SFF Readalongs led by Kitty G discussion

This thread is for initial thoughts and discussion of chapters 5 and 6 of The Dispossessed by Ursula K Le Guin.

*** As always, if you're going to spoil anything please remember to use the Spoiler tags ((click on '(some html is okay)', copy in the spoiler tags, remove the '...' and write out the spoiler-y stuff where it was and everything inside the tag will automatically be hidden)) ***

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A few questions to help:
- Are you enjoying the writing tone/style?
- What has been the most exciting/problematic bit of the story so far for you?
- What do you think might happen next?

Are you enjoying the writing tone/style?
Yes! I think the meandering pace of Le Guin's stories always keeps me excited, but never feels rushed. She writes in a fairly easy style that I find very approachable as someone who's not read a whole load of SF and I love that.

What has been the most exciting/problematic bit of the story so far for you?
The most exciting bit for me is seeing the differences in cultures. I love Shevek's musings over his world and the world he's now on, becuase they have such vastly different ways of considering things. Even the most basic elements of their societies are so extremely different that he has to ask about how things are done.

What do you think might happen next?
Honestly, I couldn't really say. I think the theory Shevek is working on sounds interesting and want to find out more about that, but also I just love the musings. I would like to see if the two societies can co-exist or if they will fight over the proper ways to do things...

pg.120 - "Your duty to your own people, your own kind" - this quote gave me creeps becuase up til now it's not been about one vs. the other, but more about co-existing and understanding one another. This makes me think maybe this will soon change...

pg. 121 - "In his own person he must represent, the solidarity of the Two Worlds." This is definitely a big burden for poor Shevek to uphold... I feel for him having to be the one to unite two such disparate peoples.

Pg. 122 - I liked hearing about Shevek pining for the company of women, not becuase they are just sexual objects, but becuase he realises that they have just as much value as men. When the wife, Sewa, talks about nursemaids Shevek doesn't even know what they are. He considers them not to be needed, and realistically they are probably more of a status thing on this planet than otherwise anyway.

Pg, 125 - "There is no other reward. One's own pleasure and the respect of One's fellows. That is all" - to think of a world where it was so much a utopia that respect and equality was just the norm is so hard for me. It's a really foreign concept, but when you think about it the logic here really does make a lot of sense...

Okay, chapter 6:

So my thoughts on this one are interesting because Shevek has returned to Anarres after his stint in Urras. Whilst there he meets the lady he's been waiting for and forms a partnership with her.

In between all of this we have some interesting things going on. I love the fact that Le Guin is totally happy for homosexuality and heterosexuality to co-exist on this planet. She doesn't believe you have to have one or the other, she's definitely someone who writes that all love is equal, and I am so happy about that.

We also see in this chapter the stirrings of unrest within Shevek's society. Some of his friends and his partner begin to question what they really live for and who they really serve. In theory everyone is equal, but of course the reality involves far more corruption and seeing Shevek process the downfall and disillusionment with his own home is both sad and exciting for me. I want to know how he's going to react!