Reviews

The Telling by Ursula K. Le Guin

lolamei72's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging mysterious slow-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

2.5

sayoes's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious sad medium-paced

2.75

vale_rodrz's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

neoteotihuacan's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

5.0

Simply extraordinary. 

quirknky's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

The Telling explores the blurring of history, faith, and relationships as it happened on the planet Aka, and through it we trace the same patterns we find in our own world. What's the bean meal worth?

jellegraaf's review against another edition

Go to review page

inspiring mysterious reflective fast-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

4.0

radikaliseradgroda's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Somehow this is a very long book with very few pages. Hard to get into but equally hard to put down.

cjblandford's review

Go to review page

hopeful 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

3.5

I first started this book many years ago after picking it up from a library sale. I thought it was a standalone tale, and it largely is, but it takes place in a universe I knew little about, where other novels and stories had been written that introduced these concepts, peoples, and stories. I was very confused when I tried to read it back then and figured I needed to read the other books that came before it. I was a little like Sutty in this book, trying to figure out a story but not having the right context, so I stopped reading it. But now, I've read the first 4 or 5 Hainish cycle novels and have a feel for the universe now so it was time to tackle this book from the bottom of my TBR pile. In many respects it is very similar to the other Hainish cycle novels in that first contact always changes the two cultures involved, even if the aliens try to be as uninvolved as possible. Simply being there to observe changes what is being observed. And the native culture now knows that there are whole other worlds beyond their own which changes the trajectory of their development. In this case, the native culture places value on fair compensation for fair goods or services. When an alien culture arrives and starts giving the native culture information, the natives expect to pay for it, even if it doesn't happen right away. This changes the way their society develops and reacts to their previous ways. I enjoy the way that Le Guin wrote characters in the middle of conflicts that they might be ignorant of, and how they learn to adapt to the situation to resolve it. She was a master at the anthropological ramifications of certain types of societies. I really enjoy the Hainish cycle, although it can be a bit too cerebral at times. 

mim72's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

3.75

eletricjb's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

My favorite Le Guin so far. I'll keep trying.