A review by lis98
Das Wort für Welt ist Wald by Ursula K. Le Guin

challenging dark reflective medium-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

4.0

Le Guin draws an incredibly accurate and raw depiction of the human race in her portrait of their arrogance, self-righteousness, greed and brutality towards the people of the newly colonized planet as a parallel to colonialism during the last centuries. It was a little difficult to get into before the plot took off but then I couldn’t put it down. The topics were quite heavy and the book made me feel a frustration towards general humanity I’ve never felt before from a book. Especially Davidson who seems to unite all mankind’s worst aspects and personality traits in one person drove me crazy. I never felt so passionate hatred towards a fictional character (and that very much includes Dolores Umbridge so that’s a huge statement). I could have cried out of anger and frustration towards him and humankind as whole several times. 

Even tho this is generally not the type of story I prefer to read it was a brilliant exploration of the ideas involved with an hopeful ending that doesn’t give up on the possibility for humanity to grow completely even tho it might be a little unrealistic. 
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