Lavinia

By: Ursula K. Le Guin

Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan

Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins

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)

Simply beautiful

What can I say? What LeGuin could do with simple words, we all dream about. This is a gorgeous story, beautifully read. It reframes Virgil's epic poem as defining the limitations of sanctioned history, recognizing what is lost when only part of the story is told.

If you must have your Greek fix

If you haven't read a Greek story in a while then will probably satisfy you. The story is compelling, holds your interest. However, I think it is too long. It takes you all the way to Lavinia's death when she turns into an immortal owl. That was clever, unexpected. But it is the reader which I found way too harsh and inappropriate.

Your Mother Is My Mother Too

I enjoyed Alyssa Bresnahan narration of Lavinia as her voice at times reminds me of my grandmother, my mother's mother, and this seemed correct rather than strange as Lavinia's story took shape.

My mother once described a visit to her mother's house with my father, who heard her and her mother and sister (and possibly my great grandmother) in the kitchen, or other room, call out for one of their men in the other room of the house, and he -or they -could not tell them apart, thinking my aunt or grandmother's voice was my mother's or great grandmothers. I may have been a tiny babe at that time. I can tell my mother's voice from my sister or my aunt or my grandmother, with a few words, even after months or in some cases years of not hearing from them. So Alyssa Bresnahan's voice is only similar, but not eerie in it's likeness. Comforting, in a way.

Lavinia is refreshingly mythic in telling of her life, she believes in the gods she worships, but she doesn't see them, they are like echoes or spirits, like her Poet - Virgil's shade, or a oracle. Like she in the end becomes, a immortal owl of Albunea.

It was interesting to me that both Circe and Lavinia nod towards a gay king at Rome's beginnings, Circe's son Telegonus (who's lover is unknown) and in Lavinia, Aeneas's son Ascanius, who's lover Atys' death causes him to share the burden of kingship with his brother Lavinia's son Silvius.

I would very much like to read a meeting these themes and between Ascanius, or Aeneas, and Telegonus but I haven't yet found such a book.

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.

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.

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.

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

Lavinia

Having read Ms. LeGuin's novels avidly in my youth long before audible texts
were available, I am happy to return to that pleasant pass time with her. The audible version is delightful, and the narration is in perfect harmony with the text.

Can’t finish

Worthy but dull. Self-consciously clever. Perhaps just too long and reflective. I lost patience.

Enjoyed it :-)

I enjoyed listening to this book. It is pretty long, so it took me a while to finish. It was worth it.