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selfmythologies's reviews
299 reviews
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
5.0
Here we finally are.
It took me way too long to read this and review it, but I wanted to give it the justice it deserves, because this is for sure one of my reading highlights of the last year.... and, yes, will probably go down as one of my favorite books ever.
I already had high expectations going in: A scientist living in an anarchist society on a moon, wanting to reunite it with the larger capitalist world that it split off from, to bring peace and progress to both worlds? That alone sounded like one of the most interesting story prompts and worldbuilding concepts I'd heard of.
And my expectations were fulfilled (and exceeded), but not exactly in the way I expected. I thought what would interest me most about this book would be the exploration of different ways of organizing society, the political philosophies, especially with a science fiction setting like this where you can explore that 'alien perspective' - how would an outsider who has been socialized a completely different way see and experience a society wildly different to his own (but very similar to ours)?
And the book does go into that, and it's amazing, and I'll talk about it in depth....but it's also so much more than that. It's a novel about time, and about freedom and choice, and human relationships, and coming of age, and it ties these themes together in a fantastic way. It's an incredibly layered and philosophical book of the sort that I love, but it's also not 'dry' - all of the ideas it goes into are deeply connected to its characters, making it emotionally engaging as well as intellectually gripping. It's wonderful. And....it spoke to me about things that are very personal to me, and that I was and am still processing... and that also means so much.
Okay, first some words about the mentioned worldbuilding / politics because I have many thoughts. The subtitle of this book is "An Ambiguous Utopia", and it really is, because while Anarres is certainly portrayed as the better society in comparison to the nations on Urras - it is not idealized, either.
But first, the good things. There are a lot of beautiful and great things about the idea of Anarres that I loved and was fascinated by, and it opened me up to a lot of things that we take for granted in our "statist" and capitalist societies. It's actually quite shocking to realize how much we think in terms of individualism and property, and there are next to no real alternatives available for us to imagine. So many things about Anarres genuinely made me yearn for such a society (and it surprised me like...how much. like it was an actual yearning), especially related to work. Jobs are basically given out based on what the society needs at the moment, and they're being assigned to people by a computer, but you can also refuse and do something else or nothing at all (but you are expected to, so you will probably take up some work out of a mix of 'i want to help my society' and 'people would very much disapprove of me if i didn't contribute in some way'). But even if you didn't do anything you'd still get food and lodgings - these are just....provided. Of course, this system only works if there are always enough people willing to do the necessary jobs, but on Anarres it works because the people live under harsh conditions and they need each other to survive. So there is this incredibly interesting exploration on the topic of common good vs individual freedom. I think what the portrayal of work made me realize personally is how much I would not actually mind doing things out of necessity if I knew I did it for the common good and the future of the people I live with, and in that sense, giving up some of your own personal freedom for a larger cause can actually something liberatory . I don't really know how to explain this or put it into words, but I think it's related to what a lot of people struggle with re: the hyperindividualization under capitalism. You have the individual choice, but all you can choose are various ways of letting yourself be exploited and/or helping get more money into the pockets of rich people. Compare that with being assigned work but you don't mind that it isn't a choice because it's for the purpose of common wellbeing / survival / freedom. I don't know. This really hit me in some significant way, and I loved being able to think through the implications of all this.
Another thing I loved was this idea of openness. People don't attempt to sell you things so they are just...straightforward. Compare this to Shevek on Urras, when he attends parties and he can't deal because no one is ever being honest, because all aspects of life are commodified. It was so impactful to think that this is what capitalism looks like from the perspective of someone who wasn't socialized to think of everything in the world (including other people) as commodities. That was one of my favorite parts of the book: Shevek has that moment of realization that basically all of the people who talked to him on Urras were trying to manipulate him in some way, and then he walks through the streets and everyone he talks to wants to sell him something and it just clicks to him and it's this moment of complete horror. Capitalist Gothic. Like, this society, that seemed so attractive and welcoming at first - it's all appearances. There's nothing underneath. And it makes him sick. It's chilling, and so well written.
That being said, though, there are problems with Anarres, too - ambiguous utopia! - because there are problems with every form of social order that exists, and in Anarres - after decades of being cut off from the rest of the world - the society has lost a lot of the revolutionary spirit that it used to have, and become quite rigid with its social norms, as well as established some unofficial (but all the more impactful) imbalances of power. It seemed to me a very realistic portrayal of how even revolutionary ventures will eventually fall back on some form of hierarchies and norms, if they are not themselves open to constantly being questioned. And it was incredibly interesting to consider how a society built on common good can have negative aspects as well and can at its worst, actually be genuinely detrimental to personal freedom (and it's an incredibly nuanced portrayal and has nothing to do with anti-communism rhetoric you usually hear from conservatives and liberals irl).
Now here is where I have to start talking about character, specifically Shevek. Shevek is....no doubt one of my favorite characters I've ever read about, and one of the main things why, as I said, I connected to this book emotionally, not just intellectually. The thing about him is that he's an outsider among outsiders. Shevek feels like an outcast on Anarres with its focus on community, because he is very much an individualist, but he's also like an alien on Urras, with his anarchist upbringing and ideals. That's what makes him so interesting in terms of the plot, because he's not only trying to reform Urras, but Anarres too - he's the one who embodies the true spirit of anarchism, the spirit of renewal and freedom and change. And that's so brillant because it highlights that the ideal society is not a structure but a process, an ongoing struggle, and an idea to hold on to.
But he's also wonderful just as a character by himself. He's a physicist, so he's used to thinking in these high-concept ideas, and he's trying to create a unified theory of time (important for the next point). So he's very much a nerd and a bit of a loner, but he's also....incredibly kind. He has this naturally unassuming, honest nature that comes from growing up in a society where people are straightforward with each other, but he's also got a certain reclusiveness, a desire to be himself, to push beyond what is established and accepted, which also relates to his work. It's probably no surprise that I saw a lot of myself in this character, but also a lot of things that I actually want to be, almost like an inspiration of some sort. There are a lot of fictional characters that I love, but it rarely happens that I actually see myself in them. With Shevek it's both. And that's really special.
The other characters are wonderfully written as well, especially Takver, who is a beautifully well-rounded female character (and I loved the portrayal of her and Shevek's relationship. so devoid of any tropes, and yet so romantic. don't get me started). All of the characters interact with the world and the plot so well, which brings me to my next point:
The whole topic of time. Perhaps the central and the most interesting part of the book overall. it's all about the two different ways you can imagine time: as a line, continuously moving forward, or as a cycle, constantly coming back to where it was before. Both have their implications about freedom: the first would mean you can never go back to where you once were. the second would imply some sense of determination, and take away a lot of individual choice, and the possibility for change.
Now Shevek tries to create a theory that explains how time is both linear and cyclical. And that is such a radical idea that it's rejected by his own society. But this idea is then further explored in all its variations in the novel: as a philosophical concept, as a political one, in terms of growing up, in terms of human relationships (for example, at one point Shevek and another character discuss whether one long-term relationship, or multiple short ones, mean more freedom or more development for the individual(s) involved.) And the novel's own plot and structure follows it too: Shevek starts in Anarres, goes to Urras, comes back to Anarres. Cyclical. But also linear, because he changed, and his society changed, and Urras did too. (I generally love stories with a cyclical structure, so that was really the icing on top of the cake for me.) A big point that is being made is that repetition doesn't contradict development at all. It's all so interesting because it is not just an abstract idea - it's so closely related to the characters' personal lives. And it was deeply engaging for me, especially right at this moment, because - time is totally out of balance right now, and I've been dealing with the (irrational) issue of feeling like I'm missing out on things, feeling like I should be making more progress.....and it all comes from this hyperfocus on constant development and change. And then comes this book and says...."the important thing is to move with time, not against it." And a cycle can be a development too. And there's a balance to it all. And, once again....it got to me at the right time, and it spoke to something I was struggling with.
A few words about the writing style. It's the kind that I love most, where there are no unneccessary details, but every word is carefully chosen and feels like it fits exactly right. It's somehow both complex and accessible (in the sense that the thoughts expressed are not trivial, but the language isn't difficult either), and it feels timelessly well written.
I'm aware I didn't say much about the plot....that's because this book is so heavily character- and theme-focused that the plot feels more like....a way for the novel to explore all of the things I mentioned above. Which doesn't mean it's not super engaging and genuinely suspenseful! But in general I'd say it's more on the slow-paced side. It fit the book perfectly, though.
I could say many more things, but I'll leave it here. Overall.....this book is one of a kind, beautiful and complex, and it really feels so big in its themes that I'd shelve it in the category of books that attempt to explore the Human Condition as a whole. At the same time, it's so personal to me, a book I needed and related to and engaged with deeply, and that I will totally reread at some point (which I rarely ever do), because I just know it will keep having things to say to me.
I loved it. 5 stars, it is.
It took me way too long to read this and review it, but I wanted to give it the justice it deserves, because this is for sure one of my reading highlights of the last year.... and, yes, will probably go down as one of my favorite books ever.
I already had high expectations going in: A scientist living in an anarchist society on a moon, wanting to reunite it with the larger capitalist world that it split off from, to bring peace and progress to both worlds? That alone sounded like one of the most interesting story prompts and worldbuilding concepts I'd heard of.
And my expectations were fulfilled (and exceeded), but not exactly in the way I expected. I thought what would interest me most about this book would be the exploration of different ways of organizing society, the political philosophies, especially with a science fiction setting like this where you can explore that 'alien perspective' - how would an outsider who has been socialized a completely different way see and experience a society wildly different to his own (but very similar to ours)?
And the book does go into that, and it's amazing, and I'll talk about it in depth....but it's also so much more than that. It's a novel about time, and about freedom and choice, and human relationships, and coming of age, and it ties these themes together in a fantastic way. It's an incredibly layered and philosophical book of the sort that I love, but it's also not 'dry' - all of the ideas it goes into are deeply connected to its characters, making it emotionally engaging as well as intellectually gripping. It's wonderful. And....it spoke to me about things that are very personal to me, and that I was and am still processing... and that also means so much.
Okay, first some words about the mentioned worldbuilding / politics because I have many thoughts. The subtitle of this book is "An Ambiguous Utopia", and it really is, because while Anarres is certainly portrayed as the better society in comparison to the nations on Urras - it is not idealized, either.
But first, the good things. There are a lot of beautiful and great things about the idea of Anarres that I loved and was fascinated by, and it opened me up to a lot of things that we take for granted in our "statist" and capitalist societies. It's actually quite shocking to realize how much we think in terms of individualism and property, and there are next to no real alternatives available for us to imagine. So many things about Anarres genuinely made me yearn for such a society (and it surprised me like...how much. like it was an actual yearning), especially related to work. Jobs are basically given out based on what the society needs at the moment, and they're being assigned to people by a computer, but you can also refuse and do something else or nothing at all (but you are expected to, so you will probably take up some work out of a mix of 'i want to help my society' and 'people would very much disapprove of me if i didn't contribute in some way'). But even if you didn't do anything you'd still get food and lodgings - these are just....provided. Of course, this system only works if there are always enough people willing to do the necessary jobs, but on Anarres it works because the people live under harsh conditions and they need each other to survive. So there is this incredibly interesting exploration on the topic of common good vs individual freedom. I think what the portrayal of work made me realize personally is how much I would not actually mind doing things out of necessity if I knew I did it for the common good and the future of the people I live with, and in that sense, giving up some of your own personal freedom for a larger cause can actually something liberatory . I don't really know how to explain this or put it into words, but I think it's related to what a lot of people struggle with re: the hyperindividualization under capitalism. You have the individual choice, but all you can choose are various ways of letting yourself be exploited and/or helping get more money into the pockets of rich people. Compare that with being assigned work but you don't mind that it isn't a choice because it's for the purpose of common wellbeing / survival / freedom. I don't know. This really hit me in some significant way, and I loved being able to think through the implications of all this.
Another thing I loved was this idea of openness. People don't attempt to sell you things so they are just...straightforward. Compare this to Shevek on Urras, when he attends parties and he can't deal because no one is ever being honest, because all aspects of life are commodified. It was so impactful to think that this is what capitalism looks like from the perspective of someone who wasn't socialized to think of everything in the world (including other people) as commodities. That was one of my favorite parts of the book: Shevek has that moment of realization that basically all of the people who talked to him on Urras were trying to manipulate him in some way, and then he walks through the streets and everyone he talks to wants to sell him something and it just clicks to him and it's this moment of complete horror. Capitalist Gothic. Like, this society, that seemed so attractive and welcoming at first - it's all appearances. There's nothing underneath. And it makes him sick. It's chilling, and so well written.
That being said, though, there are problems with Anarres, too - ambiguous utopia! - because there are problems with every form of social order that exists, and in Anarres - after decades of being cut off from the rest of the world - the society has lost a lot of the revolutionary spirit that it used to have, and become quite rigid with its social norms, as well as established some unofficial (but all the more impactful) imbalances of power. It seemed to me a very realistic portrayal of how even revolutionary ventures will eventually fall back on some form of hierarchies and norms, if they are not themselves open to constantly being questioned. And it was incredibly interesting to consider how a society built on common good can have negative aspects as well and can at its worst, actually be genuinely detrimental to personal freedom (and it's an incredibly nuanced portrayal and has nothing to do with anti-communism rhetoric you usually hear from conservatives and liberals irl).
Now here is where I have to start talking about character, specifically Shevek. Shevek is....no doubt one of my favorite characters I've ever read about, and one of the main things why, as I said, I connected to this book emotionally, not just intellectually. The thing about him is that he's an outsider among outsiders. Shevek feels like an outcast on Anarres with its focus on community, because he is very much an individualist, but he's also like an alien on Urras, with his anarchist upbringing and ideals. That's what makes him so interesting in terms of the plot, because he's not only trying to reform Urras, but Anarres too - he's the one who embodies the true spirit of anarchism, the spirit of renewal and freedom and change. And that's so brillant because it highlights that the ideal society is not a structure but a process, an ongoing struggle, and an idea to hold on to.
But he's also wonderful just as a character by himself. He's a physicist, so he's used to thinking in these high-concept ideas, and he's trying to create a unified theory of time (important for the next point). So he's very much a nerd and a bit of a loner, but he's also....incredibly kind. He has this naturally unassuming, honest nature that comes from growing up in a society where people are straightforward with each other, but he's also got a certain reclusiveness, a desire to be himself, to push beyond what is established and accepted, which also relates to his work. It's probably no surprise that I saw a lot of myself in this character, but also a lot of things that I actually want to be, almost like an inspiration of some sort. There are a lot of fictional characters that I love, but it rarely happens that I actually see myself in them. With Shevek it's both. And that's really special.
The other characters are wonderfully written as well, especially Takver, who is a beautifully well-rounded female character (and I loved the portrayal of her and Shevek's relationship. so devoid of any tropes, and yet so romantic. don't get me started). All of the characters interact with the world and the plot so well, which brings me to my next point:
The whole topic of time. Perhaps the central and the most interesting part of the book overall. it's all about the two different ways you can imagine time: as a line, continuously moving forward, or as a cycle, constantly coming back to where it was before. Both have their implications about freedom: the first would mean you can never go back to where you once were. the second would imply some sense of determination, and take away a lot of individual choice, and the possibility for change.
Now Shevek tries to create a theory that explains how time is both linear and cyclical. And that is such a radical idea that it's rejected by his own society. But this idea is then further explored in all its variations in the novel: as a philosophical concept, as a political one, in terms of growing up, in terms of human relationships (for example, at one point Shevek and another character discuss whether one long-term relationship, or multiple short ones, mean more freedom or more development for the individual(s) involved.) And the novel's own plot and structure follows it too: Shevek starts in Anarres, goes to Urras, comes back to Anarres. Cyclical. But also linear, because he changed, and his society changed, and Urras did too. (I generally love stories with a cyclical structure, so that was really the icing on top of the cake for me.) A big point that is being made is that repetition doesn't contradict development at all. It's all so interesting because it is not just an abstract idea - it's so closely related to the characters' personal lives. And it was deeply engaging for me, especially right at this moment, because - time is totally out of balance right now, and I've been dealing with the (irrational) issue of feeling like I'm missing out on things, feeling like I should be making more progress.....and it all comes from this hyperfocus on constant development and change. And then comes this book and says...."the important thing is to move with time, not against it." And a cycle can be a development too. And there's a balance to it all. And, once again....it got to me at the right time, and it spoke to something I was struggling with.
A few words about the writing style. It's the kind that I love most, where there are no unneccessary details, but every word is carefully chosen and feels like it fits exactly right. It's somehow both complex and accessible (in the sense that the thoughts expressed are not trivial, but the language isn't difficult either), and it feels timelessly well written.
I'm aware I didn't say much about the plot....that's because this book is so heavily character- and theme-focused that the plot feels more like....a way for the novel to explore all of the things I mentioned above. Which doesn't mean it's not super engaging and genuinely suspenseful! But in general I'd say it's more on the slow-paced side. It fit the book perfectly, though.
I could say many more things, but I'll leave it here. Overall.....this book is one of a kind, beautiful and complex, and it really feels so big in its themes that I'd shelve it in the category of books that attempt to explore the Human Condition as a whole. At the same time, it's so personal to me, a book I needed and related to and engaged with deeply, and that I will totally reread at some point (which I rarely ever do), because I just know it will keep having things to say to me.
I loved it. 5 stars, it is.
Hyppolytus/The Bacchae by Euripides
4.0
had to read this in a rush yesterday for uni but ill definitely do it again bc it was awesome!! got the feeling I might have a thing for Euripides in general - I'll also read Medea soon so I'll find out :D
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
4.0
Finally finished! These books are always a journey. took me 5 days to read only the second part, and I didn't even do much else!
My opinion stayed the same for this second book: I love this series for its huge complex world, for its vivid decriptions, but mostly for the merciless way it raises the big questions for each character. No one ever has it easy in Martin's books - every action has a consequence, nothing is ever simple or black and white.
Here in A Clash of Kings, in this conflict of succession, a lot revolves around questions of loyalty. And I love the consistency in all decisions having an impact, sometimes a deadly one. People always make fun of GRRM for killing off so many characters, but really, that is only because his stories are so realistic - for the world they are set in. Why would someone have any more chance of survival just because they are a main character? Realistically, they wouldn't. And in ASOIAF, they don't.
There is nothing I love more than having sympathy with one character, and in the next time supporting their opponent. Or both, or neither. As a reader, I'm constantly evaluating my own loyalties as well. And it isn't easy, because in a way everyone can be understood, all these characters with different backstories, wishes, misconceptions, all of them in different shades of grey.
My favorite POV is probably Tyrion's (because of all the scheming and politics in King's Landing), but also Bran's (he is my favorite character besides Jaime, I'd say). I also love how magic isn't a big thing that everyone knows about in this world, but it's sort of mysterious and ancient and only slowly finds the way into the main storylines.
And by the way, it's kind of impressive that even with the size and dimensions of the story itself, (which I imagine is a lot to focus on already??), the writing still manages to be beautiful, and just...good. One of my favorite parts is in Catelyn's POV: "I am a creature of grief and dust and bitter longings."
I'm taking a little break before delving into A Storm of Swords - after all, the waiting for Winds of Winter will be less devastating the later I finish ;) - but I'm already looking forward to return to the world of ice and fire.
My opinion stayed the same for this second book: I love this series for its huge complex world, for its vivid decriptions, but mostly for the merciless way it raises the big questions for each character. No one ever has it easy in Martin's books - every action has a consequence, nothing is ever simple or black and white.
Here in A Clash of Kings, in this conflict of succession, a lot revolves around questions of loyalty. And I love the consistency in all decisions having an impact, sometimes a deadly one. People always make fun of GRRM for killing off so many characters, but really, that is only because his stories are so realistic - for the world they are set in. Why would someone have any more chance of survival just because they are a main character? Realistically, they wouldn't. And in ASOIAF, they don't.
There is nothing I love more than having sympathy with one character, and in the next time supporting their opponent. Or both, or neither. As a reader, I'm constantly evaluating my own loyalties as well. And it isn't easy, because in a way everyone can be understood, all these characters with different backstories, wishes, misconceptions, all of them in different shades of grey.
My favorite POV is probably Tyrion's (because of all the scheming and politics in King's Landing), but also Bran's (he is my favorite character besides Jaime, I'd say). I also love how magic isn't a big thing that everyone knows about in this world, but it's sort of mysterious and ancient and only slowly finds the way into the main storylines.
And by the way, it's kind of impressive that even with the size and dimensions of the story itself, (which I imagine is a lot to focus on already??), the writing still manages to be beautiful, and just...good. One of my favorite parts is in Catelyn's POV: "I am a creature of grief and dust and bitter longings."
I'm taking a little break before delving into A Storm of Swords - after all, the waiting for Winds of Winter will be less devastating the later I finish ;) - but I'm already looking forward to return to the world of ice and fire.