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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
My first Ursula K. Le Guin book! A wonderful, beautiful read. The Athshean people have a fleshed out culture and history with very few words, especially considering that more than half of the book is from a human perspective. I loved the writing style and how lyrical it was, posing deep philosophical questions alongside dream sequences and war with great effectiveness.
I knocked off a star because of Davidson tbh - He was a bit of a caricature to me, a mindless manly army man bent on self preservation at all cost. His role in the story was important, but I’m sad he got more page time than Lyubov. Plus, I tend to really hate stories involving military tactics, but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment.
Then ending was a little predictable, but it was still impactful and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author :)
I knocked off a star because of Davidson tbh - He was a bit of a caricature to me, a mindless manly army man bent on self preservation at all cost. His role in the story was important, but I’m sad he got more page time than Lyubov. Plus, I tend to really hate stories involving military tactics, but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment.
Then ending was a little predictable, but it was still impactful and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author :)
I think she may well be my favourite author, certainly my favourite writing style. No one else can quite write such simple but gut punching powerful sentences.
Anyway this was great, as much as she thought her own work here could be morally agonising and preachy, it is unfortunately absolutely bang on. War is hell for all involved but sometimes some people are worse.
Anyway this was great, as much as she thought her own work here could be morally agonising and preachy, it is unfortunately absolutely bang on. War is hell for all involved but sometimes some people are worse.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Although this takes place on a fictional planet in a Sci-Fi universe, the author's despair and rage towards the American-Vietnam war is palpable. It's not at all a fun read, but the writing is brilliantly evocative and even being short and fast-paced it provokes a lot of reflection on human behaviour and the nature of insanity, on gender and power and respect. I wish it wasn't so relevant to our present day, but it really is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Rape
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While it’s true that the themes of this book are bluntly presented, I found it refreshing for a book to so openly take on themes of colonization and humanity. This book deserves multiple readings, and there are hidden details I have been finding after I finished the book. It introduces many questions, and leaves only some of them answered, asking the audience to come to their own conclusions.
In all, an affecting read that will have you thinking about what it means to be human.
In all, an affecting read that will have you thinking about what it means to be human.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Colonisation
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Violence, Blood, Grief, War
Minor: Drug use, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A tale of planet colonization, told from three different perspectives, exploring how changing behaviour to deal with a threat creates a ripple effect.