marenmk's review against another edition
Read the essays: The Space Crone; Is Gender Necessary Redux; and Bryn Mawr Commencement Address 1986
mrizzuto's review against another edition
4.0
(3.75) i’ll start off with really my only negative—i wish this were only thoughts on words and women rather than thoughts on words, women, places. the writing on travel seemed to me like it wasn’t really meant to be read by an audience? if it was, it felt at points like science fiction filled to the brim with proper nouns and concepts you’re unfamiliar with, as though it expects too much knowledge from the reader. a few of the essays in here were jargony in a similar way.
now that my only negative is out of the way: what a phenomenal collection of essays. le guin’s ideas are so deeply contemporary for having been written in the 70s and 80s, such incredible thoughts on feminism and gender as a whole (i truly recommend everyone reads at least The Fisherwoman’s Daughter, such a beautifully written essay on women in “literature”). i thought the commencement addresses were especially captivating, likely because they’re meant to be accessibly written and captivating. but her theoretical writing is so compelling as well. what an incredibly interesting author, such a fun and personal style of prose. i’d really recommend to anyone looking for a collection of essays or more le guin to read—i can’t wait to read her fictional works! such an interesting, intelligent, kind-hearted person.
now that my only negative is out of the way: what a phenomenal collection of essays. le guin’s ideas are so deeply contemporary for having been written in the 70s and 80s, such incredible thoughts on feminism and gender as a whole (i truly recommend everyone reads at least The Fisherwoman’s Daughter, such a beautifully written essay on women in “literature”). i thought the commencement addresses were especially captivating, likely because they’re meant to be accessibly written and captivating. but her theoretical writing is so compelling as well. what an incredibly interesting author, such a fun and personal style of prose. i’d really recommend to anyone looking for a collection of essays or more le guin to read—i can’t wait to read her fictional works! such an interesting, intelligent, kind-hearted person.
mikepalumbo's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.75
sambora's review against another edition
5.0
This is a truly inspiring collection of speeches and essays. This woman had such a way with words; whether she was discussing science fiction, travel or feminism, I was hanging off her every word.
isac's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
cassandreee's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
crickets's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it, even though some chapters did not do much for me. The author perfectly addressed some of the issues I had with The Left Hand of Darkness, namely how presenting heterosexuality as the default was a serious oversight, and the gendered pronouns (he/him/his as default) were unnecessary.