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A review by donut_holer
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Holy lord. It is books like these that make me feel... i don't know. In awe? Humbled? A love for humanity? A raging obsession, even? It was incredible. I was losing my mind by the end. I started this book with literally no idea what it was about besides the fact that the author wrote The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas, and being able to read something with no idea where it was going was difficult in the beginning, but became very exciting. This book is a fascinating gender critique, and an invitation into the politics of the time it was written despite the fact that it takes place on an alien planet far in the future. The worldbuilding was incredible in how all these concepts of this fictional culture were tied together to create something cohesive. Also, I was surprised by how horny it was. I have to put that in here because I did think it was gonna be 100% politics, and I was more than a little shook. In a similar, but not the same vein, I was surprised by how much love was in this story. It was bleeding it. In my opinion, all good sci-fi must do this, but I was awed by how much love for the characters it evoked in me, and how much love they had for the universe and other humans, and how Estraven and Genly Ai envision that love, because of their cultures. Then, of course, I was totally crushed by Estraven's death, sudden and confusing as it was. And equally so, everything that came after was touching, hopeful, and very sad.
It took me a while to get into it to the extent that I was invested by the end, but it was well worth it. Sometimes it feels like the story lingers on a strange place, but I felt that all moments that were dramatized/made into a scene were the right ones to choose. No star rating yet because I'd like to reread it first, because of how confused I was the first time through. I think I've got a better handle on the world now, and I'm exciting to reread. Le Guin doesn't drop you in totally blind, but she doesn't make it too easy for her readers, for sure.
It took me a while to get into it to the extent that I was invested by the end, but it was well worth it. Sometimes it feels like the story lingers on a strange place, but I felt that all moments that were dramatized/made into a scene were the right ones to choose. No star rating yet because I'd like to reread it first, because of how confused I was the first time through. I think I've got a better handle on the world now, and I'm exciting to reread. Le Guin doesn't drop you in totally blind, but she doesn't make it too easy for her readers, for sure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence