"Korkuyorum," dedim.

He looked towards the inside of my coat and asked, "Why?"

"Of living," I replied.

He embraced me, and I also embraced him.

"I don't know what to do," I said. "I still have to live for many more years, and I don't know how I will manage it."

It was such a beautiful and personal book that although I felt a bit empty inside because it ended so quickly, I was happy because I had read it and felt understood.

This moment of sharing my fears and uncertainties with him felt so comforting. The way he held me made me feel a sense of security. I continued to think about the book and how it had touched my heart. It was as if it had opened up a new world of emotions for me.

I knew that I still had a long way to go in life, but perhaps with his support and the inspiration from the book, I could find the courage to face whatever came my way.

A Quiet Novel

This is a truly quiet novel. It is very short, yet it is quite sweet. It was written in the 1970s, and I absolutely loved the old-timey vibes it gave off.

The simplicity of the story is its charm. It doesn't have a complex plot or a cast of countless characters. Instead, it focuses on the essence of a simple and beautiful narrative.

The language used in the novel is also a delight. It has a certain elegance and warmth that is characteristic of the era in which it was written.

Reading this novel is like taking a step back in time. It allows you to experience the nostalgia and the gentle pace of life that was prevalent in the 1970s.

Overall, this is a wonderful little novel that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a quiet and heartwarming read.

~ 4 November 2024

A children's literature professor recommended this book in a class I took years ago, and I truly wish I had read it back then.

At first, I made a somewhat unfavorable comparison between it and the newer YA novels I've read. Maybe it was because the plot starts out relatively slowly. I once took a personality test that determines whether you are a nerd, geek, or dork. While I'm not going to disclose my results, I'm pretty certain that Owen, the protagonist, would have received all of the above. And back in the seventies, before nerd pride and geek culture became widespread on the internet, all three words (or at least the related concepts) were equally insulting. Initially, I thought Owen's angst over living a boring suburban life with parents and classmates who don't understand his intellectual interests was rather petty when compared to the issues discussed in contemporary YA literature. (I somehow overlooked the ominous foreshadowing found in the allusions to the Bronte family.)

Midway through the novel, however, the plot picked up. I was pleasantly surprised to discover an author who truly understands what it's like to be a teen with only one friend you can really talk to. What it's like to stop caring about the things you once valued most in life. What it's like to create a world you want to live in, very far away from anywhere else. Instead of existing merely to "save" the main character or help him check a rite of passage off his to-do list, the female lead, Natalie, has values and goals of her own. And the ensuing conflict turns the plot from bland to compelling. Despite the occasional instance of dated slang and the dreary mid-twentieth century suburban setting, this novel has a depth that is often lacking in the "controversial issue of the week" genre of teen literature.

It's a book that, upon further reflection, offers much more than meets the eye.

I’ve always had a profound love for old school YA. Even as a child, during the late 90s and early 2000s, I would often pick up an occasional teen or coming-of-age novel from the 70s. These were usually browning paperbacks, inevitably smaller and less colorful than the new books prominently displayed at the front of the school library. Discovering a good one felt – and still feels – like unearthing a precious secret. I didn't mind much when, as in this particular novel, the kids in the book seemed adrift in time, marooned in some strange twilight zone blend of the author's 1950s childhood and 1970s present. How could I have minded? I simply didn't notice.

Perhaps I'm completely off base – after all, I wasn't alive in the 70s – but this is my perception: Le Guin's Earthsea novels were written for young people yet had evident literary aspirations. I envision that all sorts of people read them, as they still do. YA novels like this one, on the other hand – and I'm not entirely sure what I precisely mean by "like this one," but whatever it is, it's immediately clear from the original cover – were not intended to be read by adults, except perhaps in a professional capacity by teachers, librarians, and the occasional concerned parent. One senses, on every page, that Le Guin had nothing to prove, no one to impress except a few school librarians and the sensitive teenagers they might or might not recommend the book to.

This is a novel about the challenges of being extremely privileged and exceptionally clever. This will undoubtedly rub some people the wrong way, but since it undeniably remains one of the top themes in our literary culture today, it makes little sense to levy it as a criticism against a nearly forgotten 70s YA that's under a hundred pages and takes approximately half an hour to read.
Maybe the most fascinating aspect of Very Far Away from Anywhere Else, though, is that thematically, it's a clear extension of The Dispossessed. It reconfigures some of the questions that novel poses about socialism and capitalism and the individual in society into something that two 17-year-olds are grappling with, who don't even realize that there are political implications to their lives at all.
Also, everyone desires a friend like Natalie Field.
One final note, for anyone who's read this far – is this book somehow popular in Turkey? Because it has around 100 Turkish reviews compared to 300 English ones, which seems like an unusual ratio for an American novel from the 70s! Even the top review is in Turkish! Also, Goodreads' "because you read this" recommendations are mostly Turkish novels, at least for me!

This disparity in the number of reviews from different languages is quite curious and makes one wonder what it is about this particular book that has captured the attention of the Turkish audience more than others. It could be due to a unique cultural resonance or perhaps a different interpretation of the themes presented in the novel.

It's also interesting to note that the Goodreads recommendations being mostly Turkish novels might suggest that there is a certain connection or similarity between the themes and styles of this American YA novel and those of the Turkish literary works.

Overall, this book seems to have a somewhat unexpected and interesting reception in different parts of the world, which adds to its allure and makes it worthy of further exploration and analysis.

Introvert personality refers to a type of personality where individuals tend to focus more on their inner world.

They often have rich inner thoughts, emotions, and interests. However, the question arises as to why these inner riches do not always reflect outwardly.

This article seems to explore this topic with a masterful touch by Ursula, perhaps delving into various aspects such as music, science, friendship, love, and sexuality.

The author gives a rating of 5 stars, yet there is a sense of incompleteness or a feeling that something is lacking. It's like having a delicious meal but still not feeling fully satisfied.

Maybe the book presents interesting ideas and perspectives but fails to fully address or resolve the questions it poses about the introvert personality and the manifestation of inner wealth.

It leaves the reader with a sense of curiosity and a desire for more in-depth exploration of this complex and fascinating subject.

Overall, it seems to be a thought-provoking piece that invites further reflection and discussion.

Ursula Le Guin was truly a genius.

However, this particular novel doesn't quite reach the pinnacle of her remarkable body of work. It contains some rather awkward sections, and its perspective on humans and conformity seems rather clichéd. It fails to be the best manifestation of one of her recurrent themes, namely the relationships between extraordinary individuals and the societies in which they must exist. These societies, of course, inevitably consist of a great many people with different ways of thinking and being.

That being said, this is still a beautiful and immersive story. I adored it as a teenager and continue to cherish it to this day. It is extremely eloquent in描绘 the way that great ideas, music, and literature can impact the teenage mind with overwhelming force. It also delves into the sense of being lost that a young person can experience while trying to grow and develop, until they discover their kindred spirits and find their true selves. The story is set in rainy Portland, where I currently reside.

I was extremely lukewarm towards the book during the initial 90 pages. It was an easy read, yet it felt distant and unfamiliar.

You could get a good sense of the main character's struggles and personality, but I simply didn't sense a genuine connection between him and Natalie.

However, the last 40 pages truly picked up in a remarkable way. They made you pause and reflect on the concepts of purpose, priorities, and your place in the real world. Or perhaps in the world of Thorn.

It delved into one young man's confusion regarding the ability to live life and the purpose of life. Especially considering that he had only been listening to those who didn't bother to understand or embrace it themselves.

This aspect added a layer of depth and complexity to the story, making it more thought-provoking and engaging in the end.

This is a super quick read that falls into the category of a coming-of-age novel.

While it is a bit dated and perhaps lacks the depth that some more profound literary works possess, it does have several memorable lines that can leave an impression on the reader.

Specifically, it could be a good read for intellectually advanced teenagers who are currently dealing with social isolation.

These teenagers, who may have a higher level of cognitive ability, might find something relatable and valuable in the story.

The novel can perhaps offer them a sense of understanding and connection during a time when they may feel alone and disconnected from their peers.

Although it may not be a masterpiece in terms of literary complexity, its simplicity and the presence of those memorable lines make it a potentially worthwhile read for this particular audience.

It can serve as a source of entertainment and perhaps even a bit of inspiration for those intellectually advanced teenagers navigating the challenges of social isolation.

Ursula is quite different from the other books I've read from her. To be more precise, it's different in terms of the writing style.

The concepts mentioned while reading about the two young people's struggle to make sense of life are familiar from Sea of ​​Earth. Since the book is written from the protagonist's point of view, it took me a long time to get used to it. When the difference from the author's other books combines with the protagonist's narration, I felt as if I was reading a different author for a moment.

Then, I continued with the curiosity of seeing Ursula for the first time in a young - adult setting. It's already a short book, and although it's short, it's deep, so I wouldn't say it ends quickly. I wish I had read it in high school. Surely, my then self would have added a lot. I especially recommend this book to people under the age of 18, and of course, to those who love Ursula.

I think this is the first time I am reading a book for the second time in the same year.

I read it for the first time in February this year. I remember. I was working in a crappy job. I wasn't very happy. It was winter. It was raining and snowing frequently. I hated getting up early every morning. (Interestingly, not having any change in my job and general life didn't make me feel that bad when writing this.) I had stopped reading the book. I was also getting bored with that.

Still, Ursula... Somehow she comes in front of you and you read. That's how it happened with "Far from the Madding Crowd" too. I was looking at my mother Ursula's books. It seemed like a book that wouldn't narrow the world for someone who was in a reading slump. The subject also caught my interest.

And... it was beautiful.

It seemed to me then that the things that had happened, just the fact of having happened, were valuable. It still does. Of course, it became more meaningful to me and for some reason it was harder to read this time. I wasn't as affected as I was the first time this time actually. But still. It was good.

It was definitely good.

My mother Ursula, as always, probably sitting in the chair placed in the corner of our fireplace room, again stroked my head with her sweet narration. And she told me how valuable the sharing that is established between two people, which is real for a certain moment, is. I listened. It was nice.

Well, after this I should read something more gore-related.

"Yes, when these difficult days pass
This is my only wish,
In life and death, a soul without a face
And the courage to endure!"

Ursula K. Le Guin was born into the world as the daughter of an anthropologist father and a psychologist and writer mother. The author, who is regarded as one of the most important writers of science fiction, in her books, the characters she brings to life are those who resist change, are far from being perfect, are quite modest, inquisitive, and even a bit anarchic in nature.

In this book, which I can call a psychological story, the resistance of a very intelligent 17-year-old youth against being like everyone else and his determination to chart his own path are told. Going to the university he desires and working with the academics he admires seems more meaningful to him than the latest model car his father gave him as a gift. His first love, Natalie, and her passion for music also play an influential role in guiding the hero's life.

✍

On page 94, there is a miracle. For a long time, I hadn't been reading a book "without it ending." But this book made me taste that again. Just like it reminded me of many things about the past.

It's the story of two different and also two very young people. A friendship that we heard from the mouth of Owen, the male friend among them, or rather, that we watched like a film. Owen is a genius in science, and Natalie is a genius in music. But being a genius brings with it not belonging to society. Behind each success lies a part (or a huge) loneliness. Especially when you are 17 years old, you don't even know how to cope with being social, with your genius, and with your loneliness.

We will all find a part of ourselves in it, a short but warm novel. A masterpiece that touches on friendship, love, and even in some places, the sexuality drawn by society, which can be finished in 1 day.

I read it with great love. I want to read this book again in the coming times. With its countless underlined sentences and characters, it even found a place in my heart.

And my last word is that Le Guin's showing of her attachment to Jungian thought by juxtaposing it with Freud, even in one line, made me smile :).