Reviews

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

aarousseau's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

ekolach's review against another edition

4.0

this is the kind of book that makes me want to write an essay and have a discussion in class. i feel like i need to talk this book out with other people to really understand how i feel about it. all in all, a thought provoking book that takes a while to get started but is worth it

olivehead's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

anaurrutia's review against another edition

3.0

Bueno me esperaba otra cosa, más profundidad y reflexión feminista sobre el asunto del mundo hermafrodita y no tanto sobre las mil y una formas del frío que te pueden llevar a pasarla mal en el planeta del invierno permanente jaja. En fin, me decepcionó un poco porque creí que la trama iría sobre algún asunto relacionado con la ambisexualidad en la que tanto insisten en la sinopsis y pues quedó en una circunstancia más que en realidad no afecta la aventura. Nimodos, ya sabía yo, es el tercer libro de K Le Guin que leo y otra vez sentí más desconcierto que ganas de aplaudir. Lo siento, no conecto con ella. Tres estrellas porque para mis apuntes sobre el frío y el hielo sí fue muy útil :P

sarahjo142's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

A slow read, but ultimately a very beautiful story on trust and friendship and finding light in the darkness. Would probably be better on a second read, as you spend the first chunk of the book a bit confused and so caught up learning the world you kind of lose the plot. 

car0's review against another edition

adventurous challenging relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

felicitousculex's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring tense slow-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

3.5

harshithcs's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Profound! 
A work of science fiction, as Ursula herself describes it, being descriptive, rather than extrapolative is what sets the experience apart in this. 

You truly live on this world of Gethen with the hermaphrodite humans of the world through the eyes of Genly and at the end, it solidifies the nature of humanity and humanism through one thing that links us all. Love.
Relationships, friendships, companionship, situationship, conversations, arguments, etc., all root in our value of caring for each other and looking after one another. And it not only extends to our own species but everything we share this world with. We maybe losing those qualities at the moment, but at the core, this is who we are. 

All this portrayed so beautifully by Ursula K. Le Guin through her characters, world building and extremely efficient and flowy writing. 

qwedsa123's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.75

agnodike_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful 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? Yes

4.75

My fave quote:

His loyalty extended without disproportion to things, the patient, obstinate, reliable things that we use and get used to, the things we live by.