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A review by thepurplebookwyrm
Dreams Must Explain Themselves by Ursula K. Le Guin
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
3.75
Dreams Must Explain Themselves is a (rather chonky) collection of essays, talks, musings, and book reviews! Written by Ursula K. Le Guin between 1972 and 2014, and which she personally selected, and prefaced, for this publication.
Most of the texts in this collection focus on the nature of fantasy and science-fiction literature, the challenges and joys of writing speculative fiction, 'genre snobbery' (especially in academic, literary discourse), the art-craft of writing more generally, and considerations of sex and sexism in literature and the arts more broadly.
I skipped most of the sex and sexism-related texts, as I'd (recently-ish) read them in Space Crone, and... well, for the most part thoroughly enjoyed going over the rest of the collection, engaging once again with Le Guin's brilliant, assertive mind and, on the whole, well-articulated commentary.
That being said, I fairly often disagreed with her thoughts on writing as an art form, or imagination in relation to childhood, for instance, and more so than I did reading Space Crone, I believe. I was also a little disappointed by the lack of nuance, and wider knowledge she sometimes displayed (or seemed to display, at any rate) in relation to the life sciences and 'social justice', shall we say. Her thinking felt a little too... for lack of a better word 'American-centric' at times, as well. And I cringed every time Freud popped up in-text, though in Le Guin's defence she mostly mentioned him to disagree with his thinking – I think. Call it a knee-jerk reaction, then. 🙃
Her comments regarding a couple of semi-contemporary (and competing?) works of children's literature additionally felt a little petty, even bitter to me, in a way I found rather surprising. But Le Guin was only human, after all, and entitled to her own opinions, so fair enough.
I can disagree with an author, artist, creator and still enjoy their works without any issue, so none of my critical or 'negative' observations were detrimental to my very firm love of Le Guin's fiction. I just find it interesting to note said fiction, overall, seems to transcend the limitations, and points of personal divergence, I perceived in Le Guin's thinking as an individual. Hell, it's not just interesting, nor even fascination, it's beautiful; a facet of the alchemy of artistic creation. 🙂 And I still, very much, would've liked to have the pleasure of conversing with this particular artist, if only for a moment. As always, RIP. 💜
Most of the texts in this collection focus on the nature of fantasy and science-fiction literature, the challenges and joys of writing speculative fiction, 'genre snobbery' (especially in academic, literary discourse), the art-craft of writing more generally, and considerations of sex and sexism in literature and the arts more broadly.
I skipped most of the sex and sexism-related texts, as I'd (recently-ish) read them in Space Crone, and... well, for the most part thoroughly enjoyed going over the rest of the collection, engaging once again with Le Guin's brilliant, assertive mind and, on the whole, well-articulated commentary.
That being said, I fairly often disagreed with her thoughts on writing as an art form, or imagination in relation to childhood, for instance, and more so than I did reading Space Crone, I believe. I was also a little disappointed by the lack of nuance, and wider knowledge she sometimes displayed (or seemed to display, at any rate) in relation to the life sciences and 'social justice', shall we say. Her thinking felt a little too... for lack of a better word 'American-centric' at times, as well. And I cringed every time Freud popped up in-text, though in Le Guin's defence she mostly mentioned him to disagree with his thinking – I think. Call it a knee-jerk reaction, then. 🙃
Her comments regarding a couple of semi-contemporary (and competing?) works of children's literature additionally felt a little petty, even bitter to me, in a way I found rather surprising. But Le Guin was only human, after all, and entitled to her own opinions, so fair enough.
I can disagree with an author, artist, creator and still enjoy their works without any issue, so none of my critical or 'negative' observations were detrimental to my very firm love of Le Guin's fiction. I just find it interesting to note said fiction, overall, seems to transcend the limitations, and points of personal divergence, I perceived in Le Guin's thinking as an individual. Hell, it's not just interesting, nor even fascination, it's beautiful; a facet of the alchemy of artistic creation. 🙂 And I still, very much, would've liked to have the pleasure of conversing with this particular artist, if only for a moment. As always, RIP. 💜
The limits, and the great spaces of fantasy and science-fiction, are precisely what my imagination needs. Outer Space, and the Inner Lands, are still, and always will be, my country.
I may disagree with some of her personal takes on art and literature, but on this, we're all agreed,
audience say it with me: THIS WOMAN WAS SO IMMEASURABLY BASED! 🤩
#ImmeasurablyBased 😌