Reviews

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

haunting's review against another edition

4.5

lagged a bit for the first 2/3s, but the final third of the book was absolutely stunning. 

maurits's review

inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

2.5

bugspikes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? No

4.5

beautifully longing romance novel entwined with a long and winding political world. fascinating use of varied gender norms 

pablusioumeo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad medium-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

[July 19, 2023]
[Second read]

Not only things can't exist without their opposite (male/female, war/peace/, winter/summer, etc.), opposites aren't fixed values, someone has to think about them and define them. And the same opposition can be clear for some, and so subtle to be impercetible for others.

befrankwithme's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense 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

4.25

I really enjoyed this book. It may be because I'm on a current Star Trek kick and I was relating much about the Ekumen and the idea of a first contact to that but I found this book to draw me in very easily. I read most of it over one long weekend and then only finished it a month or so later but I still greatly enjoyed it.

56lispenard'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? No

5.0

pkiwi's review

4.0

I dont know what to think of this book. On one hand, nothing much happens, but on the other hand, so many things happen so subtlely i feel I've missed half of it. Its style is both matter of factly and beautifullt crafted. It's also thoroughly thought-provoking. Im not sure I liked it, maybe because it was too subtle, but I can certainly say it was very good, well written and a different take on a genre that's too often a complete stereotype.

kileykao's review against another edition

adventurous challenging informative fast-paced

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

3.5

 This is my second time reading this book through, the first time was part of “Studies in Women’s Literature” as part of my undergrad degree. The first time I read The Left Hand of Darkness I enjoyed the most out of the literature for that class and that’s why I decided to read the book again in a non-Academic setting. ReReading The Left Hand of Darkness I feel like I finally understand why this book is as popular as it is.

There is a lot that I enjoyed in this book, particularly Genly and Estraven’s homo-erotic relationship that could have ended up being something more if not for Estraven’s death. Estraven himself is probably the most interesting character in this book and is by far the reason I kept reading.

A lot of my issues with the book are same issues that I outlined in my final paper from my “Women’s Literature” class, namely speaking that it is just outdated. This book was written in a time where a popular mainstream author like Le Guin could not get away with a proper queer relationship in a book where every character is inherently due to biology on the queer spectrum of modern day standards. I enjoyed this book, I enjoyed it as both a reader and an academic but I wish I could have been more explicitly queer. 

cinereusk's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

meganlatsch's review

2.0

Maybe the audiobook wasn’t the best idea…was confusing throughout.