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A review by harpoonholly
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Audiobook read by George Guidall, who did an alright job, but without much variation between characters.
This is my first Le Guin I've read for the pleasure of doing so and the first after a long, long time, having read the Dispossessed in grad school over 10 years ago. I wasn't sure how I would feel as I started the book, but The Left Hand of Darkness is compelling, while being almost entirely introspective of the main protagonist, the Envoy.
Left Hand is a great example of why students who are assigned Le Guin in their English class end up loving her work outside academia. In more than a few instances, the events of the book mirror 2025 current events regarding immigration, governmental paranoia, and misinterpreted benign ignorance due to culture clash.
This is my first Le Guin I've read for the pleasure of doing so and the first after a long, long time, having read the Dispossessed in grad school over 10 years ago. I wasn't sure how I would feel as I started the book, but The Left Hand of Darkness is compelling, while being almost entirely introspective of the main protagonist, the Envoy.
Left Hand is a great example of why students who are assigned Le Guin in their English class end up loving her work outside academia. In more than a few instances, the events of the book mirror 2025 current events regarding immigration, governmental paranoia, and misinterpreted benign ignorance due to culture clash.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Abandonment
Moderate: Eating disorder, Incest, Excrement, Vomit