Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

26 reviews

swrrlgrrl's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Xenophobia and Sexism

tinyjude's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

The first half of the book is a bit too slow for my taste and when she switched up perspectives suddenly from the protagonist to the secondary character, it was difficult to discern which one was narrating each part at first. I think, given the time it was written, late 60s, it is a brilliant sci-fi novel that dwells on the topic of gender and how the binary structure society constructed limits the human being. The discussions about gender, society, values, perception, sex, social roles, etc are all enthralling. Albeit my issues with the pace and some plot points that seemed to drag on for too long, I think it's an interesting read for those concerned with these topics and fans of sci-fi. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Body shaming, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Incest

Minor: Miscarriage

luis_vieira's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Death

Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Suicide, Torture, and Xenophobia

Minor: Pregnancy and Incest

_david_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The worldbuilding is masterfully executed, revealing a rich and diverse world and culture within the confines of a relatively short book. The characters are captivating, and the narrative effectively captures the challenges of collaboration with a culture one doesn't fully comprehend and vice versa.

The book successfully presents multiple perspectives, with the main character questioning his own ideas and cultural norms after engaging with Winter's people. What stands out is how Winter and its countries aren't portrayed as utopias nor lesser places than earth. They're not good or bad, just different, with their own moral grey areas. Even the two countries that are shown in the book have big cultural differences. Eventhough gender is a significant theme and the first thing you'll likely learn when looking up the book, the core focus revolves around learning to respect and collaborate with another culture. The way gender is represented in the book is in a world that shows the what-if scenario of a society where gender (or sexuality) has no impact on people's role in it.

The only aspect I wish were different is that 'neutral' pronouns and other terms are male to the reader. Perhaps it highlights the flaws of the main character and his default way of thinking. But I still found it odd.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deportation, Police brutality, Confinement, Grief, Death, and Gun violence

Moderate: Gaslighting, Xenophobia, Incest, Suicide, and Animal death

Minor: Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Cursing, Incest, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Sexism

renicula's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Xenophobia

Moderate: Transphobia, Sexism, and Violence

ford_defect's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Le Guin’s writing is fantastic. I seek out sci-fi to get transported to other worlds, and man, can this woman worldbuild. I could easily picture Winter/Gethen despite it being so foreign. The effort put into the culture, politics, history, and characters is something one doesn't see often (and keeping a coherent storyline, too???). Even within the genre. It almost felt like reading an anthropology book about real people.

However, I was a little disappointed on how the relationship with the two main characters ended. I can only blame my friend who hyped this up as some kind of LGBT-adjacent romance, which it is and isn't simultaneously.

Still, this book has given me a lot to reflect on when it comes to our gendered, heteronormative society. It's something I'll certainly have to re-read in the future.

There were a couple things that rubbed me the wrong way, though. CW: incest, sexism, misogyny, transphobia

For one, incest is somewhat acceptable in Gethenian culture, which was certainly a choice. The main character also had inherently sexist views since he came from a gendered society and seemed to get uncomfortable when Gethenians displayed femininity. (Albeit, he does grow). Lastly, I found it a little problematic when they wrote about Gethenian procreation like they were animals mating instead of regular people having sex. It comes off as a little transphobic, but I do understand why it's there.

 

But overall, my discomfort didn't sour this book for me. The uncomfortable parts had their place in the story. It's still an amazing work that certainly deserves a spot in SF history.    
4.75/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Incest, Sexual content, Sexism, Misogyny, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Transphobia and Pregnancy

cdc95's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Xenophobia

Minor: Kidnapping, Medical content, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Medical trauma

leilah_m's review against another edition

Was for school so I read what I needed

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Incest and Sexism

Minor: Xenophobia

alsira98's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Gun violence

Moderate: Incest, Violence, and Xenophobia

bookishperseus's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

It did take a while for me to be able to start this book, and at times I found it incredibly slow, complex or tedious.

I did keep reading it because there was a small interest as to what would happen, even though this book is following what could be considered a 'usual every day life'.

Towards the end, I found the final 3 or 4 chapters actually quite interesting. Not something I'd read again, but glad I finished it!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death of parent, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Police brutality, Drug abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Gun violence, Murder, Pregnancy, and Violence

Minor: Misogyny, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Violence, Body shaming, Incest, Pedophilia, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Child death, War, Chronic illness, Deportation, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical content, Miscarriage, Rape, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Vomit, Xenophobia, and Confinement