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  <id>59920</id>
  <title><![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]></title>
  <isbn><![CDATA[055314863X]]></isbn>
  <isbn13><![CDATA[9780553148633]]></isbn13>
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  <description><![CDATA[High Fantasy by Hugo and Nebula award winner, Ursula K. LeGuin. Book 1 of the Earthsea Cycle. &quot;In his day Ged, called the Sparrowhawk, became both dragonlord and Archmage. His story is told in many songs, but this is the haunting tale of a proud, lonely boy in the time before his fame. It is a tale of wizards, dragons and shadows played out in Earthsea, a world of numberless islands and vast oceans where mages, looking for adventure, wandered, working magic...&quot;]]></description>
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  <original_publication_year type="integer">1968</original_publication_year>
  <original_title>A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)</original_title>
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  <average_rating><![CDATA[3.95]]></average_rating>
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        <name><![CDATA[Ursula K. Le Guin]]></name>
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    <average_rating>3.93</average_rating>
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      <review>
  <id>39097826</id>
    <user>
    <id>726844</id>
    <name><![CDATA[D_Davis]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Lynnwood, WA]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59920.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea</link>
  <average_rating>4.12</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>392</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[High Fantasy by Hugo and Nebula award winner, Ursula K. LeGuin. Book 1 of the Earthsea Cycle. &quot;In his day Ged, called the Sparrowhawk, became both dragonlord and Archmage. His story is told in many songs, but this is the haunting tale of a proud, lonely boy in the time before his fame. It is a tale of wizards, dragons and shadows played out in Earthsea, a world of numberless islands and vast oceans where mages, looking for adventure, wandered, working magic...&quot;]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>13</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Dec 02 06:36:34 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Dec 05 09:07:46 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[After finishing A Wizard of Earthsea this morning, it dawned on me just how much this book inspired Miyazaki and the Zelda games.   Wind Waker could almost be based on this book, and so many of Miyazaki's themes and archetypes are borrowed from Le Guin.<br/><br/>***<br/><br/>For the first time s...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/39097826">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/39097826]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/39097826]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>14015076</id>
    <user>
    <id>810497</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Tracy]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Chico, CA]]></location>
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  <isbn>0553383043</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553383041</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">509</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382m/13642.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382s/13642.jpg</small_image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>7308</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea,  but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless  youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered  with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow  upon the world. This is the tale of his testing,  how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an  ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to  restore the balance.<br/><br/><br/><em>From the Paperback edition.</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>11</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[young adults and adults]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Feb 23 23:07:34 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jan 29 22:04:56 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Feb 09 00:03:05 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[The fantasy classic A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin was first published in 1968 and this fantasy book deserves the praise it has often received. The fantasy world, Earthsea, created by the author is rich in detail. The fishy odor at the dock of every village and the salty tang of the sea l...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14015076">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14015076]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14015076]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>3291853</id>
    <user>
    <id>61519</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Aerin]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Seattle, WA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/61519-aerin]]></link>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">77138</id>
  <isbn>0553262505</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553262506</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">22</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1228797581m/77138.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1228797581s/77138.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77138.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea</link>
  <average_rating>3.85</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>226</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Often compared to Tolkien's Middle-earth or Lewis's Narnia, Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea is a stunning fantasy world that grabs quickly at our hearts, pulling us deeply into its imaginary realms. Four books (<em>A Wizard of Earthsea</em>, <em>The Tombs of Atuan</em>, <em>The Farthest Shore</em>, and <em>Tehanu</em>) tell the whole Earthsea cycle--a tale about a reckless, awkward boy named Sparrowhawk who becomes a wizard's apprentice after the wizard reveals Sparrowhawk's true name. The boy comes to realize that his fate may be far more important than he ever dreamed possible. Le Guin challenges her readers to think about the power of language, how in the act of naming the world around us we actually create that world. Teens, especially, will be inspired by the way Le Guin allows her characters to evolve and grow into their own powers.   <p>  In this first book, <em>A Wizard of Earthsea</em> readers will witness Sparrowhawk's moving rite of passage--when he discovers his true name and becomes a young man. Great challenges await Sparrowhawk, including an almost deadly battle with a sinister creature, a monster that may be his own shadow.  </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>5</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
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            <shelf name="childrens" />
        <shelf name="fantasy" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jul 19 17:27:23 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 17 01:16:22 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I don't know.  Maybe I'm missing something here.  This is supposed to be the first installment of a classic YA fantasy epic, but it read like an early draft of a much longer, more detailed, better work.  Very little attention to characterization and most of the scenes seemed vague and sketched in.  ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3291853">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3291853]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3291853]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>6294823</id>
    <user>
    <id>384057</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Anne]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Norfolk, VA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/384057-anne]]></link>
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    <book>
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  <isbn>0553383043</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553383041</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">509</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382m/13642.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382s/13642.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea</link>
  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8183</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea,  but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless  youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered  with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow  upon the world. This is the tale of his testing,  how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an  ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to  restore the balance.<br/><br/><br/><em>From the Paperback edition.</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>7</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
            <shelf name="fiction" />
        <shelf name="sff" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[everyone]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Sep 16 17:10:47 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Nov 18 06:47:31 -0800 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[The thing to remember about Earthsea, like all of LeGuin's writing, is that it is less fiction that it is Taoist parable.  LeGuin is a philosopher cleverly disguised as a sci-fi/fantasy writer.  Her writing is beautiful and languid; her characterization and plotting range from excellent to mediocre....<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6294823">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6294823]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6294823]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>926100</id>
    <user>
    <id>48063</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Grey]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[74004, Singapore]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/48063-grey]]></link>
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  <id type="integer">13642</id>
  <isbn>0553383043</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553383041</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">509</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382m/13642.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382s/13642.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea</link>
  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8183</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea,  but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless  youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered  with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow  upon the world. This is the tale of his testing,  how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an  ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to  restore the balance.<br/><br/><br/><em>From the Paperback edition.</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>3</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Apr 28 09:35:23 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Dec 16 18:35:29 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Le Guin is quite possibly my favourite female author, and this book is the prime reason why. This book, like Zelazny's Lord Of Light never fell from my Top 5 Fantasy/Sci-Fi books. It reads easy, with a language everyone can understand, and a style that flows well.<br/><br/>The prose aside, the sto...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/926100">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/926100]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/926100]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>48304407</id>
    <user>
    <id>2097887</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Alessandro]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2097887-alessandro-allegranzi]]></link>
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    <book>
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  <isbn>0553383043</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553383041</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">509</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382m/13642.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382s/13642.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea</link>
  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8183</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea,  but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless  youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered  with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow  upon the world. This is the tale of his testing,  how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an  ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to  restore the balance.<br/><br/><br/><em>From the Paperback edition.</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>1</rating>
  <votes>3</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Mar 05 06:05:03 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Jul 21 18:09:12 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[It's a wonderful little tale of magic and adventure....until you reach the end and realize the climax of the whole story involves the protagonist, Ged, &quot;hugging it out&quot; with his shadow self. I mean that literally by the way. It's not metaphorical. He literally defeats his nemesis shadow se...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48304407">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48304407]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48304407]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>3436658</id>
    <user>
    <id>23767</id>
    <name><![CDATA[kevin]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Cambridge, MA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23767-kevin]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1173660967p3/23767.jpg]]></image_url>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">59920</id>
  <isbn>055314863X</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553148633</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">48</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170537240m/59920.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170537240s/59920.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59920.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea</link>
  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8183</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[High Fantasy by Hugo and Nebula award winner, Ursula K. LeGuin. Book 1 of the Earthsea Cycle. &quot;In his day Ged, called the Sparrowhawk, became both dragonlord and Archmage. His story is told in many songs, but this is the haunting tale of a proud, lonely boy in the time before his fame. It is a tale of wizards, dragons and shadows played out in Earthsea, a world of numberless islands and vast oceans where mages, looking for adventure, wandered, working magic...&quot;]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>3</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
            <shelf name="fantasy" />
        <shelf name="fiction" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[fans of middle earth, narnia, hogwart's]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Jul 23 21:47:54 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 17 01:44:01 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A child of peculiar talent is born to humble beginnings in a small island village.  As age reveals his unique nature, the boy is invited to join an elite academy for magic-workers. Youthful folly sets the stage for adolescent transformation at the edge of the known world.<br/><br/>The first book o...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3436658">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3436658]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3436658]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>32757683</id>
    <user>
    <id>381149</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Martine]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Australia]]></location>
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  <id type="integer">979682</id>
  <isbn>0140304770</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780140304770</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">8</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1259588247m/979682.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>4.00</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>42</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Often compared to Tolkien's Middle-earth or Lewis's Narnia, Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea is a stunning fantasy world that grabs quickly at our hearts, pulling us deeply into its imaginary realms. Four books (<em>A Wizard of Earthsea</em>, <em>The Tombs of Atuan</em>, <em>The Farthest Shore</em>, and <em>Tehanu</em>) tell the whole Earthsea cycle--a tale about a reckless, awkward boy named Sparrowhawk who becomes a wizard's apprentice after the wizard reveals Sparrowhawk's true name. The boy comes to realize that his fate may be far more important than he ever dreamed possible. Le Guin challenges her readers to think about the power of language, how in the act of naming the world around us we actually create that world. Teens, especially, will be inspired by the way Le Guin allows her characters to evolve and grow into their own powers.   <p>  In this first book, <em>A Wizard of Earthsea</em> readers will witness Sparrowhawk's moving rite of passage--when he discovers his true name and becomes a young man. Great challenges await Sparrowhawk, including an almost deadly battle with a sinister creature, a monster that may be his own shadow.  </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>4</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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        <shelf name="north-american" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2005</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Sep 13 02:22:30 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Sep 13 03:18:48 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[The first book of the Earthsea Cycle starts off much as you'd expect. A young boy, Sparrowhawk, discovers that he has special powers, is sent to a wizards' school where he is hailed as the next big thing, and gets a bit too proud for his own good. So far, so clichéd. What is original is that in his...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/32757683">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/32757683]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/32757683]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>1018218</id>
    <user>
    <id>33494</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Lori]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Morgantown, WV]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/33494-lori]]></link>
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  <id type="integer">13642</id>
  <isbn>0553383043</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553383041</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">509</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382m/13642.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382s/13642.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea</link>
  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8183</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea,  but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless  youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered  with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow  upon the world. This is the tale of his testing,  how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an  ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to  restore the balance.<br/><br/><br/><em>From the Paperback edition.</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu May 03 17:46:07 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu May 03 17:50:56 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[You've gotta read this book. Yes, it's science fiction. But no, it's not boring, badly written or weirdly detailed. These people are us, but of course they don't exist, and yet Le Guin uses sci-fi to make perceptive commentary on the world around her. I'm not someone who reads Tolkien (well other th...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1018218">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1018218]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1018218]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>3387102</id>
    <user>
    <id>196856</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Thannasset]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Arlington Heights, IL]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/196856-thannasset]]></link>
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  <id type="integer">1303325</id>
  <isbn>1574534211</isbn>
  <isbn13>9781574534214</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">1</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1182621664m/1303325.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1182621664s/1303325.jpg</small_image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.90</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>40</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Often compared to Tolkien's Middle-earth or Lewis's Narnia, Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea is a stunning fantasy world that grabs quickly at our hearts, pulling us deeply into its imaginary realms. Four books (<em>A Wizard of Earthsea</em>, <em>The Tombs of Atuan</em>, <em>The Farthest Shore</em>, and <em>Tehanu</em>) tell the whole Earthsea cycle--a tale about a reckless, awkward boy named Sparrowhawk who becomes a wizard's apprentice after the wizard reveals Sparrowhawk's true name. The boy comes to realize that his fate may be far more important than he ever dreamed possible. Le Guin challenges her readers to think about the power of language, how in the act of naming the world around us we actually create that world. Teens, especially, will be inspired by the way Le Guin allows her characters to evolve and grow into their own powers.   <p>  In this first book, <em>A Wizard of Earthsea</em> readers will witness Sparrowhawk's moving rite of passage--when he discovers his true name and becomes a young man. Great challenges await Sparrowhawk, including an almost deadly battle with a sinister creature, a monster that may be his own shadow.  </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Jul 22 16:21:48 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Aug 04 19:04:34 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[More than a good fantasy, more than a 'young adult' book, a categorization I despise even more than 'children's book'--this is one of my favorite author's best attempts at deliberately creating a myth cycle.  It just gets better as the series progresses.  The last two books in the series were writte...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3387102">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3387102]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3387102]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>3972837</id>
    <user>
    <id>245194</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Meredith]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Afton, VA]]></location>
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  <id type="integer">13642</id>
  <isbn>0553383043</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553383041</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">509</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382m/13642.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382s/13642.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea</link>
  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8183</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea,  but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless  youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered  with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow  upon the world. This is the tale of his testing,  how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an  ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to  restore the balance.<br/><br/><br/><em>From the Paperback edition.</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[fantasy readers]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2004</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Aug 02 10:32:33 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Aug 02 10:35:46 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[this is just the first book of the earthsea series, and i recommend all of them.  in the course of the series, LeGuin not only writes wonderful fantasy but also revisions her own work in light of feminisim.  don't stop with The Farthest Shore--you must read Tehanu and The Other Wind to see how LeGui...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3972837">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3972837]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3972837]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>1754753</id>
    <user>
    <id>118558</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Isiscaughey]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Cambridge, MA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/118558-isiscaughey]]></link>
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  <id type="integer">13642</id>
  <isbn>0553383043</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553383041</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">509</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382m/13642.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382s/13642.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea</link>
  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8183</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea,  but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless  youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered  with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow  upon the world. This is the tale of his testing,  how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an  ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to  restore the balance.<br/><br/><br/><em>From the Paperback edition.</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
            <shelf name="scifi_fantasy" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 1998</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jun 07 12:11:09 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Jun 07 12:12:43 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[The Earthsea cycle was originally classified as a YA series, but really, I think the books are far too complex for the average teen to enjoy.  Le Guin is brilliant and sharp in her writing, and can hit you hard and fast in the gut.<br/><br/>The Tombs of Atuan is by far the best book of the cycle, ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1754753">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1754753]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1754753]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>51022442</id>
    <user>
    <id>2177891</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Kat at FanLit]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2177891-kat-at-fanlit]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1255094781p3/2177891.jpg]]></image_url>
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  <id type="integer">13642</id>
  <isbn>0553383043</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553383041</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">509</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382m/13642.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382s/13642.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea</link>
  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8183</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea,  but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless  youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered  with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow  upon the world. This is the tale of his testing,  how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an  ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to  restore the balance.<br/><br/><br/><em>From the Paperback edition.</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Mar 31 08:01:15 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Mar 31 08:01:29 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[If you haven't read any Ursula Le Guin, you need to put her at the top of your list! She's way up there with Tolkien, and perhaps the only reason she's not as famous is because she came a bit later and, therefore, like everyone else, is in his shadow.<br/><br/>Her writing is beautiful -- lyrical a...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/51022442">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/51022442]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/51022442]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>10857833</id>
    <user>
    <id>623773</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Emma]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Portland, OR]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/623773-emma]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1195211747p3/623773.jpg]]></image_url>
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  <id type="integer">13642</id>
  <isbn>0553383043</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553383041</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">509</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382m/13642.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382s/13642.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea</link>
  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8183</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea,  but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless  youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered  with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow  upon the world. This is the tale of his testing,  how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an  ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to  restore the balance.<br/><br/><br/><em>From the Paperback edition.</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>3</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
            <shelf name="scifi-fantasy" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Dec 22 00:35:43 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Dec 22 00:38:34 -0800 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[My aunt read me this book which was awesome except she pronounced &quot;archipelago&quot; wrong, like &quot;archipelAgo&quot; rather than &quot;ARchiPELago&quot;, and I like her way better, but when I insisted on it's accuracy in school I was, um, mocked. As well as, um, wrong.<br/><br/>But the bo...]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10857833]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10857833]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>1197236</id>
    <user>
    <id>81380</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Kim]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[El Cerrito, CA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/81380-kim]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1259356664p3/81380.jpg]]></image_url>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">13642</id>
  <isbn>0553383043</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553383041</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">509</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382m/13642.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382s/13642.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea</link>
  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8183</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea,  but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless  youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered  with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow  upon the world. This is the tale of his testing,  how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an  ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to  restore the balance.<br/><br/><br/><em>From the Paperback edition.</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
            <shelf name="fiction" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sun May 13 23:11:44 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu May 17 18:23:22 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I now love Ursula Le Guin. It's official. This book is entertaining, gripping, and yet completely wise and perceptive. This book is also great for those interested in Jung's ideas/concepts because Le Guin weaves many Jungian concepts seamlessly into the storyline. ]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1197236]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1197236]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>25484667</id>
    <user>
    <id>548358</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Stephanie &quot;Jedigal&quot;]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Saint Louis, MO]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/548358-stephanie-jedigal]]></link>
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  <id type="integer">59920</id>
  <isbn>055314863X</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553148633</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">48</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170537240m/59920.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170537240s/59920.jpg</small_image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8183</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[High Fantasy by Hugo and Nebula award winner, Ursula K. LeGuin. Book 1 of the Earthsea Cycle. &quot;In his day Ged, called the Sparrowhawk, became both dragonlord and Archmage. His story is told in many songs, but this is the haunting tale of a proud, lonely boy in the time before his fame. It is a tale of wizards, dragons and shadows played out in Earthsea, a world of numberless islands and vast oceans where mages, looking for adventure, wandered, working magic...&quot;]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jun 25 18:20:59 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jun 25 18:24:42 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Loved it.  An awesome adventure.  A little dark, possibly.  One of the books I think of when conversing with people who seem to have no idea that children's fantasy existed prior to Harry Potter.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25484667]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25484667]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>48137925</id>
    <user>
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    <name><![CDATA[John]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Provo, UT]]></location>
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  <id type="integer">77138</id>
  <isbn>0553262505</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553262506</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">22</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1228797581m/77138.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1228797581s/77138.jpg</small_image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8183</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Often compared to Tolkien's Middle-earth or Lewis's Narnia, Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea is a stunning fantasy world that grabs quickly at our hearts, pulling us deeply into its imaginary realms. Four books (<em>A Wizard of Earthsea</em>, <em>The Tombs of Atuan</em>, <em>The Farthest Shore</em>, and <em>Tehanu</em>) tell the whole Earthsea cycle--a tale about a reckless, awkward boy named Sparrowhawk who becomes a wizard's apprentice after the wizard reveals Sparrowhawk's true name. The boy comes to realize that his fate may be far more important than he ever dreamed possible. Le Guin challenges her readers to think about the power of language, how in the act of naming the world around us we actually create that world. Teens, especially, will be inspired by the way Le Guin allows her characters to evolve and grow into their own powers.   <p>  In this first book, <em>A Wizard of Earthsea</em> readers will witness Sparrowhawk's moving rite of passage--when he discovers his true name and becomes a young man. Great challenges await Sparrowhawk, including an almost deadly battle with a sinister creature, a monster that may be his own shadow.  </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Mar 03 13:42:46 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Mar 12 15:45:09 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I loved reading fantasy books when I was growing up.  Somehow I never read any books from the Earthsea series, even though it is considered by many to be a classic fantasy series.  I wish I would have discovered this series sooner.  <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea_The_Earthsea_Cycle_Book_1_" title="A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1) by Ursula K. Le Guin">A Wizard of Earthsea</a> was harder for me to put down than most of the...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48137925">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48137925]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48137925]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>39453673</id>
    <user>
    <id>1476903</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Ryan Patrick]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Rexburg, ID]]></location>
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  <id type="integer">13642</id>
  <isbn>0553383043</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553383041</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">509</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382m/13642.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382s/13642.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea</link>
  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8183</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea,  but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless  youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered  with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow  upon the world. This is the tale of his testing,  how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an  ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to  restore the balance.<br/><br/><br/><em>From the Paperback edition.</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Dec 06 11:41:17 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Jan 11 16:45:08 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Le Guin's book held a great potential trap for the fantasy writer, but she steered well clear of it. This is the first book in what is known as the Earthsea Cycle. She has imagined a new world which requires some description and explanation. It would be easy for her to be sucked into the kind of &quot;...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/39453673">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/39453673]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/39453673]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>30195630</id>
    <user>
    <id>1428068</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Kait]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Edmonton, Alberta, Canada]]></location>
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  <id type="integer">13642</id>
  <isbn>0553383043</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553383041</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">509</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382m/13642.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382s/13642.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea</link>
  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8183</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea,  but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless  youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered  with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow  upon the world. This is the tale of his testing,  how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an  ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to  restore the balance.<br/><br/><br/><em>From the Paperback edition.</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Oct 05 21:27:25 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Aug 14 20:39:01 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Oct 05 21:27:25 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count>1</read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea is a older children's book that I had picked up on recommendation of one of those &quot;top 100 fantasy books&quot; lists.  I saw it at a used bookstore for very little money, and thought I would add it to my collection.  Truthfully, I do look forward to building a fantasy colle...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/30195630">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/30195630]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/30195630]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>19050175</id>
    <user>
    <id>1038219</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Rebecca]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Seattle, WA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1038219-rebecca]]></link>
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  <isbn>0553383043</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780553383041</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">509</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382m/13642.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166571382s/13642.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642.A_Wizard_of_Earthsea</link>
  <average_rating>3.95</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8183</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea,  but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless  youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered  with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow  upon the world. This is the tale of his testing,  how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an  ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to  restore the balance.<br/><br/><br/><em>From the Paperback edition.</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1968</published>
</book>

    <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>3</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Mar 30 19:27:42 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Jun 15 19:29:44 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[So-I know that I will probably be stoned to death for saying this but…What the heck is all the fuss about over this book?<br/><br/>Although I found some of the magickal elements to be interesting the overall plot fell flat. I was very nearly bored to tears after the first few pages but pushed on...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19050175">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19050175]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19050175]]></link>
</review>
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