This was a fascinating read! I read “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” in a high school English class, and it has stuck with me for years. I only have a basic familiarity with Dostoevsky and knew little about Le Guin’s personal life, but I loved reading your analysis of them!
I've been thinking how unjust Christian worldview is, if justice is to be understood as to give each his due. The one and only sinless man had to suffer to save all the sinners—Eli, Eli, lema? I find it hard to believe that a man like Ivan never thought about the absurdity of the Incarnation, and his questions seem to be also asking whether the Christian understanding of salvation can be justified.
Fascinating. I have actually never read any Dostoevsky, which makes me feel a little ashamed as a self proclaimed book worm, but I did enjoy reading Le Guin’s The Wizard of Earthsea series when I was a teenager. Definitely need to add The Brothers Karamazov to my 2025 reading list.
You do so much reading, though!! I only got into Dostoevsky because I was a grumpy teen...and you can always use the trick I used back then, listening to books on tape!
The Idiot is, in my opinion, the hardest one— he wrote it rather disjointedly— the first and second half of the book have a different plot line because it was being published in two parts and he became dissatisfied with the first part after it was published. All that to say, it is definitely Dostoyevsky’s amazing writing, but as far as the story goes, it is much more difficult to just sit down and read. I hope you enjoy The Brothers K! I think it is my favorite book (or at least top 5)
This is fascinating! I am itching to go through some Dostoevsky again. And I will say that I tried getting into Le Guin's first Earthsea book and didn't love it. (My husband stole a copy from the cozy hangout spot at the place we honeymooned at in Jamaica. Like a weird souvenir. lol)
Thank you so much! I've really enjoyed having the chance to dive back into his works so I can write here. It's a big undertaking but going through it in pieces has helped. I sometimes wonder if I was just too young to appreciate Le Guin? She can be very blunt and anatomical in her language - I vividly remember her describing a gun as resembling "a deformed penis" and I think I was too abashed to continue LOL
Thank you, that was fascinating. I’d never read that short story by her but once long long ago, I had read the Wizard of Earth Sea series. I was in middle school believe it or not and she came to our State College. My English teacher sent me to hear her speak. She was a truly odd speaker. I had a very hard time engaging. I tried other books of hers and never could get into any of them. In fact, years later, I tried the wizard series again and was not sure what I had enjoyed about it the first time. Reading your article reminded me how many times and in how many other books or articles I have heard Dostoevsky referenced or quoted and somehow I’ve never read his works. I think we read excerpts in high school AP English. I shall have to give him a try. Thank you again, it was a brilliant read.
"Omelas" is the only Le Guin I've read. I keep waffling on whether i should try "Lavinia." One friend says I'd love it, the other says I'd hate it. I really enjoyed this reflection, thank you.
I’m so glad!! I’ve considered revisiting her other writing, too, but I’m usually a big fan of “homey” writers like Jane Austen, Alcott, Herriot, Montgomery…and that is not Le Guin 😂
I tend to really enjoy classics-inspired fiction (as opposed to sci fi) which is why Lavinia would be my first choice, but I've been told she rather flattens the character to modern tropes of womanhood.
Yes, Ivan (of Brothers K) actually dives into this as well. The difference with Christ is that he chose such suffering with full knowledge and consent. Christianity also isn't utilitarian in that Christ's goal wasn't to save as many as possible - He would have died to save even just one person. Ivan nevertheless believes Christianity is perverse, and I don't think Dostoevsky is ever able to fully reconcile the necessity of Christ's suffering (hence the parable of the Grand Inquisitor). Even so, he accepts the truth of Christianity.
This was a fascinating read! I read “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” in a high school English class, and it has stuck with me for years. I only have a basic familiarity with Dostoevsky and knew little about Le Guin’s personal life, but I loved reading your analysis of them!
Thank you so much!
I've been thinking how unjust Christian worldview is, if justice is to be understood as to give each his due. The one and only sinless man had to suffer to save all the sinners—Eli, Eli, lema? I find it hard to believe that a man like Ivan never thought about the absurdity of the Incarnation, and his questions seem to be also asking whether the Christian understanding of salvation can be justified.
Yes absolutely! This is more difficult to tease out from the text for me but I agree that this is another reason why Ivan objects to Christianity!
Fascinating. I have actually never read any Dostoevsky, which makes me feel a little ashamed as a self proclaimed book worm, but I did enjoy reading Le Guin’s The Wizard of Earthsea series when I was a teenager. Definitely need to add The Brothers Karamazov to my 2025 reading list.
You do so much reading, though!! I only got into Dostoevsky because I was a grumpy teen...and you can always use the trick I used back then, listening to books on tape!
Ahh I think I tried The Idiot when I was a teen and did not get on with it and so I never bothered with Dostoevsky again.
The Idiot is, in my opinion, the hardest one— he wrote it rather disjointedly— the first and second half of the book have a different plot line because it was being published in two parts and he became dissatisfied with the first part after it was published. All that to say, it is definitely Dostoyevsky’s amazing writing, but as far as the story goes, it is much more difficult to just sit down and read. I hope you enjoy The Brothers K! I think it is my favorite book (or at least top 5)
This is fascinating! I am itching to go through some Dostoevsky again. And I will say that I tried getting into Le Guin's first Earthsea book and didn't love it. (My husband stole a copy from the cozy hangout spot at the place we honeymooned at in Jamaica. Like a weird souvenir. lol)
Thank you so much! I've really enjoyed having the chance to dive back into his works so I can write here. It's a big undertaking but going through it in pieces has helped. I sometimes wonder if I was just too young to appreciate Le Guin? She can be very blunt and anatomical in her language - I vividly remember her describing a gun as resembling "a deformed penis" and I think I was too abashed to continue LOL
Thank you, that was fascinating. I’d never read that short story by her but once long long ago, I had read the Wizard of Earth Sea series. I was in middle school believe it or not and she came to our State College. My English teacher sent me to hear her speak. She was a truly odd speaker. I had a very hard time engaging. I tried other books of hers and never could get into any of them. In fact, years later, I tried the wizard series again and was not sure what I had enjoyed about it the first time. Reading your article reminded me how many times and in how many other books or articles I have heard Dostoevsky referenced or quoted and somehow I’ve never read his works. I think we read excerpts in high school AP English. I shall have to give him a try. Thank you again, it was a brilliant read.
Thank you so much for your kind comment!
The great mystery of our Salvation in Jesus Christ.
Lord, have mercy....
"Omelas" is the only Le Guin I've read. I keep waffling on whether i should try "Lavinia." One friend says I'd love it, the other says I'd hate it. I really enjoyed this reflection, thank you.
I’m so glad!! I’ve considered revisiting her other writing, too, but I’m usually a big fan of “homey” writers like Jane Austen, Alcott, Herriot, Montgomery…and that is not Le Guin 😂
I tend to really enjoy classics-inspired fiction (as opposed to sci fi) which is why Lavinia would be my first choice, but I've been told she rather flattens the character to modern tropes of womanhood.
Yes, Ivan (of Brothers K) actually dives into this as well. The difference with Christ is that he chose such suffering with full knowledge and consent. Christianity also isn't utilitarian in that Christ's goal wasn't to save as many as possible - He would have died to save even just one person. Ivan nevertheless believes Christianity is perverse, and I don't think Dostoevsky is ever able to fully reconcile the necessity of Christ's suffering (hence the parable of the Grand Inquisitor). Even so, he accepts the truth of Christianity.