Tehanu

The Earthsea Cycle, Book Four

By: Ursula K. Le Guin

Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin

Years before, they had escaped together from the sinister Tombs of Atuan - she an isolated young priestess, he a powerful wizard. Now she is a farmer's widow, having chosen for herself the simple pleasures of an ordinary life. And he is a broken old man, mourning the powers lost to him not by choice.

A lifetime ago they helped each other at a time of darkness and danger. Now they must join forces again to help another - the physically and emotionally scarred child whose own destiny remains to be revealed.

©1990 Ursula K. Le Guin (P)2016 Recorded Books

Le Guin is incredible

really interesting change in perspective after the last three. this book challenges each character fundamentally, as well as the world and culture of earthsea, as well as our own world in what it shares with earthsea. it took a more difficult but ultimately rewarding path, and i have nothing but respect and awe for the author.

some developments do seem convenient or heavy-handed, but they are still effective and don't get in the way of the engaging emotional journeys of the characters - which i see as the main exploration of the book.

the performance was also fantastic.

underappreciated!

Many who love the original Earthsea trilogy will complain that Tehanu feels out of place, on-the-nose feminist, and not as grand or exciting as the first three volumes. I understand where they're coming from, but frankly would say it's from a place of light sexism and underappreciation for the complexity that Le Guin is weaving into her characters and world here! Earthsea as portrayed in the first three volumes IS overtly patriarchal --- women are property of fathers and husbands, witches are considered less savory members of society even as their magical adept is demanded by their villages, and women are not permitted to study at the magical institute on Roke and become fully respected users of magic, as wizards are. Being a series written by a woman, with compelling female characters, and taking up in Tehanu where her characters, her readers, and Le Guin herself are older and more thoughtful than in the earlier volumes, it's no wonder that the nature of society, magic, and culture of Earthsea are being examined through Tenar's eyes. Not to mention there are explorations of broader issues of sex, aging, abuse, duty, and sense of selfhood that readers in the real world can relate to. Le Guin truly deepens the beloved characters of Ged and Tenar in realistic, unidealistic ways, ultimately giving them a tenuous but hopeful future. At the same time, the lore deepens intriguingly with Tehanu, Kalessin, and the dragon-people, leading into The Other Wind nicely. Give it a chance -- if you're a woman you may identify with the feelings of duty, self-actualization, and frustration, and if you're a man you can learn a thing or two from it.

A woman’s true voice

The author wrote a woman’s story unlike I have ever experienced. So true and real and beautiful. Thank you.

Great book with a perfect voice actress

Wow! I loved this book, a very interesting change of pace from the first 3 books, a book made even better by the voice actress. She and Leguin made me teary eyed more than once.

Beautiful and Heartwrenching

This has been my favorite book of the entire series. I can believe that other reviewers say it’s the worst after some of the others. Such a wonderful meaningful story. I felt like the characters were incredibly multidimensional compared to the other books in this series. Tenar is one of the most interesting characters of this series to me and I absolutely loved the intention behind the detail of the story of the rest of her life. Le Guin really captures the experience of women in such a way that I feel heart wrenched having finished. Just such wonderful writing of the love that women hold and what depth of life they have and what hardships they face. In her note she wrote that she worked on this book for 18 years and you can really tell how much she poured into it. Ugh- love. Highly recommend (even though they changed the narrator that was hard to get used to at first lol)