Status Updates From Always Coming Home: Author'...

The valleys culture seems like some evolution of hippie/rationalism and it seems to be Ursula's dream, her utopia. It rejects worship of anyone or sole worshp any thing. It says to live as part of nature. Extremely culturally Liberal.

The answer to why a more organized, stronger culture does not dominate is...

This book imerses you in the culture of the valley of na so that everything starts to make sense from their point of view. And then contrasts that's point of view with the condor and those with their head on backward - modern culture.

So, I'm at page 431, out of 618. At page 467, everything from then on is called 'The Back of the Book'. Some of what's there is predictable, like a Glossary, and Charts - but there is still a lot of text, in various short sections, like 'additional notes' on everything Kesh, let's say. I will read all this material, but probably in little snatches, as if it were short stories. Overall, this has been a fabulous book!

This is a non-linear experience marketed as an SF novel...and I love it. This is, by far, my best go-round with something by Le Guin. I never really took to her other works, the way a lot of others do. It's funny, because when I did a quiz online, where you input some of your own fictional writing to see who is the writer you write like, I got told I write like Le Guin (not Wodehouse!?). I can finally say "I wish!".

I’m finding the non-linear, no-through-narrative structure incredibly relaxing, not challenging or annoying. This is like a break from reading for shocks and suspense…and I love that, just at this time. Now, all of that said, I’m considering reading this in thirds, with breaks in between, while mix it together with the three Crime novels in the Supermax book. I’m not sure - tomorrow morning will tell…

I think I have found the Ursula K. Le Guin book I will love. It’s different from just about anything else I have read.

The plays in the previous section were a bit of a snooze-fest, but these person/ family histories are 🔥🔥

I came into this book with expectations and took for granted that it was something it turns out never to have been. This reminds me a lot of her novel "Searoad: Chronicles of Klatsand," but thankfully, in a way that works for me. Searoad was a fuckin' snoozefest. This is much a similar to the short fiction set in her Hainish Universe. 🔥