I really enjoyed the book Till We Have Faces (it's probably my favorite one so far). I especially liked the second half of the book.
In the scene at the temple Queen Orual is talking to a woman and says "Do you always pray to that Ungit," said I (nodding toward the shapeless stone), "and not to that?" Here I nodded towards our new image, standing tall and straight in her robes and (whatever the Fox might say of it) the loveliest thing our land has ever seen. "Oh, always this, Queen," said she. "That other, the Greek Ungit, she wouldn't understand my speech. She's only for nobles and learned men. There's no comfort in her."
I thought this was a really interesting scene showing people taking comfort in things unseen. Even though we can't see our God, we have faith to know he is there.
Another really moving part of the book happens a couple pages later where Orual realizes she is an Ungit type figure. She says "It was I who was Ungit. that ruinous face was mine. I was that Batta-thing, that all-devouring womblike, yet barren, thing. Glome was a web-I the swollen spider, squat at its center, gorged with men's stolen lives." Orual had been so selfish before she had her visions. After Bardia's death she talks with his widow and realizes that she had basically worked him to death.
My favorite part was Psyche and Oruals reunion and I even shed a few tears! Orual says "Oh, Psyche, oh goddess," I said. "Never again will I call you mine; but all there is of me shall be yours. Alas, you know now what it's worth. I never wished you well, never had one selfless thought of you. I was a craver." She bent over me to lift me up. Then, when I would not rise, she said, "But Maia, dear Maia, you must stand up. I have not given you the casket. You know I went a long journey to fetch the beauty that will make Ungit beautiful."
Each of the sisters suffered for each other. Psyche had to do many tasks for Ungit and Orual had to suffer from her visions and her unsatisfying life in Glome. After Orual realizes who she really is, she then fulfills the god's prophecy that "You will also be Psyche."
Just an excellent book all around and I don't have enough time to write down all my thoughts.
In the scene at the temple Queen Orual is talking to a woman and says "Do you always pray to that Ungit," said I (nodding toward the shapeless stone), "and not to that?" Here I nodded towards our new image, standing tall and straight in her robes and (whatever the Fox might say of it) the loveliest thing our land has ever seen. "Oh, always this, Queen," said she. "That other, the Greek Ungit, she wouldn't understand my speech. She's only for nobles and learned men. There's no comfort in her."
I thought this was a really interesting scene showing people taking comfort in things unseen. Even though we can't see our God, we have faith to know he is there.
Another really moving part of the book happens a couple pages later where Orual realizes she is an Ungit type figure. She says "It was I who was Ungit. that ruinous face was mine. I was that Batta-thing, that all-devouring womblike, yet barren, thing. Glome was a web-I the swollen spider, squat at its center, gorged with men's stolen lives." Orual had been so selfish before she had her visions. After Bardia's death she talks with his widow and realizes that she had basically worked him to death.
My favorite part was Psyche and Oruals reunion and I even shed a few tears! Orual says "Oh, Psyche, oh goddess," I said. "Never again will I call you mine; but all there is of me shall be yours. Alas, you know now what it's worth. I never wished you well, never had one selfless thought of you. I was a craver." She bent over me to lift me up. Then, when I would not rise, she said, "But Maia, dear Maia, you must stand up. I have not given you the casket. You know I went a long journey to fetch the beauty that will make Ungit beautiful."
Each of the sisters suffered for each other. Psyche had to do many tasks for Ungit and Orual had to suffer from her visions and her unsatisfying life in Glome. After Orual realizes who she really is, she then fulfills the god's prophecy that "You will also be Psyche."
Just an excellent book all around and I don't have enough time to write down all my thoughts.
posted by Gena at 11:22 PM
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