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adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I could not get into this book. It's so slow and confusing that I can't find a plot to keep my interest. Maybe I'll return one day but it's not likely.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
This book means everything to me. This isn't a book you read for its plot, or its characters, or even its excellent prose. It's a book you read to practice thinking differently, in the hopes of someday tearing down the wall in your mind and learning, at last, to live differently.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
I was so hesitant to come back to this book after reading only a handful of chapters nearly 10 years ago, but wow I am so glad I did
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Man the fucking rock and tree motif is so deep
Shevek comes up with this joke as a kid that if you throw a rock at a tree it will never actually hit it because it always has to travel half the distance remaining. He’s called a bitch for this
Shevek uses this throughout his life to explain his unique perspective on time to those around him, and rather elegantly to us as well. But not only is this motif fantastic imagery reflecting Anarres and Urras, as well as our hero’s journey between them, but it’s beautifully resolved in the last chapter with this (spoiler free) passage:
“BEFORE they broke orbit, the view ports were filled with the cloudy turquoise of Urras, immense and beautiful. But the ship turned, and the stars came into sight, and Anarres among them like a round bright rock; moving yet not moving, thrown by what hand, timelessly circling, creating time.”
The book is also generally good👍
Shevek comes up with this joke as a kid that if you throw a rock at a tree it will never actually hit it because it always has to travel half the distance remaining. He’s called a bitch for this
Shevek uses this throughout his life to explain his unique perspective on time to those around him, and rather elegantly to us as well. But not only is this motif fantastic imagery reflecting Anarres and Urras, as well as our hero’s journey between them, but it’s beautifully resolved in the last chapter with this (spoiler free) passage:
“BEFORE they broke orbit, the view ports were filled with the cloudy turquoise of Urras, immense and beautiful. But the ship turned, and the stars came into sight, and Anarres among them like a round bright rock; moving yet not moving, thrown by what hand, timelessly circling, creating time.”
The book is also generally good👍
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was lovely. The Anarresti have an interesting perspective, coming from a place of curiosity and honesty that is unfamiliar to the distrustful propertarians of Urras. They also show how specific ideals can be practiced different ways, and how thus any system of beliefs doesn't guarantee harmony and fellowship nor the absence of hypocrisy and ill will.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated