The Left Hand of Darkness in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Feb 13, 2018 Rosemary rated it it was ok

Shelves: audible-books

Truth is, I didn't finish, and it's not because LeGuin is not a master of the genre. I have been listening to this book on Audible, which I usually love, but the book is too complex and my listening too interrupted to keep track of the many characters, worlds, and plot lines. I will try again in e-book format! ...more

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Mar 12, 2016 Donna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: speculative-fiction

I must admit that several times I almost put this book down never to be finished. I'm glad I pushed on to the end because the last 100 pages were well worth the fight I had to understand the beginning.

Gethen/Winter is a world wonderfully developed by Le Guin. The beings who live there, usually genderless but who cycle into male or female beings force the reader to confront gender distinctions of our experienced world.

The afterword written for this 25th anniversary edition explores the writer's ...more

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Jul 10, 2013 Booktart rated it liked it

Shelves: science-fiction

It took me a long time to get through this book. I did skim some passages and did not become fully engrossed until Genly and Estraven's journey. I'm not typically into science fiction but read it on the suggestion of a friend and as part of an effort to broaden my horizons. I can't necessarily say I enjoyed reading it - the writing style is difficult and as others have said, cerebral - but I gave it three stars for its uniqueness. The idea of a genderless society is fascinating and thought provo ...more

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Jan 18, 2016 molly rated it really liked it

i am going to need to revisit this at some point - the political sections kind of caught me off guard, i think i'd get more out of them the second time around. ...more

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Apr 02, 2018 Sharon rated it liked it

Shelves: classics, award-winning

I reread this for book club, hoping that 25 years later I would enjoy it more or find some new connection. The bleak, desolation was still present ... when everything is stripped away, we are alone.

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Apr 17, 2014 Kerry rated it really liked it

Shelves: female-author, fromthelibrary, scifi

I thought this was really good, but maybe not as oh-wow-good as everyone says? It is certainly no Dispossessed. But yeah, still really good, I love the way Le Guin writes.

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