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Definitely agree with the other comment to close this thread and go read the book without knowing anything about it. On with the discussion for those who have

Definitely agree with the other comment to close this thread and go read the book without knowing anything about it. On with the discussion for those who have read it: As my roommate puts it, any one who thinks gender studies is pointless should read LHoD. I’m not talking about the politicized aspect of gender studies. Just as a means of appreciating how deeply notions of gender influence our thoughts and actions. The other things that make me so fond of the book: * The beautiful, intricate relationship between Estraven and Ai. * How central coldness is to the story. As someone who enjoys cold over heat, I loved reading about the ice world. Random conjecture: I wonder if people who prefer heat over cold have a harder time reading this book. Because Le Guin really makes you feel it at times. I kinda live for good stories. LHoD was one of those books that invigorated me with life.

billjings 8y ago
I grew up in a warm place. I'm not super fond of the cold. But setting the theme and gender aside, the entire sequence from the escape from the camp all the way to the arrival in Karhide is so vivid and memorable. That kind of thing isn't sophisticated enough to get you points in the critical sphere, but it's a wonderful piece of writing.
caconym_ 8y ago
The tragic thing about gender (and related) studies is that beyond the political extremists on both sides who've latched onto various aspects of it, it addresses things that absolutely need to be addressed. LHoD does a great job with this. It is thoughtful, fascinating, and not at all dogmatic. It makes me so sad to see all the people on the left screeching about wrongthink and identity bullshit at the slightest provocation, and all the (willfully obtuse) people on the right hiding behind their dictionaries as if the fact that gender and sex have historically meant the same thing in some contexts somehow invalidates this whole domain of thought. Absolute idiocy, all of it. I'd say people have forgotten how to think critically but I don't have data to support the hypothesis that they ever had that ability.

billjings 8y ago

I grew up in a warm place. I'm not super fond of the cold. But setting the theme and gender aside, the entire sequence from the escape from the camp all the way to the arrival in Karhide is so vivid and memorable. That kind of thing isn't sophisticated enough to get you points in the critical sphere, but it's a wonderful piece of writing.

caconym_ 8y ago

The tragic thing about gender (and related) studies is that beyond the political extremists on both sides who've latched onto various aspects of it, it addresses things that absolutely need to be addressed. LHoD does a great job with this. It is thoughtful, fascinating, and not at all dogmatic. It makes me so sad to see all the people on the left screeching about wrongthink and identity bullshit at the slightest provocation, and all the (willfully obtuse) people on the right hiding behind their dictionaries as if the fact that gender and sex have historically meant the same thing in some contexts somehow invalidates this whole domain of thought. Absolute idiocy, all of it. I'd say people have forgotten how to think critically but I don't have data to support the hypothesis that they ever had that ability.