How have I never read The Left Hand of Darkness? (Review)
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- Опубліковано 16 жов 2022
- Can't wait to read the sequel: The Right Hand of Brightness.
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I discovered this book in the late 70s. (Yes, I'm old. Moving on.) The presentation of sexuality was much narrower then, so I don't even know how to express how mind blowing it was. Also, that was during the height of 2.0 feminism and one didn't really talk about differences between men and women. So, some scenes hit with a punch that I don't think they have now. Two examples that come to mind: First, while crossing the ice, Estraven comments on how frighteningly strong Genly is. Second, the profoundly alienating moment at the end of the book when the Humans arrive and Genly, hearing his own people thinks that all the voices are too high or two low. Nice to hear that one of my favorite books still holds up.
I read Left Hand of Darkness in 1969, when it was published. It immediately went on my top-ten list. Since then, other books have gone on the list and fallen off, but this on is still there. What is amazing about it is to read it again, ten years later, and still to be swept up in the world and its culture.
Like you, the book didn't click for me until Genly and Estraven began their journey. Although the ending was quite sad, I think that's when the book makes the most sense with its themes and moral perspectives.
Finished it three days ago, and it still haunts me. In the beginning I liked it ok, was a bit confused by all the new terms and politics, but thought it was alright. As the book progressed, it just gripped me and didn't let go, then broke my heart. So beautiful. Earthsea was a big part of my childhood, and now I was once again reminded of that wisdom and that beauty. I will seek out more le Guin. Thank you for this video.
I really liked this review. I have been interested in reading more Le Guin after reading Earthsea, but hadn't quite decided yet what to try. I think I'll put this one on my to-read list. Also really liked your choice of music, which from your description I take reflects the tone of the book.
This is actually the first Le Guin I've read, and I chose it because I heard many people citing it as their favorite of hers. Needless to say, it didn't disappoint.
Thanks for your kind words!
Being put in a trance is definitely what this book did to me, I was awestruck! It’s nice to hear appreciation for such a great book!
You got me to click like within three seconds. Well done. Probably my favourite book of all time. it's just beautiful in nearly every aspect. Le Guin's other masterpiece, The Dispossessed, is a close second for me too.
I'll have to bump that one up on my TBR! I've heard it's great.
'Paradises Lost' is a novella by LeGuin that explores the shape of fundamentalism. Truly fantastic and very relevant for our times
I'm impressed that you could retain so much info about the book... I'll have to read it at least twice again to fully grasp all of the topics Ursula explores. Great review!
I read this at the start of this year and it’s the best book I’ve read over the last 12 months. Le Guin is amazing.
I wanted to read Sci Fi, now all I can think of is Kemmering..
My favorite book ever. I could never put into words why it means so much to me. Part of it is simply that backcountry skiing across glaciers and volcanoes is the central and most important activity in my life. But it's much more than that. Very nicely done.
Just finished reading the book, absolutely loved it. I was there on the ice with them
I really need to read more Le Guin, I read The Dispossessed a few years ago and it stuck with me for a while after I finished it.
Oh, I've heard that one is good!
And? Have you become an Anarchist?
@@pillmuncher67 The Dispossessed didn't turn me into an Anarchist but it did convince me that the moral lens of political Anarchy is essential to understanding the world. I'll always be part Anarchist at least because of that book
I just finished reading this book and this video was such a welcome reflection. I listened to the audiobook and found my thoughts wandering at times, so this really helped round everything out for me and helped me appreciate it more. I'm excited to revisit the book one day. It really is such a well done story.
Thankyou. I’ve just listened to this on UA-cam as an audiobook. Read beautifully. Ursula Le Guin was such a talent.
I loved this book. The characters and themes kept rattling around in my brain after I finished reading, so I went looking for reviews. I made the mistake of going to Reddit first, but got frustrated by people's sorta aggressive and superficial opinions on the story. Thank goodness I eventually found your video.
Just reading it at the moment. Thanks for your thoughts. it has widened my appreciation
One of my favorite books. I've read it many times.
I think I was in high school when I discovered Ursula Leguin, and have tried to read every thing she wrote since. The Dispossessed and The Left Hand of Darkness, as well as thr entire Earthsea series are the ones most re-read. I’d be very interested in your take on ‘Always Coming Home,’ which I tried to read when it was recently reissued. I got, say, 75% through (better than my frst try of feeling shut out after 10%)
One of my favorite books of all time
Please do The Dispossessed, The Word For World Is Forest, and her collected novellas
I will definitely be reading more of her in the future! Thanks for the recommendations.
it’s the science fiction book for me.
I read it college while at Lewis&Clark College in Portland, and that’s where LeGuin is from!
Yeah I came to Le Guin late in my scifi game too, her prose is so fantastic. Also wonderful eloquent review you have a new subscriber sir. Semi off topic here ever given Dan Simmons hyperion a read?
I'm going to listen to this on audio because it's here on UA-cam. I've heard of this and EarthSea
great review. if you want to see le guin instead of reading, i highly recommend watching the lathe of heaven 1980 (not the remake) here on youtube. a mind blowing movie, as is the book. for trivia its also known for being the first movie funded by pbs. there is a companion interview where ursula talks about it as well. top shelf for fans.
Wow, I did not know about that movie, yet alone that it's free! Thanks for the rec.
I'm currently reading it and feeling discouraged, so I looked for good reviews like this to encourage me
It can certainly be a tricky read, but the ending is worth it, imo! The first half is very dense, but I think the pace picks up a lot once you've gotten comfortable with the world, and once you get to the "meat" of the story, so to speak.
I’m going give this a read
Long haired James Tulus
It was the second-ever SF book I read, right after "Ringworld", which is one of the most bizarrely, and apparently unconsciously, sexist stories you'll ever read. Interesting contrast.
One of the most interesting themes is Genly's reactions; he reads like a modern liberal person who never stops stumbling over "they-them" pronouns. He's not a bigot, but he never stops being weirded out by the Gethenians.
I think that's definitely a way in which the book shows its age. Incidentally, Le Guin said that had she written the novel again, she would have changed the he/him pronouns to they/them pronouns.
But yeah, even if Genly does comes to understand and accept the non-binary nature of the Gethenians by the end of the story, his initial confusion about their nature doesn't feel realistic today, and especially not for a space-faring future. As is often the case, the book - despite having progressive ideas for the time - was a little hampered by the context of the time it was published
@@genericallyentertaining I admit his discomfort made me uncomfortable, though I was reading it as a teen in the 80's who hadn't thought out his opinions about gay people, much less trans/nonbinary ones. On the other hand, it's pretty clear the progressive ideal of "we fix this problem and it goes away forever" isn't true and the future could see waves of heteronormativity.
i just finished the book 20 mins ago and immediately stared watching videos on it loll
You didn't mention the references to China and Russian vs the free world in the Cold War context, which I find most fascinating... There are references to Chinese historical anecdotes such as the maimed princess ... and to Ivan the Terrible, for example, which are quite unmistakable. The beginning chapters also criticize some problems of Eastern culture such as putting "face" above scientific values. That's what I've read so far, only 1/3 into it... 😆
'The Matter of Seggri' is a fantastic novella by LeGuin that explores gender on a world where women dominate men. The concept might sound trite or even reactionary, but LeGuin's handling of it is masterful
I’ve read this book numerous times and I love it so much. Even so, it **still** irritates me that LeGuin was basically forced to use male pronouns instead of neuter where applicable 😤
Yeah, it's a shame, but I seem to recall reading that she regretted it and that if she wrote the book again, she would have just used gender neutral pronouns. It was just the result of the times, I guess.
@@genericallyentertaining She did! And there was an edition I read where a chapter in the appendix was rewritten where appropriate pronouns were used and it was the best chapter I’ve read in my life.
So if you were offered the option of talking forever, you would definitely decline. I see.
Forever is a long time, so I think I would have to, alas.
It had some good concepts but I did not like the story.
Go and read dune, what's wrong with you?
I don't know; I have failed as a human being. 😔
I don't know why, but I really hate this book 😅 it's like a giant monologue
As they say: to each their own. This was the most painfully boring book I have ever read in my life. It's travels through cold barren land and every once in a while, something happens. Alright, back to the cold, barren landscape.
Agreed. I read Left Hand years ago, after reading Dune, lots of Larry Niven, and Lord of the Rings. I didn't quite get it.
The sex-changing aliens was a neat idea but perhaps wasn't as provocative when I read the novel compared as it was in 1969.