A review by chuck_spadina
The Telling by Ursula K. Le Guin

hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I had no idea about the book before I read it (my preferred way of going into books, especially with well-known authors) and was pleasantly surprised that the main character was a lesbian, being a lesbian myself. I usually have to specifically seek out books if I want to read queer characters, so just happening across one was really nice.

I've not seen
 a queer reading of this in other reviews (although I haven't read them extensively) which is surprising, given the surpression of a group's history is the main focus of the book - a massive issue for queer people is not knowing about those who came before us because they could not record their lives and tell their stories freely. There are even characters in the book who were sent to "rehabilitation" camps for being in same sex relationships.

I found the ending too abrupt

and as though Le Guin wanted to imply that the Telling would be saved without having to go into actual depth as to how the complex political situation she'd set up could be resolved

which was irritating. I do find most endings of any genre too quick, I generally want more details as to how something that has been building for the majority of the book is solved, and more time to sit with the characters as they process the events.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicide