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A review by alexiacambaling
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
5.0
The Dispossessed is an incredibly thought-provoking book. I don't remember ever thinking as deeply about a book than I did with The Dispossessed. The way the themes are presented was done with incredible skill painting the world believably as though one could see it happening one day. That it was written in the 70s and still resonate today speaks to the level of thought and talent that went into it.
I love how complex the world of The Dispossessed is. There's a lot to unpack and I'm pretty sure there may be parts which I misinterpret and have to go back to. Still, the way the world of Anarres is presented is pretty good. You have an anarchist society and yet they have a bureaucracy of sorts. Wouldn't that be a government by any other name? It's not perfect, but for the people living there, it's home. I'm not going to comment on the politics further (but I might make an analysis) but whether I agree or not, it was presented very well with regards to the things the society does right as well as its flaws. The homeworld of Urras is similarly well done. To many people, it would be a Utopia, but to the Anarresti, it's hell. As the Terran ambassador noted wryly, their paradise is hell to the Anarresti. What would the Terran homeworld be then?
The characters are similarly complex. They all have differing agendas and they are never black and white characters. When Shevek points out things he has against the culture in Urras, his hosts have a ready answer. There are debates in this book regarding culture and politics- two things that I as a debater would love to see more in books. Shevek's beliefs are challenged at every turn in Urras and yet he clung to it steadfastly as only a true believer could. It's incredibly fascinating to see how he can still believe in something despite experiencing firsthand the flaws in his society.
There are many things in this book I still want to talk about but won't because of spoilers. The writing here is beautiful, the prose is some of the best I've seen in literature, and at one point, I highlighted practically an entire page simply because of the sheer beauty Ursula K. Le Guin paints with words. I'm amazed at how few words could create such an impact. She conveys her themes and ideas so concisely and yet, so effectively. Anything else I might say at this point will only say: this book is beautiful. Go ahead and read it.
This review is also on my blog: The Bookworm Daydreamer
I love how complex the world of The Dispossessed is. There's a lot to unpack and I'm pretty sure there may be parts which I misinterpret and have to go back to. Still, the way the world of Anarres is presented is pretty good. You have an anarchist society and yet they have a bureaucracy of sorts. Wouldn't that be a government by any other name? It's not perfect, but for the people living there, it's home. I'm not going to comment on the politics further (but I might make an analysis) but whether I agree or not, it was presented very well with regards to the things the society does right as well as its flaws. The homeworld of Urras is similarly well done. To many people, it would be a Utopia, but to the Anarresti, it's hell. As the Terran ambassador noted wryly, their paradise is hell to the Anarresti. What would the Terran homeworld be then?
The characters are similarly complex. They all have differing agendas and they are never black and white characters. When Shevek points out things he has against the culture in Urras, his hosts have a ready answer. There are debates in this book regarding culture and politics- two things that I as a debater would love to see more in books. Shevek's beliefs are challenged at every turn in Urras and yet he clung to it steadfastly as only a true believer could. It's incredibly fascinating to see how he can still believe in something despite experiencing firsthand the flaws in his society.
There are many things in this book I still want to talk about but won't because of spoilers. The writing here is beautiful, the prose is some of the best I've seen in literature, and at one point, I highlighted practically an entire page simply because of the sheer beauty Ursula K. Le Guin paints with words. I'm amazed at how few words could create such an impact. She conveys her themes and ideas so concisely and yet, so effectively. Anything else I might say at this point will only say: this book is beautiful. Go ahead and read it.
This review is also on my blog: The Bookworm Daydreamer