Reviews

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

soupy_twist's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

4.0

classysmarta's review against another edition

tense slow-paced

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

2.5

makennadykstra's review against another edition

4.5

when miss le guin’s introduction argues scifi does not predict or prescribe, but instead describes what is at hand to describe, then she launches a gender expansive epic (no one is biologically or socially gendered & gender does not exist as a form? binaries are fluid? dualism cannot be escaped but it can be upended and divorced from power disparities?) !!! in which every year is Year One: presentness& communality infused in very sense of being?? very badass

waqupi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

howdy_partner's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious fast-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? Yes

4.5

kristenesantos's review against another edition

adventurous reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

emilyb_chicago's review against another edition

3.0

This was a labor to read. While I am glad I read it, I do not recommend reading it. Hearing about the book is so much more interesting than reading the book itself. When I describe the world I think "Wow, I want to read that book!" but unfortunately this the book does not even try to fulfill the promise of the premise.

Le Guin's writing didn't pull me into the culture or the atmosphere like so many reviews said, instead I finally got pulled in around chapter 13 (of 22) by the action. The feminist credit given to this book requires careful examination to find, and if I hadn't had a book club to discuss the book with I would have likely missed.

Spoiler

In addition to all above, the main character/narrator is incompetent at his job and so obtuse it was difficult for me to read about him. I was told he was supposed to represent a misogynistic every-day man, but I just don't prefer to read about them.

reinydays's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted reflective slow-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? Yes

4.25

emcrem's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

ekranefuss's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced

4.0