The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (ecology, gender, and what it means to be human)
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- čas přidán 20. 08. 2024
- A discussion with multiple readings from Le Guin’s 1969 masterpiece The Left Hand of Darkness, with an emphasis on how language can “re-humanize” thinking.
Channels mentioned from this buddy read:
Elisabeth at The Bookish North: / bookishnorth
Noah from Everyone who reads it must converse: / everyonewhoreadsitmust...
Yasmin from To the Lithouse: / @tothelithouse6562
My 5 “Perfect” Novels: • 5 “Perfect” Novels?!?
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#booktube
#sciencefiction
#ursulakleguin
#hainishcycle
#speculativefiction
I forgot to mention that in the story “Winter’s King”, Le Guin uses the pronoun “she” for all Gethenians, a switch from Genly Ai’s report in Left Hand.
“Coming of Age in Karhide” has more detail on Gethenians in kemmer. Neither story is essential to the plot of Left Hand, but each adds to the world.
Your enjoyment of the book is truly infectious. Makes me want to reread it again soon.
Thanks, Stephanie! Have you read Le Guin works outside of the Hainish cycle that you enjoy? I hope that your weekend is starting off well!
Best, Jack
@@ramblingraconteur1616 I read some of the Earthsea books a long time ago. Have Lavinia on my TBR. Have been adding women authors of sci fi and fantasy to my TBR lately. Have you read any of James Tiptree, Jr.?
agreed!!
I really like the way you pointed out how the book manages to encase its heady, profound themes in a story that is first and foremost about characters. This seems like a relatively rare thing in sci-fi, and it's one of the many reasons Le Guin will always be a favorite of mine.
I had never heard of the Snow Queen, but it sounds fantastic. I've added it to my list.
Thanks, Jordan! There are books in each genre that really transcend whatever connotations we like to group them with, and Le Guin achieved something special with her best works. I hope your weekend is starting well.
Best, Jack
Great video Jack! The book really is about the Tao and finding balance. For Genly Ai (eye) to unlearn what he knows and see the duality of what it means to be human. He finally understands after his arduous journey that a whole being is both masculine and feminine and so when his team members arrive they seem odd and unnatural to him. There are so many great moments to unpack and I marveled at the lessons that Le Guin was able to fold in to the narrative.
Thanks for the kind words! “Balance” is an apt way to describe Genly’s realization. That moment you describe when he is uncertain, almost uncomfortable, around his fellow humans was one we discussed in our reading group. There are so many interesting and special moments that the book takes us to. I hope your weekend is starting off well!
Best, Jack
Great summation and examination of the novel and its myriad riches. I just finished this novel and loved it. I'll have a go at The Dispossessed next.
Thanks for the kind words. I thought The Dispossessed was absolutely incredible.
Cheers, Jack
This read was fantastic Jack! Nice to hang with ya and talk through it 😎
It was extremely fun to be on this journey together. Thankfully we didn’t have a sledge breakdown up on the Ice!
@@ramblingraconteur1616 jeez, that trek was so brutal! 😳
I recently read this. Fascinating book, so far ahead of the time when it was written.
Very nice discussion.
Glad you enjoyed it, I certainly agree with your assessment. Have you read any other works by Le Guin, Paromita?
Cheers, Jack
@@ramblingraconteur1616 Yes I've read Earthsea upto Tehanu and The Dispossessed. Left Hand is the one I liked most so far.
Great video! Reading this as my first Le Guin was fascinating. I wish I'd had more time to participate in the discussion; it was great to hear everyone's thoughts.
Thanks, Yasmin! There is so much to explore in this book, and I know that I will reread it, again, and discover even more next time. Le Guin had such a special mind and voice.
I hope your weekend starts off well!
Best, Jack
Good quote selection at 9:20. I have this one 101 philosophy book that I know has a section that talks about is there a gender in the mind and I’d want to go back and read some of that to combine w this novel almost.
I’d almost want a Fall or Spring that lasts for years. Sometimes I’m mad when fall or spring is over in 5 days in Indiana
Thanks, Una! There is plenty to explore with gender and perception in Left Hand. A rereading might take a totally different route and just go into the Ice Age environment, such a great world and narrative!
We are already into summer. I don’t know that Phoenix ever achieves “winter”, though northern AZ and the various mountains do. Hope your weekend is starting well!
Best, Jack
That was a pretty good review. It is one of my favorite books.
Thanks for this discussion :)
Happy to share! Are you a fan of Le Guin’s writing?
Cheers, Jack
Great review!
Ive never read any Le Guin, yet, alas. And, she was from Portland!
I didn’t know about the Portland connection, Allen, thanks for sharing! Highly recommend reading one of her works. You might enjoy The Word for the World Is Forest with its 1970s Vietnam connections. Hope your weekend starts off well!
Tough break for the Blazers, but I am looking forward to that Suns-Nuggets series!
Best, Jack
@@ramblingraconteur1616 Oooooo, yeah, I still follow the Suns!
What fascinates me is the Cold War allegory
and the sacrifice of Estraven as a Christ figure
yeah i know ursula explained defaulting to the he pronoun in the book, still she later regretted it in interviews. also, i would add that if you liked the take on sort of 'resolving' sexuality/gender issues in this story you might also read read the elementary particles by michel houellebecq, which is a very, very different book and has another take on the topic.
I’ll keep an eye out for The Elementary Particles. Thanks for the recommendation.
Cheers, Jack
I love all her books -- can't pick a favorite.
I agree; the multitude of voices she created and worlds she imagined is extraordinary! Hope your weekend is starting off well.
Best, Jack
@@ramblingraconteur1616 Have you read Four Ways to Foregiveness? It's one of her books that I think about a lot but don't hear discussed. Hope you and your family have a great weekend, too.
@@pjreads I am not familiar with that work but will look forward to exploring it. Thanks for the recommendation.
@@ramblingraconteur1616 I look forward to hearing your thoughts. There are four linked, thought-provoking, disturbing stories in the book. I've started rereading it several times with the intention of identifying the four ways of forgivenes but am more caught up in all the questions the stories provoke.