As i continue reading the book, i feel more and more comfortable with the vocabulary and ideas. Although i still feel quite awkward when i read about things like their sex cycles, i can now take it as part of their culture and accept it. I feel extremely glad that while the author discusses the issue of gender quite a bit, she also goes into describing the two nations of Karhide and Orgoreyn. They seem more and more like two, at least different if not opposite, systems of government to me; Karhide seems to be becoming a dictatorship under Argaven's cousin Tibe while Orgoreyn has maintained a socialistic/communistic society. I could be just imagining things, but this difference in the societal systems makes the book extremely interesting and that much more captivating to me. I originally thought that the book was going to be about a single alien society with everything same and equal throughout, as with the gender issue.
I am also liking the mysterious effects the author creates. I can't help but to ask myself questions such as:
- Is Estraven really a traitor to Karhide?
- What is the real intent behind the Ekumen's uniting of mankind?
- Will Orgoreyn and Karhide accept Genly's proposal? Or will Genly have to return in another generation?
Although i am enjoying the book more and more, i am beginning to think that i need more time to digest the information. I am happy with the weekend assignments of reading 20+ pages over three days, but during weekdays, reading 25 pages or so in one night can sometimes leave some parts unclear. But i guess that's what the class discussions are for...
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