This was one of my annual rereads at the end of 2019, and the fact presents an interesting opportunity to share some TOA history. The notes I took on the book back in July 2015 are available here (I think, as I'm not confident in how the DOCX format is shared). The 2015 notes demonstrate something of a precursor to TOA - they included elements such as structure, context, and themes. And what a surprise to see an opening summary! Whatever we start, started earlier. The modern iteration is better suited to me, leaving room for the circumstances of the moment to influence how I interpret and make use of the notes.
The Wave in the Mind by Ursula K. Le Guin (February 2020)
But, enough, do I have anything to say about this work? I reread "On the Frontier" and "Dogs, Cats, and Dancers: Thoughts About Beauty" so I suppose those are my recommendations. I also remembered from 2015 the thought that the difference between a dog and a cat is an awareness of one's own size, and that we are much more often like the former. The new insight that has remained with me in the past year is the observation that it's not aging itself which is so unsettling, but rather those moments in the mirror when we need an extra second to recognize the reflection. Perhaps this is why I enjoy looking back at those notes from 2015 - it's not quite what I would put together today, but I remember the person on the other side.
TOA Rating: Three mirrors out of four
