The Beginning Place Author:Ursula K. Le Guin In the magic world of Tembreabrezi, across a stream in aplace of sweet water, gentle folk, and eternal twilight, two young people from the outsize world meet and fall in love. Poised on the edge of adulthood, they are seeking refuge from the harsh realities of growing up. Then a shadow falls on their special place. Now they must fight to free... more » themselves from the evil that casts a darkness on Tembreabrezi, and on their newfound happiness.« less
While The Wizard of Earthsea was supposed to have been adolescent fiction Beginning Place is, in fact, adolescent fiction. I have a shelf full of Mrs. Le Guin's books but Beginning Place just wasn't my style. However, young readers that are fans of Harry Potter might appreciate this book.
Not one of her best efforts. It reminded me of Bridge to Tarabithia, with 2 disfunctional people in a "make believe" land figuring out how to coexist with "reality". It's ok, but not fantastic.
I am not usually a fan of fantasy, but this book grabbed me with the possibility of a colorful, new world hidden away so close to the drab, colorless existence so many of us experience today in the land of strip malls and bland sameness.