Words are my matter is a series of talks, introductions to books and book reviews that Ursula Le Guin wrote over a sixteen year period. The book is divided into sections containing these groups of material.
The section containing introductions to books and notes on authors is arranged by the surname of the writer. Many of the introductions were written for books published in new editions and therefore include classics such as H G Wells, The Time Machine and Pasternak's Dr Zhivago. The book review section is arranged by author of the book reviewed. However the collection of talks is arranged chronologically by the date the talk was presented. In a number of these talks Ursula Le Guin discusses the opinions about the possible demise of physical books by e-books, genre books considered inferior literature by organisations presenting literary awards and the perception that books written by female authors are considered inferior to those written by male authors.
The reviews include books written by Margaret Atwood, J G Ballard, Roberto Bolano, T C Boyle, Geraldine Brooks, Italo Calvino, Carol Emshwiller, Margaret Drabble, Alan Garner, Kent Haruf, Tove Jansson, Barbara Kingsolver, Chanf-Rae Lee, Donna Leon, Doris Lessing, Yann Martel, China Mieville, David Mitchell, Jan Morris, Julie Otsuka, Salman Rushdie, Jose Sarmago, Sylvia Townsend Warner, Jeanette Winterson and Stefan Zweig.
An interesting collection of articles about reading, books and their authors. This is a book that you can dip into and choose which section to read as the mood takes you.
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