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antok's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
p. 190-191apd8's review against another edition
don’t love reading about rapists
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
theothergrl's review against another edition
I really wanted to love this book because I'm interested in anarchist fiction and read that The Dispossessed was a classic, the place to start.
It did have good points, it was interesting to see how some of the theory could be made policy/play out. Though I noticed there was little to nothing on race, colonialism, land-back etc. It's hardly intersectional at all, really. Which is weird and felt very much missing from the text.
I did enjoy the critique of the role of a centralised government in anarchism. Le Guin was clever not to paint us a beautiful utopia because acknowledging the flaws in both the capitalist and the anarchist world, highlighted the things that truly made her character content in the world.
Ultimately, it is theory packaged in fiction, which is more fun for sure but still requires a critical lense. This is also why I struggled to finish the book. It just dragged. I wanted to love exploring anarchism through the adventure of story-telling, but said story seemed to me a means to an end.
Perhaps I'll pick it up again because it did get me thinking, but for now I'm pretty bored so I'll leave it.
It did have good points, it was interesting to see how some of the theory could be made policy/play out. Though I noticed there was little to nothing on race, colonialism, land-back etc. It's hardly intersectional at all, really. Which is weird and felt very much missing from the text.
I did enjoy the critique of the role of a centralised government in anarchism. Le Guin was clever not to paint us a beautiful utopia because acknowledging the flaws in both the capitalist and the anarchist world, highlighted the things that truly made her character content in the world.
Ultimately, it is theory packaged in fiction, which is more fun for sure but still requires a critical lense. This is also why I struggled to finish the book. It just dragged. I wanted to love exploring anarchism through the adventure of story-telling, but said story seemed to me a means to an end.
Perhaps I'll pick it up again because it did get me thinking, but for now I'm pretty bored so I'll leave it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
deathmetalheron's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I've only read The Ones Who Walk From Omelas for LeGuin so I knew that I had to read up on The Dispossessed when I was looking for a space opera.
It's hard to indicate how incredible The Dispossessed is. It is a dense book with a lot of references to various political movements and ideas but its nonlinear storytelling and characterization really makes it something special. Shevek the scientist slowly morphs into a man both cynical and idealist about the future of both his people and his ideology.
What really works about these worlds is that it critiques ideas of anarchist society without letting the "old ways" of capitalism and hierarchy exhibited in A-Io. LeGuin is careful not to simply wave away problems with equality-oriented ideologies.
I also appreciate two big "little things"--the cultural hallmarks of each society were both well-defined and treated with sincerity but still unique and alien. The bald culture of A-Io with the very hairy Anaressti, the depictions of parenthood in Anaressti society. I have to say as a new father, Sheveks excitement when it comes to seeing his daughter Sadik is very emotional and made me tear up a little bit--a resounding moment of humanity in an otherwise technical and rhetorical epic of a book.
And that's the core of the book--epic political treatise that is profoundly human.
It's hard to indicate how incredible The Dispossessed is. It is a dense book with a lot of references to various political movements and ideas but its nonlinear storytelling and characterization really makes it something special. Shevek the scientist slowly morphs into a man both cynical and idealist about the future of both his people and his ideology.
What really works about these worlds is that it critiques ideas of anarchist society without letting the "old ways" of capitalism and hierarchy exhibited in A-Io. LeGuin is careful not to simply wave away problems with equality-oriented ideologies.
I also appreciate two big "little things"--the cultural hallmarks of each society were both well-defined and treated with sincerity but still unique and alien. The bald culture of A-Io with the very hairy Anaressti, the depictions of parenthood in Anaressti society. I have to say as a new father, Sheveks excitement when it comes to seeing his daughter Sadik is very emotional and made me tear up a little bit--a resounding moment of humanity in an otherwise technical and rhetorical epic of a book.
And that's the core of the book--epic political treatise that is profoundly human.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Excrement, Colonisation, and War
kemrick19's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
keyradiator's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Such a great book. The pacing is great and it's full of dialogue and storytelling that offers insight into our culture and how to restructure and analyze it. Hella recommend this one!
Some favorite quotes:
"To make a thief, make an owner; to create crime, create laws."
"
"If you can see a thing whole," he said, "it seems that it's always beautiful. Planets, lives. . . . But close up, a world's all dirt and rocks. And day to day, life's a hard job, you get tired, you loose the pattern. You need distance, interval. The way to see how beautiful earth is, is to see it from the moon. The way to see how beautiful life is, is from the vantage point of death."
"
"A child free from the guilt of ownership and the burden of economic competition will grow up with the will to do what needs doing and the capacity for joy in doing it. It is useless work that darkens the heart. The delight of the nursing mother, of the scholar, of the successful hunter, of the good cook, of the skilful maker, of anyone doing needed work and doing it well, - this durable joy is perhaps the deepest source of human affection and of sociality as a whole."
Some favorite quotes:
"To make a thief, make an owner; to create crime, create laws."
"
"If you can see a thing whole," he said, "it seems that it's always beautiful. Planets, lives. . . . But close up, a world's all dirt and rocks. And day to day, life's a hard job, you get tired, you loose the pattern. You need distance, interval. The way to see how beautiful earth is, is to see it from the moon. The way to see how beautiful life is, is from the vantage point of death."
"
"A child free from the guilt of ownership and the burden of economic competition will grow up with the will to do what needs doing and the capacity for joy in doing it. It is useless work that darkens the heart. The delight of the nursing mother, of the scholar, of the successful hunter, of the good cook, of the skilful maker, of anyone doing needed work and doing it well, - this durable joy is perhaps the deepest source of human affection and of sociality as a whole."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
jessiewrites's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Well, that was interesting... Cool use of philosophy, but the way SA was used was not great...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
ezri_c's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: War and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
pandemonicbaby's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Still don't know what exactly to say about this book, but it was an interesting exploration of the implications of how different societies both shape and are shaped by the people who participate in them.
I'm gonna ruminate on it for a little bit and then later do a more thorough review.
I'm gonna ruminate on it for a little bit and then later do a more thorough review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Confinement, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Excrement, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage, Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol
There is an explicit rape scene in this book.