Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin

4 reviews

gilnean's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Misogyny, Sexism, Excrement, Medical content, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Classism, Confinement, and Bullying

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Violence, Cursing, Murder, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, War, Mass/school shootings, and Police brutality

Minor: Medical content, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Child death, Colonisation, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent

adeepermystery's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I would have given five stars but I dislike being dropped into the action and then flashing forward and backward in time with no help from the author. It took me out of my immersion in the book. I felt the same way about Left Hand of Darkness. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Alcohol, and Confinement

Moderate: Pregnancy, Misogyny, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Sexism, Xenophobia, Classism, and Bullying

Minor: Miscarriage

pastelkerstin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

Essential reading if you're a leftist who likes sci-fi! I thought The Left Hand of Darkness was good, but I wouldn't say it's one of my favourite books. But The Dispossessed now is.

One of the most interesting things about The Left Hand of Darkness for me was the mention of another planet in the federation without war or law enforcement. Now, this book apparently takes place before the federation was formed, but it's exactly about that. It's about an anarchist society, the capitalist society it clashes with, and a scientist caught between the two who wants to follow his passion. And it doesn't beat around the bush at all with its politics. No fantasy names for real-life political concepts. Instead you get moving criticisms of capitalism, authoritarianism, police brutality and patriarchy. Although Anarres isn't portrayed as flawless or as totally immune to what they were trying to escape (e.g. social capital creates a kind of hierarchy after all), you know that despite its flaws and hardships, it portrays a world more just than Urras on such a deep level.

I borrowed this from the university library, but I liked it so much, I might actually buy my own copy. My only real gripe with it is how [vague spoilers ahead] Shevek's accidental drunk night ends. He narrowly avoided becoming a character I couldn't root for anymore. Very narrowly. I think him getting drunk accidentally and not knowing what's happening/how to deal with it at all because Anarrestri don't drink makes perfect sense. I just don't like where that went...
Otherwise really fucking good!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Murder, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Sexism, Vomit, Alcohol, Classism, Xenophobia, Death, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Sexual content, War, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Alcoholism, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Addiction, and Rape

zombiezami's review against another edition

Not sure if this is for me. I might re-evaluate after looking at more of the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Pregnancy, Sexism, Misogyny, Gun violence, Violence, and Police brutality

Moderate: Classism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Death, Excrement, Grief, and Xenophobia

Minor: War, Colonisation, Medical content, Child death, and Vomit

Attempted rape