Four Ways to Forgiveness
I was never a short story reader. Aside from “Drown” by Junot Diaz, I have always tried to stay away from short bursts of commitment. I’ve been in love with losing myself in epic sagas and multi-layered plots and their twists and turns.
The husband got “Four Ways to Forgiveness” by Ursula Le Guin for me for Christmas two years ago. True to my nature, I’ve avoided this set of four short stories for two years until two weeks ago when I finally said to myself, “It’s Ursula, darn it. Give her a chance!” So I did…knowing full well that if I should dislike the stories in this set, then the pedestal on which I’ve put her will be just a bit shorter. Now I didn’t ever want that to happen – I love everything else of hers too much, way too much. She is the reason I love goats, after all.
“Four Ways to Forgiveness” was nothing short of short stories greatness. The stories intertwined and gave me perspective from four very viewpoints. In the end, I felt as if I had indeed read an entire Le Guin novel. I understood the world she created, the culture, the history and its different castes of people. All the depth and breadth of a full length novel, but instead, in four short stories. All the love, betrayal, cultural and historical growth, personal learnings, triumphs and deeds and misdeeds – all so clear and poetic. Her prose is never flowery and her words are never wasted. Her works don’t need to be lengthy to be powerful and meaningful… you just need to be ready to travel in mind and spirit once you open the book.
