Reviews

The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin

lavloveslit's review

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dark mysterious reflective medium-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? Yes

5.0

An even wilder read when you live in Portland, are about the same age as Orr, and are an extremely vivid dreamer

shamsi's review

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense
  • 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

4.75

ouah. going to be thinking about this one for a very long time 

missdanielle's review against another edition

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

3.25

ehmannky's review

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dark emotional reflective
  • 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

5.0

A thoughtful dystopian novel that asks us to consider how we are meant to live in the world, how psychology/psychiatry can be used as a tool of oppression and manipulation, what is the "greater good" when the "greater good" is being enacted without the consent of the people being effected, and what does it mean to find balance in an imperfect world. It's a short novel with a lot of big themes, and I found it incredibly powerful with a really compelling and fast-moving plot. 

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fionakstanley's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

jewelisreading's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

smuds2's review

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3.0



Lets start the quick and dirty review:

When the human impulse to control and manipulate his (intentional) surroundings meets the extreme of capabilities, something that can bend the very nature of our reality to its will, changing the past present and future in the process, what is to be done? Who's right is it to use it and to what ends? Is it ever good to unilaterally right the wrongs of the past? What if no one knows it happened, as if it was the case for them all along.

Such is the case for our main character, George Orr, who has the power to manipulate reality with his "effective" dreams, only to be taken advantage of by those around him for their own ends. Unfortunately, Orr is eventually diagnosed as "in-between", "statistical middle", an "everyman" -- and to his detriment. Contrary to what an interesting premise should provide, he leaves nothing for a reader to sink their teeth into.

So while interesting moral conundrums are raised, repeatedly, over and over again - the reader is left thinking "Huh. I guess that's interesting" - instead of the weighty push and pull such topics should engender.

The writing, occasionally, dips into the surreal, and in those moments, it feels truly immersive. Otherwise, the sparse prose does little to help the actual impact of the story.

All that, paired with a rail thin romance, left this reader wanting more.



Okay.

It was fine. It was Ursula K Le Guin. Who I feel, unfortunately, gets graded on an anti-curve. I expect so highly of her that when she doesn't meet the expectation, I feel a bit duped. A Leguin 3 is an every one else 4, I suppose.

It just comes across as so... offensive. For a white lady who does not have to suffer the ramifications of (1) environmental degradation, (2) race, (3) nuclear war, (4) aliens - to say that it's better to live in a world where those very real threats exist, but at least we have free will and diversity exists.

The characters were Le Guin characters, the writing, aside from some of the better portions towards the middle and end of the book, some of the blandest I've read of hers. The sparse prose style does not match with the pace the book moves, which is sometimes fast, sometimes slow - inconsistent.

The premise is infinitely interesting, but I can see how it is difficult to do well. I would not recommend this to a friend as a good LeGuin book - maybe as a good book, but not a good le guin book.

wearysighs's review

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

4.0

this reminded me a lot of the film everything everywhere all at once. my first foray into le guin’s work, fitting as i just moved to portland this year where the novel is set. although i had the feeling i had read this book before, i think it’s fair to remember this was groundbreaking for its time. i enjoy le guin’s style of writing and was charmed by this short novel.

alicjaz's review against another edition

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

4.5

sarahzg's review

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adventurous mysterious reflective fast-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? Yes

4.75

One of the coolest concepts I've encountered in sci-fi and Le Guin takes it to really cool places!