Reviews with content warning for Xenophobia - Lumii îi spuneau padure

Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Lumii îi spuneau padure by Ursula K. Le Guin

55 reviews

stellariasolaris's review against another edition

dark reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I adore this book when the focus is on the natives and absolutely hate it when it’s told from the yumens’ (humans’) perspective. I understand why Le Guin felt like she needed to include their way of thinking but it’s awful to read through and legitimately triggering at times.

I really do wish there was another part two of sorts where we just follow the Athsheans around and explore their way of thinking - the dreaming and their relationships to one another. They’re such fascinating ideas, especially their idea of afterlife with their loved ones.

I recommend reading the introduction to the story where she explains her process behind writing it, specifically this feeling of urgency on anti-war and anti-imperialism activism. Unfortunately it’s all still relevant today.

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sheyri's review against another edition

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challenging inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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the_other_yvonne's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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gracethebibliofeline's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

You should absolutely read this! It was a beautiful novel, with such evocative imagery and a poignant story. The introduction of violence to a peaceful culture through colonialism is an unfortunately pertinent topic. A truly heartbreaking story.

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evehowell's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.75

absolutely incredible book, one that gets ever more relevant with time. tells us so much about humans and how we will lose everything - i wish everybody in the world had read it so they could understand.

i was driven largely in my reading of it by the introduction’s statement that it tells of what happens to a colonised people’s morality in the aftermath of defending themselves, and i saw this message very expertly woven throughout the narrative. politically, this book is a masterpiece - an easy 5/5.

outside of its “real world” implications, the book is also fantastic. the characters are brilliant - davidson’s pure evilness is compelling (although it almost sent me spiralling in rage at times), lyubov both admirable and pitiable, and selver the unlikely antihero - what can you do but root for him?

the most compelling part for me, which will haunt me for weeks to come, was lyubov’s reaction to selver’s warning about the attack on Central. the very small admission that he knew what it meant and didn’t allow himself to act on it, in itself an act of both sacrifice and betrayal, is haunting. selver’s acceptance of lyubov being victim of the attack, but the everlasting impact of accepting this fact, gives perfect and realistic weight to the reality of the situation.

i could talk about this book for hours. it’s true that having read it has changed me as a person, and for that i’m very grateful.

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