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flamepea's review against another edition
3.0
What if your dreams could alter reality?
That is the case for George Orr, an ordinary man who happens to be a "dreamer." At first, it might seem fantastical, then scary or perhaps sceptical at your most absurd dreams being able to alter reality. We see the massive weight it bears on Orr and how the unreality or memory paradox traumatically impacts him.
Simple fix
See a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist wants to save humanity and fix societal oppression and, have a career boost. Not so bad? But unfortunately, the oversimplification of problems, working with the subconscious mind and playing God doesn't work so well.
The Lathe of Heaven is my first introduction to an [a:Ursula K. Le Guin|874602|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1244291425p2/874602.jpg] book and, while some pages left my confused, it proved to be a notable insight of Le Guin's style.
That is the case for George Orr, an ordinary man who happens to be a "dreamer." At first, it might seem fantastical, then scary or perhaps sceptical at your most absurd dreams being able to alter reality. We see the massive weight it bears on Orr and how the unreality or memory paradox traumatically impacts him.
Simple fix
See a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist wants to save humanity and fix societal oppression and, have a career boost. Not so bad? But unfortunately, the oversimplification of problems, working with the subconscious mind and playing God doesn't work so well.
The Lathe of Heaven is my first introduction to an [a:Ursula K. Le Guin|874602|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1244291425p2/874602.jpg] book and, while some pages left my confused, it proved to be a notable insight of Le Guin's style.
Spoiler
Themes tackled such as famine, greenhouse effect, race and warfare were handled in a creative yet sensible manner. Dr Harber's ill-attempt at getting ride of famine instead addressed the wrong issue; overpopulation. It is shocking how relevant and many still blame overpopulation as the root cause of people going hungry. Instead, it is capitalism causing unequal food distribution. Finally, race, while humans can't be "colourless" I think it shows that in an egalitarianism society, culture and our differences are embraced.“This was the way he had to go; he had no choice. He had never had any choice. He was only a dreamer.”
2020 Women of the Future - Buddy reads
sjohnson's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
what a display of imagination.
hannahdlake's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
connie__'s review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
spinnerlynne's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I liked this a lot, especially after the first third? I found Orr very sympathetic and the whole thing very unsettling. There was a lot of ethics and philosophy for such a short text--compact!
My mind drew some parallels with L'étranger in that it's very focused on a "weak" loner man in a world that seems very difficult to understand and I just wish I'd had to read this three times over in school and university rather than Camus...! It would have given me way more I'm sure.
Also there are some delicious turns of phrase and humorous bits. Masterful.
But--there is also that dusty musty old feeling common to a lot of mid-20th century writing. Stuffy in a way I can't quite put my finger on. I don't love that atmosphere in a book so that pulls down the rating a bit for me.
My mind drew some parallels with L'étranger in that it's very focused on a "weak" loner man in a world that seems very difficult to understand and I just wish I'd had to read this three times over in school and university rather than Camus...! It would have given me way more I'm sure.
Also there are some delicious turns of phrase and humorous bits. Masterful.
But--there is also that dusty musty old feeling common to a lot of mid-20th century writing. Stuffy in a way I can't quite put my finger on. I don't love that atmosphere in a book so that pulls down the rating a bit for me.
weenyreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
valetparkering's review against another edition
5.0
As always Le Guin's writing is phenomenal. From the first lines I was captured by the beauty of her prose.
I really enjoyed the way she characterized Haber and Orr and the way the narration style changed with every perspective and iteration. I was constantly watching for inconsistencies when the dreams changed.
I really enjoyed the way she characterized Haber and Orr and the way the narration style changed with every perspective and iteration. I was constantly watching for inconsistencies when the dreams changed.