It has been a long time since something as short as water has drawn me in. In the face of the morning, I reached out my hand with a "let's meet" gesture. With Owen and Natalie, I found myself in a long walk under the rain. There are mists in our minds, bright and haughty thoughts, verb options in front of them, and of course, fears... They know that it's not easy to expand oneself within this business. In this time and on this earth where everyone has waged a merciless war to resemble each other; Natalie and Owen, -as their names suggest, very far from everywhere- with their feet swaying on a rocky peak, their thoughts colliding, but where such noble words are not spoken, because they know they are there with the resistance that they have to live their lives, with the rhythm and the truth, a human encounter that does not burn and destroy -someone other than oneself- with anger.

Ursula, as we walked, the huge world where I collected its stone-shells,,

The story

reads like a lil Salinger novella. It has that certain charm and depth that is characteristic of Salinger's works. The narrative unfolds in a way that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

The characters are well-developed and complex, with their own unique personalities and flaws. They interact in a realistic and believable manner, making the story feel alive.

The setting is also described in great detail, adding to the overall atmosphere and mood of the piece. Whether it's a quiet suburban neighborhood or a bustling city street, the reader can easily picture themselves in the scene.

Overall, this story is a wonderful example of the power of good writing. It has the ability to transport the reader to another world and make them feel as if they are a part of the story. It's a must-read for anyone who loves literature and wants to experience the magic of a great story.

As far as I know, Logan usually writes fantasy/science fiction, but this one is not, and I don't know why some people classify it in the fantasy category.

The story is about a 17-year-old introverted teenager named Owen who doesn't know whether to make decisions according to the expectations of others or according to his own desires. He is not good at making friends until he meets a girl one year older than him named Natalie. Throughout the book, we read about the relationship between these two and Owen's thoughts.

I don't know how realistic this story can be, but at least it is touching and a little bit hopeful.

If I had read it at a younger age, I would definitely have liked it more.

Owen and his country Thorn were truly so clean and flat.

It was as if nature had meticulously designed this place to be a haven of purity and simplicity. The land stretched out before them, vast and unblemished, with not a single hint of clutter or disorder. The air was fresh and crisp, carrying with it the sweet scent of wildflowers that dotted the landscape.

The people of Thorn took great pride in maintaining the cleanliness of their country. Every street was swept daily, and the buildings were painted in bright, cheerful colors. The rivers and lakes were crystal clear, reflecting the蓝天白云 above like mirrors.

Owen loved his country deeply and was grateful to be a part of such a beautiful and peaceful place. He knew that it was the responsibility of every citizen to keep Thorn clean and flat, and he was determined to do his part.

As he walked through the streets, he couldn't help but smile at the sight of the well-kept city. It was a place that he was proud to call home.

**"The First Love and Its Impact"**

Obrigada, Ricardo Silvestre, pela tua preciosa ajuda na compra deste livro. The first love is a powerful and unforgettable experience, especially in adolescence. This YA book allows the reader to engage with the story from both the perspective of the 17-year-old protagonists and that of their own age group.

Owen Thomas Griffiths, a 17-year-old only child, is highly intelligent but struggles to fit in. He is a solitary figure who refuses to conform, which makes his life more difficult. At 15, he was still naive about relationships. Like the Brontë siblings, he also sought solace in creating his own fictional world called Thorn.

One day on the bus, Owen meets Natalie Field. There is something about her that makes him open up. Natalie is determined, confident, and has been working hard since the age of six, studying music and teaching. They start dating, but Owen makes mistakes in prioritizing, which leads to problems. Although they love each other, Natalie is not ready for a sexual relationship and is too young to give up on her studies and career.

Owen has experienced a moment of great joy and fulfillment, saying, "If nunca mais me acontecer na vida, posso sempre dizer que estive lá uma vez." The question remains: will they stay together as boyfriend and girlfriend once they finish their studies? The 17-year-old me thinks yes, but the current me is not so sure.

This book explores the joys and pains of first love and growing up in a beautiful and symbolic way. The title, "Sítio Nenhum," suggests a search for a place that doesn't exist, reflecting the characters' longing for a physical, emotional, or spiritual home. I really enjoyed this introspective and philosophical book.

When I was approaching the end of high school, I would often gaze at the Rocky Mountains and let my mind wander, daydreaming about becoming a hermit, surrounded by stacks of books. I knew I would be lonely, but at least it would match the sense of aloneness I felt within. I could finally stop pretending to be someone I wasn't. That complex mix of emotions - the exquisite awkwardness, isolation, melancholy, grandiosity, and ridiculous self-centeredness that comes with being 17 years old - is beautifully captured in "Very Far from Anywhere Else". It makes me wonder if Ursula Le Guin might have felt the same way at some point in her life.

There are so many other elements in this book that strangely resonate with my teenage experience. The strict yet loving parents who just don't seem to understand. My attempts to define myself as the "intellectual kid". Wasting the entire summer before college playing video games because a girl rejected me, only to later realize that she wanted us to spend more time together as friends to figure things out. Being in awe of those who knew exactly what they wanted to do and trying to imitate their confidence. The painfully self-conscious, awkward glory and the ache of trying to find the purpose of living. Trying to lose myself in another person, only to later understand that I was solipsistically seeking to consume them. Getting into an elite school and feeling like my existence was vindicated. And the list goes on.

I only picked up this book because I'm an obsessive completionist and I'm determined to read every single one of Ursula Le Guin's novels. For most of the time I was reading this very short book, I thought it deserved 3 stars, and I think that's what most people would rate it as (or even less!). But for some reason, the characters in this book fit me so oddly well. It was有趣 to step into this little emotional time capsule, especially during Thanksgiving break in my parents' home, almost 20 years after high school. That being said, the book also served as a reminder of why I don't miss being a teenager. I'm so grateful to be living now in a world where other people truly matter, where I'm not constantly feeling uncomfortable in my own skin, and where my story has been rightfully reduced to a tiny footnote within the vast tapestry of life.

Iako se uglavnom (koliko vidim) objavljuje samostalno, ovo je nije roman već novela i po dužini i po zamahu.

It is not the best nor the most famous book of Ursula. (I suspect it is less known than it would be if it had at least two grams of fantasy). However, it completely blew me away unexpectedly.

Because it is a story about the growth of an above-average intelligent and (of course) vividly lonely and unhappy adolescent in a small town, but also about a crucial period in life when (if we are lucky) we discover what we want from that life and, no less than that, that we are willing and able to dedicate ourselves to it. And that can be incredibly difficult.

Ursula Le Guin, as usual, does not choose the easiest storytelling path here. Her two adolescents do not become a couple (ok, this is a spoiler but one that is not bad to know in advance) nor do we have any incredible super-mega happy ending. But she writes seriously and somehow incredibly truly about the life hardships that are not reduced to the hardships of American teenagers from the late sixties but are universal. And there is neither stylistic nor thematic bravado, just two very young people who discover to each other what is most important in life (to hint: not romance. But being called). And it is all told very modestly and simply and that, when placed next to Chekhov (you know that rare Chekhov who nurtures some kind of short-lived humanitarian optimism and does not push you towards instant suicide, e.g. The Duel) and does not disgrace itself.

Very Far Away from Anywhere Else by Ursula K. Le Guin, which was originally published in 1976, is quite different from the typical fantasy and Sci Fi books I usually read by Le Guin. This is a pure Young Adult fiction, presenting a simple yet beautiful story from the perspective of 17-year-old high schooler Owen Thomas Griffiths. Owen records his story on a tape recorder and transcribes it later.

It's not overly complicated to describe, although I'm certain I'll only scratch the surface of the story. Here it goes. Owen is a nerd who struggles in high school. He has a few friends, but their interactions are mainly on a joking level. He has a passion for the sciences, loves analyzing things, and dreams of attending MIT or CalTech, perhaps to study psychology.

For his 17th birthday, his father buys him a new car. However, Owen is reluctant to drive it to school as he feels it will make him just 'one of the crowd', which he doesn't desire. On a very rainy day, after school, he takes the bus and sits beside Natalie Fields, a girl he has seen but doesn't know well. They seem to get along well. Later that night, when Owen is feeling aimless, he goes for a drive, stops outside her home, and spends the evening in her room, talking, talking more, and listening to her play the viola (as she is a music student).

Their friendship blossoms, but then something occurs that alters everything. I'll stop here. It's not extremely drastic or traumatic, but it does have a profound impact on Owen.

Simply told, highly readable, yet also very emotional and truly excellent. Check it out. Have your teenage kids check it out. (5.0 stars)

This is a short book written in a very simple and plain language.

But in my opinion, it is warm and despite its lack of exaggeration, it still touches people's hearts.

The conflict between Owen's ideas, such as his friendship with Nat going against what he knew and believed, and his thought that if he was like everyone he believed in, he could easily continue his life, and Nat's idea that if you are really different from everyone else, you might need to be brave in everything, as well as their nice conversations, was so sweet.

It is a sweet book that brings peace to people.

Incredibile come un romanzo scritto a metà anni settanta sia così attuale. Questo è il caso di quello scritto da Ursula. La sua capacità di creare mondi immaginari e personaggi affascinanti è davvero straordinaria. Ursula è proprio magica ❤.

Ogni pagina del suo romanzo è come una porta che ci permette di immergerci in un universo diverso, pieno di emozioni e di misteri da svelare. La sua scrittura è fluida e coinvolgente, riesce a catturare l'attenzione del lettore fin dal primo capitolo e a mantenerla fino alla fine.

È meraviglioso come un'opera letteraria così vecchia possa ancora parlare ai nostri giorni, offrendoci spunti di riflessione e di ispirazione. Ursula è senza dubbio una delle più grandi scrittrici di tutti i tempi e il suo romanzo è un capolavoro che non deve essere mancato.

This is, I'm sure of it, a book that not everyone is going to like.

Nonetheless, it is a good book.

That said, I wouldn't go enthusiastically recommending it to every teen around. Even adult-wise, I would leave my recommendation for those who like Le Guin's style and would be willing to overlook some of its, for lack of a better word, old-timey feeling.

Written in 1976 when YA was absolutely not a thing, this is, however, the quintessential YA novel. It's a book about struggling to understand who we are at that crucial moment in our lives when we come to realize we don't exactly fit in childhood anymore but we don't know how to move forward into adulthood. The two main characters, Natalie and Owen, aren't all that likable.

Nonetheless, despite having come to life nearly 5 decades ago, they are relatable. Both are self-involved in a way that feels distant, living life inwardly. Yet there's something luring in the way they reflect the world that surrounds them.

I perhaps favored Owen, the protagonist, for his love for science, which feels closer to my own experience than Natalie's music skillfulness. But both, at times, feel like they belong in a different world, or better said, time.

As always, Le Guin's prose, rich and full of rhythm, elevates what would be the bland task of reading a simple story into a delightful reading experience.

It's worth the reading, but not for everyone.

Ursula has mentioned very beautiful points.

It has a soft narrative, and the characters have been given depth considering the small number of pages.

I wish it had been a long novel as it left a certain feeling.

Here and there, I got the Normal People vibe and I liked it.

This book seems to have a unique charm.

The way Ursula presents the story makes it engaging and interesting.

The short length doesn't prevent the characters from coming alive on the pages.

It's a pity that it's not a longer work, as it could have delved even deeper into the lives and emotions of the characters.

Nevertheless, it's a great read that leaves a lasting impression.