Lavinia
{4.5/5} “I was fated, it seems, to live among people who suffered beyond measure from grief, who were driven mad by it. Though I suffered grief, I was doomed to sanity.”
Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin, published in 2008
Lavinia spends much of her time outside, playing with her friends. But she’s the daughter of the king, Latinus. And when King Turnus comes courting, it signals that her childhood is almost at an end. Others come courting too. Her father allows her to choose — but she must choose one of them.
This novel is a retelling of part of the ancient poem The Aenid, told from the point of view of a character who doesn’t even speak in that story. You don’t need to know The Aenid to enjoy this novel — I didn’t — but if you do you might find an extra layer.
It’s sort of set in the 9th century BC — with a bit of a fantasy aspect to it.
It’s about good leaders and not-so-good leaders, prophecies, and men who will go to war at the drop of a hat. The main character, Lavinia, is very thoughtful — you’ll want to know what she thinks.
Since Le Guin isn’t writing novels any more you might be spacing out your reading of her books — this is one you’ll definitely want to read.
I previously reviewed Le Guin’s City of Illusions.