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A review by kileykao
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
adventurous
challenging
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is my second time reading this book through, the first time was part of “Studies in Women’s Literature” as part of my undergrad degree. The first time I read The Left Hand of Darkness I enjoyed the most out of the literature for that class and that’s why I decided to read the book again in a non-Academic setting. ReReading The Left Hand of Darkness I feel like I finally understand why this book is as popular as it is.
There is a lot that I enjoyed in this book, particularly Genly and Estraven’s homo-erotic relationship that could have ended up being something more if not for Estraven’s death. Estraven himself is probably the most interesting character in this book and is by far the reason I kept reading.
A lot of my issues with the book are same issues that I outlined in my final paper from my “Women’s Literature” class, namely speaking that it is just outdated. This book was written in a time where a popular mainstream author like Le Guin could not get away with a proper queer relationship in a book where every character is inherently due to biology on the queer spectrum of modern day standards. I enjoyed this book, I enjoyed it as both a reader and an academic but I wish I could have been more explicitly queer.
There is a lot that I enjoyed in this book, particularly Genly and Estraven’s homo-erotic relationship that could have ended up being something more if not for Estraven’s death. Estraven himself is probably the most interesting character in this book and is by far the reason I kept reading.
A lot of my issues with the book are same issues that I outlined in my final paper from my “Women’s Literature” class, namely speaking that it is just outdated. This book was written in a time where a popular mainstream author like Le Guin could not get away with a proper queer relationship in a book where every character is inherently due to biology on the queer spectrum of modern day standards. I enjoyed this book, I enjoyed it as both a reader and an academic but I wish I could have been more explicitly queer.