The Left Hand of Darkness - Pre-reading thoughts

[Stephanie]

This is a thread to contribute your thoughts, hopes, fears, and expectations prior to reading The Left Hand of Darkness It could be interesting to look back on what we thought we were about to "get into" after we've finished the book!

[Stephanie]

I've had The Left Hand of Darkness (LHoD) checked out for a few days now but haven't had the chance to start it yet, and I find the anticipation of starting it is constantly with me. This will be a first read of it for me--of any of Ursula K. Le Guin's works, actually. Reading more female fantasy/sci-fi authors is on my to do list this year, and when I explored what LHoD is about, it only increased my desire to dive right into it. Double that when I consider that it's written by a world-class female author writing in a time when female authors garnered little to no regard. I'm expect that there will (sadly, given that this book was published in 1969), many themes that still resonate deeply with the societies we're living in today. Other than the basic description of the book on the book jacket, I have no idea what will happen in this book, so other than predicting that it's going to be a fairly intense and topical read (in the way that sci-fi is!), I have no idea what I'm about to get into!

[Megan]

I read the book a couple years ago with an IRL book club, and was kind of meh on it. I will be very interested to hear the thoughts of folks on here, since most of the members of the other book club were new to any kind of sci-fi/fantasy and I suspect that many of us have read a broader variety. I really didn’t go in with many expectations when I read it - I hadn’t read anything else by Le Guin, and didn’t even read the back of the book before I started, so my only thought was that the person who selected it usually has pretty similar taste to me, so I didn’t have the feeling of dread that I sometimes do with other members’ suggestions. :)

[Sheri]

I'm excited to revisit this! A lot of times in my excitement to find what happens, I rush through books quickly the first time through. That means I don't always retain it as well as I'd like. I'm a big fan of re-reading so I can unearth new things I missed the first time around, or see the bigger picture once I know where it eventually ends up. I've only read LHoD once, so I know there's plenty more to dig through.

I think that while it'll be topical in the sense of exploring gender, since the idea of gender as a spectrum is becoming more widely known/accepted/talked about. However I think the sci-fi setting keeps it distant enough that it doesn't have the same gut-twisting sense of impending doom that some stuff, like The Handmaiden's Tale, gives when you read it right now.

[Megan]

Sheri wrote: "I'm excited to revisit this! A lot of times in my excitement to find what happens, I rush through books quickly the first time through. That means I don't always retain it as well as I'd like. I'm ..."

I agree, Sheri - the way the story deals with gender is fairly specific to the book’s world, so it doesn’t get into modern real-world politics.

[Jen W.]

I know that after I read Earthsea I read at least one of Le Guin's sci-fi novels, but I can't remember if it was LHoD or not. If it was, it was more than twenty years ago when I was still in high school, and I don't remember it, so it'll be a bit like reading fresh either way.

Like Stephanie, I've had this checked out but I haven't had a chance to start it, as I'm finishing up another book right now. I'm hoping to get started on LHoD next week.

I'm looking forward to an interesting exploration of gender as well as what it means to be human, and struggle with the different views of an alien species.

[Cindy]

Is it weird that I don’t think I’ve read her work before? (Sorry!) I’ve been looking Le Guin up online to see if I recognize book covers - so far, I don’t.

This will be the first time I’ve participated in this group, and I’m hoping this is a good time, and a good book, to start at! I’m a fan if sci-fi and the basic description about the book definitely has me interested!

[Stephanie]

Cindy wrote: "Is it weird that I don’t think I’ve read her work before? (Sorry!)

I've never read anything by LeGuin either, Cindy! I'm very excited that I can do so while sharing my experiences with the group.

[Sheri]

Cindy, I don't think it is. I remember seeing her name in the sci-fi section when I was younger, but back then I had a limited book budget so I tended to find an author I like and just plow through their entire catalogue. And for some reason I wasn't going to the library. I guess because my mom didn't so I didn't tag along? And then wasn't in the habit as I got old enough to drive. Anyhow, I only started reading her a couple years ago, as I was trying to get through more sci-fi classics.

[Susan]

While I've definitely seen her name often, I've never read anything by her and I'm looking forward to it. I had no real opinion on the poll and voted based solely on the small paragraph descriptions on the GR page.

I have placed a hold on it at my library. There are a bunch of copies available in the regional system so it should get here quickly. I think I'll fill in my time reading magazines that are piling up instead of starting another book so that when it arrives I can read it.

[Sarah]

I’ve read Earthsea, but have not yet had the chance to try this one. I’ve heard tons about it, though, and the description looks super interesting. Off to the library tomorrow and hope their copy is available.

[Samantha]

I am mystified that I have managed to have Le Guins work pass me by, it seems so up my street in so many ways! Looking forward to getting into it :)

[Susie]

This will be my 3rd reading of the book. 1st in Collage, 2nd in my early 30's, and now in my early 40's. I'm interested in seeing what new insights I'll have now that I'm older.

[Katie]

I read this as part of a course in university in 1993...I have absolutely no recollection of it at all 😂 I am looking forward to revisiting it

[Jennifer]

I'm also new to Le Guin's work. I feel like the majority of my science fiction reading has been more modern works, so this year I set myself a challenge to read more classic works to see where it started. This will be my second classic sci-fi book in the last few months, so I'm curious about any similarities in style or tone related to the era in which they were written.

I know very little about the story going in, other than knowing gender plays a big role, but I'm excited to give it a go!