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Lavinia  By  cover art

Lavinia

By: Ursula K. Le Guin
Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan
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Publisher's summary

Highly acclaimed author Ursula K. Le Guin lends a resonant voice to a pivotal yet often overlooked character of Virgil's The Aeneid. Born into peace and freedom, Lavinia is stunned to learn that she will be the cause of a great war - or so the prophecies and omens claim. Her fate is sealed, however, when she meets a man from Troy.
©2008 Ursula K. Le Guin (P)2008 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"... masterful" ( Publishers Weekly, starred review)

What listeners say about Lavinia

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinatingly well written

I found this book to be wonderful in three ways. While the story is well trodden territory, the author continuously weaves it with fascinating and well thought out insights and commentary from the narrator. The narrator herself is a wonderful contraption, occupying a unique space between first-person and third-person. Finally, the writing itself is a joy to listen to. The author has clearly put thought into simplicity and elegance of phrasing.

The only down-side I found in this book is that the last half of the book is not as strong as the first. However, the book only slacks off from "excellent" to "very good."

The reader does the book justice. She speaks clearly, at a good pace, and with an appropriate amount of intonation and acting.

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

totally gripping!

I loved this recording of Ursula Le Guin's beautiful novel so much that I listened to it all over again as soon as I'd heard it through the first time. The language is sparse and clear, and the narrator's voice is perfectly suited to it. Le Guin's exploration of what piety means in action is fascinating, and her exploration of gender roles is a nuanced as ever. Hoorah!

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

An unsung character with an interesting story

Let me begin by saying that LeGuin is at her best when she is creating a new culture by looking at it anthropologically. For example, she shines in her Earthsea novels and the science fiction novels like THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS. In this novel, she has a society that she understands fully -- but it is already historically realized. I felt her creativity was limited with what I think she does best -- her expertise on culture and people. However, her insight into people comes through in the impeccable characterization in this novel.

Bresnahan does a fine job with the text. Not my favorite by LeGuin, but a nobel effort.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this book.

What made the experience of listening to Lavinia the most enjoyable?

The narrator did a beautiful job giving voice to Lavinia. It was wonderful to hear this relatively minor character from one of the classic stories of our culture brought to life with the feminist perspective and the gorgeous, detailed, imaginative Le Guin writing.

What did you like best about this story?

The imaginative and detailed writing, I think.

If you could rename Lavinia, what would you call it?

A Feminist Retelling of an Old Dude's Story

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Roman Origin Myth with a Touch of Fantasy

Ursula LeGuin, a master of sci-fi and fantasy, takes an obscure character from Virgil and weaves a touching historical novel. Satisfying in a sweet and feminist way without much actual historical record.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Heart-felt, deep, engaging, and beautiful

This story is perfectly read. The story itself evokes myth and legend and the old religions and ancient people beyond anything else in Le guin's rich oevre. The time of Lavinia, just before, Rome, is a distant fantasy world made so alive and real as to feel both historical and magical, ancestral and fascinatingly other-worldly.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting story

Ursula K Le Guin is one of my favorite authors. I enjoyed listening to Lavinia.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

captivating

I was told about this book in AP Latin about 10 years ago and finally got around to reading (well listening to) it. Lavinia is a beautiful prose that brought life to a background character in Virgil's Aeneid. This was beautifulyl narrated and despite knowing enough to know some of the details I found myself wanting to know Lavinia's side of the epic atory

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Spinoff from Virgil's epic makes an engaging read

Lavinia presents a wise woman's retrospective on the life she lived, or might've lived, through mythic and mystical themes. A good read for those interested in Etruscan and Greco-Roman histories, mystery religions, anthropology, women's lives, or the characters of Virgil's epic poem, the Aeneid. Shares similarities with When We Have Faces (CS Lewis) and more recent books like Cerce (Madeline Miller).

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Meditative Fantasy

Introspection into decision making by someone who wants to do what’s right and follow their beliefs

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