Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

The Word For The World Is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin

51 reviews

evehowell's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.75

absolutely incredible book, one that gets ever more relevant with time. tells us so much about humans and how we will lose everything - i wish everybody in the world had read it so they could understand. 

i was driven largely in my reading of it by the introduction’s statement that it tells of what happens to a colonised people’s morality in the aftermath of defending themselves, and i saw this message very expertly woven throughout the narrative. politically, this book is a masterpiece - an easy 5/5.

outside of its “real world” implications, the book is also fantastic. the characters are brilliant - davidson’s pure evilness is compelling (although it almost sent me spiralling in rage at times), lyubov both admirable and pitiable, and selver the unlikely antihero - what can you do but root for him? 

the most compelling part for me, which will haunt me for weeks to come, was lyubov’s reaction to selver’s warning about the attack on Central. the very small admission that he knew what it meant and didn’t allow himself to act on it, in itself an act of both sacrifice and betrayal, is haunting. selver’s acceptance of lyubov being victim of the attack, but the everlasting impact of accepting this fact, gives perfect and realistic weight to the reality of the situation.

i could talk about this book for hours. it’s true that having read it has changed me as a person, and for that i’m very grateful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia

Moderate: Racism and Sexism

attackrat's review against another edition

5.0

an on-the-nose metaphor but great storytelling nonetheless. I’m convinced that (blue-people) Avatar was inspired by this book

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Xenophobia

frankieclc's review against another edition

3.0

had no idea what was going on but it had a powerful underlying message also i think this book inspired avatar honestly 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Colonisation, War, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Rape

chumpstump's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Xenophobia

elliotyork's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual violence and Rape

waqupi's review against another edition

challenging dark tense

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Colonisation, and Violence

Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Racism, and Xenophobia

abissette's review against another edition

challenging mysterious sad fast-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? Yes

5.0

Fascinating, philosophical, enriching sci fi

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Grief, Racial slurs, Violence, Colonisation, Genocide, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Slavery, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, and Rape

morenowagain's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative fast-paced

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

4.0

A very appropriate read for what's going on in the world right now. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Xenophobia, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Violence, Murder, Sexism, Drug use, Rape, Racism, Gun violence, Gore, Genocide, and Death

itsnotsarah's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Colonisation, Racism, Slavery, War, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism

Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape

trailmixraisins's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This Ursula K. Le Guin classic is a short and bittersweet parable-like story. She uses vivid and explicit depictions of colonialism in the setting of an alien planet years in the future where humans have developed the technology to travel through space. Selver, an Athshean man, and his society are irrevocably changed after humans settle the planet to harvest wood to be sold on Earth. Though ultimately hopeful, the toll of human violence and hatred on the non-violent society puts its continued existence in jeopardy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Murder, Colonisation, Sexual harassment, Slavery, War, Xenophobia, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Confinement, Alcohol, Blood, Drug use, Misogyny, Torture, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Minor: Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexism