Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein

6 reviews

stroganogg's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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givenscissors's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I read this since I loved "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" so much. I read it about 15 years ago, so maybe I don't remember the sexism? I see now that Mistress explored themes I'm much more interested in eg: AI sentience. 

At first Stranger was intriguing because he explained the perspective of Smith and how he processed the world but once I got half way through and it turned into a book about reglion and God Heinlein lost me. I could no longer ignore the sexism to "enjoy" the other parts of the book. Turned from a thought experiment of an alien groking our world and society and exploring his human side to some sort of fantasy for the author where women serve you and sleep with you all the time...and want to be raped?! I was waiting for Jubel or Ben to realize and state how distopian it was, which was hinted at, like Jubal said maybe Smith shouldn't decide who has "wrongness" and decorporate them, but in the end Smith's ideas are celebrated as the way to view the world that the reader should walk away with. Any counter view is an angry murderous mob.

Maybe I'm misinterpreting the intent but for now me no likey.
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uranaishi's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

I understand why this book and it’s ideas were seminal in it’s time, but it is undeniably outdated in a number of ways now. 
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amsswim's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This one got me good, so this review will be longer than my usuals. This book is considered a classic among science fiction and it I am glad I read it. However I see many of the negative reviews on this one as completely understandable due to the way it completely switches up 2/3 of the way through. If you want an unhinged and fascinating story, this is it. 

The author and book are such a product of their time and it shows. THis book was written in 1961, and has moments of laughable (in my opinion) sexism and homophobia. It reads always blatantly as the author speaking through, but then he goes on from that and frames out the most progressive, sex-positive, all-inclusive way of life that combats the hateful views he clearly has but manages to not see that at all past his own self-insertion into the story.

The actual plot of the book is fascinating, the world building is amazing, and it is generally light hearted. The switch up it does is strange but did not ruin it for me. And the part-dated-part-weirdly-progressive views, adds a spice of a technologically advanced society that still has the political views and strife of 1960s America.

I'd say this book was well written, but content/views just need to be taken with a grain of salt. I had a blast listening to this one on Libby, it feels more like a Coen Brothers movie some of the time. Not for everyone, but lets talk books if anyone else decides to read.
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littleclerk's review against another edition

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1.0

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unboxedjack's review against another edition

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challenging reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.75

I thought I'd enjoy this, but it felt like what was a promising novel completely lost itself in the second half. The shift from a critical examination of culture, religion, and all that jazz to a gratuitous description of a sex cult made absolutely no sense. I tried to excuse Heinlein's repeated objectification and sexualization of women and absolute disparagement of anything other than heterosexuality as a sign of the times, but towards the end it felt like I was reading the inner machinations of a dirty old man. I'm not a prude and all for people feeling empowered by their sexuality, but Heinlein's characterization of women feeling as such was so much a product of the male gaze. Whether or not this was meant to be satirical--which I'll admit it did seem like this was the case at times--it was far too off-putting for my sensibilities. I can see why this novel may have been revolutionary for the time--the first half was definitely more engaging--but it simply didn't work for me. 
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