely language and themes (just suggested that one earlier, too!)

VivaLeBeaver · 12/02/2015 17:54

The Weirdstone of Brisingemen by Alan Garner.

TempsPerdu · 12/02/2015 17:50

On the Arthurian/Celtic theme there's also a series by N.M. Browne called the Warriors Trilogy - lots of knights and battles and time shifts.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 12/02/2015 17:50

How about The Land Of Green Ginger by Noel Langley. It is a sequel to the Aladdin story, and is so funny - it has a flying back garden, a magician who has turned himself into a button-nosed tortoise and a donkey who sits on a pin. And two villains called Rub Dub Ben Thud and Tin Tack Ping Fu!

I can still read it and enjoy it.

When he is a bit older, I can highly recommend the Dragons of Pern novels by Anne McCaffrey - they are definitely for teenagers, though.

Original poster
EyeoftheStorm · 12/02/2015 17:49

Yep to the Hobbit.

I loved the Owl Service too but it's quite disturbing and I don't know if he'll get the triangle relationship. Might read it again myself though.

DS is actually a reluctant reader so I have read all these to him. That's why I pick ones I like!

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TempsPerdu · 12/02/2015 17:47

Ha - great minds Madrigals and piglet! Wink

Original poster
EyeoftheStorm · 12/02/2015 17:47

Feel like I've come home. Have read The Ghost of Thomas Kempe (was an arm twist as he didn't like the look of it) - got the thumbs up. Also read Weirdstone of Brisangamen with him but not any of his others. Love Alan Garner.

Will have a look at Chronicles of Prydain - sounds right up our street.

Thank you for all the suggestions.

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TempsPerdu · 12/02/2015 17:46

I've just finished reading it too. Amazing book - don't know how I'd managed to overlook it for so long. What was funny, though, is that I've recently finished a Creative Writing MA, and Le Guin's writing style is the polar opposite of everything we were advised to do - third person omniscient narrator, formal tone, lots of adverbs and so on. It's still way more powerful and engaging than most of the other stuff I've read recently!

Have you read any Alan Garner? The Owl Service is an all-time favourite of mine, and has a similar dark, otherworldly feel. His sense of place is amazing. A bit on the scary side though!

Messygirl · 12/02/2015 17:45

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