What have we been reading?

@Kimberlie: What have I been reading lately?
Urusla Le Guin's 'Annals of the Western Shore'

If you are into all things mystical and magical then I am sure you would thoroughly enjoy reading these books. Aimed probably more toward the young adult (or the young at heart).

The books in the trilogy share the same imaginary world; their plots are set among small city states and independent polities, on the western shore of a continental land mass. The culture is at a generally medieval level, with traditional crafts but no advanced technology. The three books share some characters; the protagonists in Gifts reappear as supporting or minor characters in the later books.

Gifts - centers on two young people, Gry and Orrec, who struggle to come to terms with inherent psychic abilities. They live in a poor, mountainous, and culturally backward region, famous for its "witches". Gry is a girl who can communicate with animals. Orrec is a boy whose supposed gift of "unmaking" is apparently so dangerous that he voluntarily goes through life blindfolded, to avoid causing destruction. The story reveals how Orrec and Gry cope with their gifts, and eventually leave their mountainous home for the wider world.

Voices - tells the story of Memer, a girl who lives in an occupied country. Her home, Ansul, has been conquered by the Alds, a desert people from the east, who are now its brutal and superstitious occupiers. Memer secretly learns of a world of suppressed books and writings, and falls in love with her people's ancient literature; she meets Gry and Orrec, who come to Ansul as traveling storytellers. Together, their entwined fates play out against the outcome of the political struggle of Ansul and the Alds.

Powers - Gavir is a slave who develops a gift for precognition. He is trained to serve as a teacher for a noble family in the city of Etra; but personal tragedy drives him into the life of a hunted wanderer. He endures adventures, challenges, and suffering.

You can read more about the 'Annals of the Western Shore' and Ursula Le Guin at http://www.ursulakleguin.com/Index-WesternShore.html

I thoroughly enjoyed reading these books and have now moved on to more of Ursula Le Guin's writings - but you will have to wait to hear more on that later...

So for now - head on down to the bookstore or library and grab yourself a copy of these books and let your imagination run wild in a land unknown.