Pam
10/11/2024
Technically, 4 stars; enjoyment, 3 stars
This is a hard book to rate. On the one hand, I'm blown away by the society she created from scratch. The level of detail is mind-boggling and also very interesting in how this anarchist world functions from day to day and year to year. It's so incredibly different from anything I've ever heard of, and she has such a clear grasp on it from all angles -- strengths, weaknesses, how it would evolve over time, what the barriers to that evolvement could be, the various ways individuals would find to express their varying levels of commitment to the founding ideals of the society and how that would play out through good times and bad. Fascinating, both anthropologically and philosophically.
I loved the MC Shevek and how clearly and consistently he understood himself and stuck to his principles. Which is why I can't believe there's a throwaway scene where
****SPOILER****
he almost accidentally rapes someone toward the end of the book.
***END SPOILER***
WTF??? I mean, he's experiencing alcohol for the first time and is EXTREMELY drunk and doesn't realize it, and the woman's odd behavior is definitely contributing to the confusion, but it's disturbing. And then he passes out and it's never addressed again. It's so strange and unnecessary, and the scene stands out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the book.
Other than that, I enjoyed the experience, especially once the momentum picked up about a third of the way in, but I feel more of a sense of accomplishment having read it than anything else. I've had Le Guin at the very top of my "authors to try" list for several years, and this was a good intro I think.