Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

This thread is open to discuss The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin.



Synopsis
Librarian's Note: For an alternate cover edition of the same ISBN, click here.

When young Tenar is chosen as high priestess to the ancient and nameless Powers of the Earth, everything is taken away - home, family, possessions, even her name. For she is now Arha, the Eaten One, guardian of the ominous Tombs of Atuan.

While she is learning her way through the dark labyrinth, a young wizard, Ged, comes to steal the Tombs' greatest hidden treasure, the Ring of Erreth-Akbe. But Ged also brings with him the light of magic, and together, he and Tenar escape from the darkness that has become her domain.

      ~ Buddy Style Reads ~
    Three Ways to Enjoy a Book!

At NRBC we use three styles of buddy reads. These will be indicated in the thread title as “Buddy Read”, “Relaxed Buddy Read” or “Informal Buddy Read”.

A “Buddy Read” has a discussion leader and a reading date is set to start the book. A reading schedule is posted prior to the start date and discussion questions are posted each day regarding that section of the book. More information about these types of reads is below. An example is here, showing a reading schedule here.

A “Relaxed Buddy Read” is similar to our usual “buddy reads” except there are less questions and break points. For example, a book may be split into three sections and those reading the book should pause at the end of the section to answer some discussion questions, make comments, or ask their own questions to other readers. An example is here.

An “Informal Buddy Read” doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book. An example is here.

A “Read and Watch Buddy Read” may be set up as any of the above, but we will also watch the movie or T.V. series - or even go to a play! - and make comparisons, discussing what has been left out or changed as well as the actors and actresses. There is a long debate of what one should do first: read the books or watch the movie? We usually read first, but it isn’t essential. Also, if you would like to join in, but don’t want to watch the movie, show, or play, but only read the books, that is fine, too. An example is here.


MORE UNDER SPOILER
(view spoiler)[

“Buddy Reads” (“BRs”) include:

• A reading schedule which can range from 50, 75, to 100 or so pages a day.

• Discussion questions posted daily by moderators and occasionally group members
   who help one of us out. If you want to be a Discussion Leader, let us know.

• If the book is really long, we'll plan a break day.

• Members do NOT have to answer every question, they are meant to stimulate
   conversations about the books AND allow us to glance back upon them when the
   sequels come out. This helps us to remember what exactly happened in the previous
   book.

• We find the buddy style of reading to be more fun than just posting one or two
   sentences about a book. We feel this is what distinguishes us as being a ‘book club’
   rather than just another GoodReads ‘group.’

• If you can NOT start the book on time, feel free to join in at a later date. They are
   set up to make it easy to do so.

• Moderators are people too, so occasionally we get sick, have to work late at our real
   jobs, or have something that keeps us from writing the questions. Please forgive us;
   we're only human and we don't get any compensation for what we do--not even
   free books!

• Discussions and questions are set up to make you think, analyze, and see things you,
   or even we, may have missed. Feel free to add your own thoughts at any time, if you
   think we've missed something.

• If you've read the book, feel free to let us know what you thought about the book.
   You can do so at the end of the buddy read, or, if you can't wait, add spoiler tags
   before you comment like:

   **************BEWARE! SPOILER FOR THE END OF THE BOOK**************

   Or insert a (view spoiler)[spoiler (hide spoiler)]. If you do NOT know how to do so, just check out our
   GoodReads 101 explanation on how to Insert a Spoiler.

• If you are looking for a reading buddy, post an inquiry in our Buddy read requests thread. Use that thread, if you want to have a repeat read of a BOM
    or buddy read, too.

• Have fun! We always do when more than one person joins in. And we look less silly
   if someone else discusses a book with us. (hide spoiler)]

res

I am ready to dive in into this world again.


Team Hermione Granger.

It's short and it's been a year since I last re-read it, so I think I'm in too.

Team Luna.

I'm in. Team Remus Lupin.

Anyone start yet? I am doing the BR for "I Hunt Killers" as well, so I am going back and forth between them Talk about Cognitive Dissonance!

I will get into first impressions soon.

Jenny wrote: "Anyone start yet?"


I will get my copy of the book tomorrow (or today as it's midnight here) :D

I thought my library had an ebook version. It does not.

Team Flitwick here. I started today and read through chapter 4.

Tenar - (view spoiler)[I feel sorry for the girl. One day she is dancing in the sunshine, and the next she is taken away from her family and stripped of even her name. Far to serious for a young child. (hide spoiler)]

The Tombs - (view spoiler)[I'm not buying the gods will displeased if you use a light in the tombs rule. I seriously think the rule is there just because the darkness makes it scarier. I'm hoping this gets challenged. (hide spoiler)]

The prisoners - (view spoiler)[That was just cruel. Manacled, tongues removed, and then left to starve to death in the dark. I think the priestess should have to see the results of her orders. (hide spoiler)]

I have been listening to this one, so I don't know how far I am, but Tenar just went down into the Labyrinth, and met (you know who).

I cannot fathom living the kind of life she leads. I like the fact that she is questioning things.

Chapters 5 - 8

Sparrowhawk - (view spoiler)[Going down an unknown corridor after hearing someone in the cavern was idiotic. He should have made sure of his way out first. I do wonder what he means about seeking something that belong to him. I suppose he will have plenty of time to find it while locked in the treasure room. (hide spoiler)]

Arha - (view spoiler)[I am glad Sparrowhawk gave her back her name. I think she may be a little to young to outwit Kossil without help. Perhaps they will end up helping each other. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 1 - 6

The beginning was pretty slow as in the first book, but when Sparrowhawk appeared in the book it's getting somewhere.

Tenar/Arha - I agree with Deanna about (view spoiler)[taking a little girl from home like that is a little bit strange - the reasoning behind it especially. The poor little girl who was enjoying her life with family was dragged away from it to be a priestess (hide spoiler)]
The tombs - (view spoiler)[I like the idea of labyrinth there, but I don't believe into all the "myth" what are surrounded it. It's more for scaring people away.
Also, holding prisoners there, so they could die and be a sacrifice. (hide spoiler)]

Jenny wrote: "Tenar just went down into the Labyrinth, and met (you know who). "

Hihihih, Lord Voldemort is back [And not in his own book] :P

Just finished. Wow, short book, but pretty powerful.

(view spoiler)[ Tenar's journey is an interesting one. She had spent her life in darkness both metaphorically and in real life. The fact that there was anything left of her psyche once Kossil et al got hold of her is kind of astounding. If she hadn't encountered Ged, I wonder what would have happened to her. Not knowing any other life, she probably would have just gone on with what she had, but never been happy. I wonder if the next book revisits the Tombs at all. What happened after the destruction?
I liked this one better than the first. More used to the world? Female protagonist? Not sure. The one jarring note was how mature Ged was. He was on the way last book, but all of a sudden he seemed very worldly and wise. (hide spoiler)]

Elen wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Tenar just went down into the Labyrinth, and met (you know who). "

Hihihih, Lord Voldemort is back [And not in his own book] :P"

Wouldn't that be funny if the copy of Tombs you were reading had been a bit cut and pasted by a Potter fan with an evil sense of humor?

I had thoughts along those lines years ago when I worked in a bookstore, but it was too much trouble. I already had to page through random books to find and remove the religious tracts that people would put between pages of books they didn't like.

Jenny wrote: "Wouldn't that be funny if the copy of Tombs you were reading had been a bit cut and pasted by a Potter fan with an evil sense of humor?
"

That would be really funny and so mean. But too much trouble doing it and poor book - it does not deserve it :D

Finished.
I liked the book, and that the MC was a girl. Her life and struggles, also Ged was wiser and not so childish as in the last book.

(view spoiler)[Tenar was prisoned in this tombs and was expected to be a powerful priestess, but she was just lost the little girl who was taken away from her family. She didn't know most "basic" thing in life only what she must do and who she must serve. I liked that she was able to see the truth and go with Ged to Earthsea to discover the world. She is afraid of everything, bc it's too new for her, but I think she will be used to it very quickly. I am very interested to see what will happen next with Ged and also with Tenar. (hide spoiler)]

Elen wrote: "Finished.
I liked the book, and that the MC was a girl. Her life and struggles, also Ged was wiser and not so childish as in the last book.

[spoilers removed]"

The fact that this book was pretty revolutionary when it came out is kind of funny. Written by a woman, protagonist is a woman, dealt with religious themes, men are secondary characters, etc. We encounter things like this all the time now, thank goodness, from authors of any sex. What's the quote? The arc of the universe is slow, but it bends toward morality? If only we could get there more quickly. I grew up watching Star Trek reruns, and the world it portrayed was one where the Earth was united, and petty differences of race or gender didn't matter, and I thought that humans would achieve that by the time I grew up. Damn. Stupid humans.

Sorry about the tangent, this book, coupled with reading the newspaper this morning sent me off in a weird direction.

Finished as well!

Ged - (view spoiler)[I'm not sure how much time has passed, but this is definitely a more mature Ged. It is truly impressive to consider that he was holding the entire temple in place against the dark while they made their escape. I'm also delighted that for once the treasure being sought wasn't some kind of weapon but instead the rune for peace. (hide spoiler)]

Tenar - (view spoiler)[I am glad that she is finally free of the place and of the darkness that had hold over her. I think the quiet time with Ogion will do her wonders. (hide spoiler)]

Jenny wrote: "Just finished. Wow, short book, but pretty powerful...."

I wonder (view spoiler)[what happened at the tombs as well. I would imagine the Godking would be glad to have the temple gone and can probably find some way to spin the destruction in his own favor. I hope there is more in the next book as well similar to how the story of the two old ones on the island was finished in this one. (hide spoiler)]

There is another book about Tenar apparently. I wonder if it tells about her time with Ogion? He is my favorite character from the first book, so that would be cool.

Elen wrote: "Finished.
I liked the book, and that the MC was a girl. Her life and struggles, also Ged was wiser and not so childish as in the last book.

[spoilers removed]"

I agree. I'm also curious what will happen next.

Does anyone want to buddy read the last book The Farthest Shore together? I have company coming in a couple of days, but anytime after the 20th would work for me.

Sure. I have that book too, and I have had it for years. Time to read it. After the 20th sounds good.

How about after 25th to read book #3?
I would not have time before that and no possibility to get the book from the library :)

[TT is going to be longer, so we have time]

Elen wrote: "How about after 25th to read book #3?
I would not have time before that and no possibility to get the book from the library :)

[TT is going to be longer, so we have time]"

That works. I'll go make the request for a thread.