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A review by tinylove
Ursula K. Le Guin: The Last Interview and Other Conversations by David Streitfeld, Ursula K. Le Guin
(Btw besties I don't rate nonfiction books like that)
By far the best thing about this collection of interviews is how it is essentially a very compact run through several decades of the author's life. That way you can read her thought and opinions over most of her active life, what changed and what stayed the same, or consistent. Le Guin definitely had a brilliant mind, a formidable pen and a strong, quietly steadfast personality. Her opinions and takes on writing are very valuable to me as a writer even when I don't agree with them. I also find myself agreeing with her beliefs toward the end of her life the most; some of her earliest takes really had a very strong American-centric air. She was also very upfront about all her privileges that made her life comfortable and her career possible, but at the same time her background really shines through in some things she said and opinions she held. All very interesting to read and think about. It was also really satisfying to read her rip open a new one to one particularly provocative interviewer ("Well, Nick, and when did you stop beating your wife?" I DIEDDDDDDD).
From a purely selfish point of view, I'm glad to be able to demystify and understand her better - I really admire her writing and her brain, but it is never good to idolize someone, always good to understand their thought process. For authors like her there are many interviews and essays left behind that can aid with that. It might sound like I'm making it all about my own personal gain from this book but that's why I read it! LMAO!
That was also my first time reading anything from The Last Interview series, and I found the idea and the layout very insightful! The fact that it seems to be a collection of various different interviews, from different sources and (apparently?) not affiliated with one or other gives a pretty well-rounded idea of the interviewee's mind and how they interacted with different people and sets of questions. I will definitely attempt to read more of this series in the future.
By far the best thing about this collection of interviews is how it is essentially a very compact run through several decades of the author's life. That way you can read her thought and opinions over most of her active life, what changed and what stayed the same, or consistent. Le Guin definitely had a brilliant mind, a formidable pen and a strong, quietly steadfast personality. Her opinions and takes on writing are very valuable to me as a writer even when I don't agree with them. I also find myself agreeing with her beliefs toward the end of her life the most; some of her earliest takes really had a very strong American-centric air. She was also very upfront about all her privileges that made her life comfortable and her career possible, but at the same time her background really shines through in some things she said and opinions she held. All very interesting to read and think about. It was also really satisfying to read her rip open a new one to one particularly provocative interviewer ("Well, Nick, and when did you stop beating your wife?" I DIEDDDDDDD).
From a purely selfish point of view, I'm glad to be able to demystify and understand her better - I really admire her writing and her brain, but it is never good to idolize someone, always good to understand their thought process. For authors like her there are many interviews and essays left behind that can aid with that. It might sound like I'm making it all about my own personal gain from this book but that's why I read it! LMAO!
That was also my first time reading anything from The Last Interview series, and I found the idea and the layout very insightful! The fact that it seems to be a collection of various different interviews, from different sources and (apparently?) not affiliated with one or other gives a pretty well-rounded idea of the interviewee's mind and how they interacted with different people and sets of questions. I will definitely attempt to read more of this series in the future.