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Voices

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Memer is a child of rape; when the Alds took the beautiful city of Ansul, they desecrated or destroyed everything of beauty. The Waylord they imprisoned and tortured for years until finally he is freed to return to his home. Though crippled, he is not destroyed. His life still has purpose. Memer is the daughter of his House, the daughter of his heart.

The Alds, a people who love war, cannot and will not read: they believe that in words lie demons that will destroy the world. All the city's libraries, the great treasure trove of knowledge of ages past, are burned, except for those few volumes secreted in the Waylord's hidden room.

But times are changing. Gry Barre of Roddmant and Orrec Caspro of Caspromant have arrived in the city. Orrec is a storyteller, the most famous of all: he has the gift of making. His wife Gry's gift is that of calling; she walks with a halflion who both frightens and fascinates the Alds.

This is Memer's story and Gry's and Orrec's, and it is the story of a conquered people craving freedom.

©2020 Ursula K. Le Guin (P)2020 Orion Publishing Group
Coming of Age Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Literary Fiction Metaphysical & Visionary Heartfelt
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Ursula Le Guin is at the top of my list, but Voices does not flow. All the elements are there: the One God invaders, the storyteller, the keeper of the Oracle, the gentle, conquered victims… .But, with four hours to go, I have lost interest. I’m not sure what is missing. Maybe “atmosphere”? Certainly pace.
Sadly, it is the VOICE of the reader which is also lacking. The heroine is a teenage girl. So, I guess, is the reader, who is competent, bar a few mispronunciations, but whose voice lacks the depth and variety of maturity and experience. Sorry, but I do find the reading monotonous.
So I’m packing my traps and moving back to one of the more substantial novels.

Struggles…

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