The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
palomagrl's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
firdaws's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
stefania_bea's review against another edition
5.0
i think it's a sign of an amazingly good author when it takes a longer time to discuss it than to read it.
"the trouble is that we have a bad habit, encouraged by pedants and sophisticates, of
considering happiness as something rather stupid. only pain is intellectual, only evil interesting."
10/10 oml
"the trouble is that we have a bad habit, encouraged by pedants and sophisticates, of
considering happiness as something rather stupid. only pain is intellectual, only evil interesting."
10/10 oml
eososray's review against another edition
3.0
I read the story and then read about a dozen of the reviews for it, to see some other opinions. I like the fact that the story has generated such opposing opinions but I'm having a hard time defining just what I think of the tale myself.
I am fundamentally opposed to having one persons pain procure the happiness of everyone else but 'the good of the many outweigh the good of the few' also rings true for me. Maybe it's because in this story, the 'few' has no say in the matter, that it disturbs me?
Amongst the many other opinions I read I didn't find anyone else who thought the concept of the utopian society didn't sound so utopian. Even before learning about how it was able to be this utopian town, it sounded boring, like all the good things in life had been removed along with the bad. If you don't cry, how can you know how good it is not to or if things don't go wrong how do you learn the joy of picking yourself up and making it work another way? Maybe I just can't imagine anybody being that happy and being anything more than superficial, without having known some anguish to put in it perspective.
As always, I love LeGuin's writing style but I'm not a big fan of stories with a moral.
I am fundamentally opposed to having one persons pain procure the happiness of everyone else but 'the good of the many outweigh the good of the few' also rings true for me. Maybe it's because in this story, the 'few' has no say in the matter, that it disturbs me?
Amongst the many other opinions I read I didn't find anyone else who thought the concept of the utopian society didn't sound so utopian. Even before learning about how it was able to be this utopian town, it sounded boring, like all the good things in life had been removed along with the bad. If you don't cry, how can you know how good it is not to or if things don't go wrong how do you learn the joy of picking yourself up and making it work another way? Maybe I just can't imagine anybody being that happy and being anything more than superficial, without having known some anguish to put in it perspective.
As always, I love LeGuin's writing style but I'm not a big fan of stories with a moral.
sarahthenerd's review against another edition
5.0
TW: child abuse
“Omelas sounds in my words like a city in a fairy tale, long ago and far away, once upon a time.” –Ursula K. Le Guin
Damn. This short story is damn. I really couldn't describe what I was feelings when reading. Beside the feeling of being disgusted by the civilization of Omelas. This short story gives cult vibe. Like the people of Omelas does not know anything outside of Omelas and are just happy, care free ppl and have weird festival. That's a cult.
And what makes the story more interesting is the tone that the narrator use. Listen I'm no literature student, but the tone was like singing to me. The words that the narrator uses to description Omelas and its ppl as if they are the most beautiful thing in the world when they are not. And those beautiful words that the narrator uses is kind of like the narrator is trying to hide the horrible life of Omelas.
This is so bad to say but it honestly a beautiful story even tho at the end there's a heartbreaking twist :( And also my theory is I think the narrator is also one of the ones who walk away from Omelas. Truly a beautiful cult story.
“Omelas sounds in my words like a city in a fairy tale, long ago and far away, once upon a time.” –Ursula K. Le Guin
Damn. This short story is damn. I really couldn't describe what I was feelings when reading. Beside the feeling of being disgusted by the civilization of Omelas. This short story gives cult vibe. Like the people of Omelas does not know anything outside of Omelas and are just happy, care free ppl and have weird festival. That's a cult.
And what makes the story more interesting is the tone that the narrator use. Listen I'm no literature student, but the tone was like singing to me. The words that the narrator uses to description Omelas and its ppl as if they are the most beautiful thing in the world when they are not. And those beautiful words that the narrator uses is kind of like the narrator is trying to hide the horrible life of Omelas.
This is so bad to say but it honestly a beautiful story even tho at the end there's a heartbreaking twist :( And also my theory is I think the narrator is also one of the ones who walk away from Omelas. Truly a beautiful cult story.
niniane's review against another edition
5.0
A short story that provokes thought. It was hard to get into, but then I liked the second half so much that I went back and re-read the whole story.
Interesting analogy for many systems of oppression, capitalism (people toiling for low wages, to enable others to have nice things and be pleased).
Interesting analogy for many systems of oppression, capitalism (people toiling for low wages, to enable others to have nice things and be pleased).