Always Coming Home

by Ursula K. Le Guin
Always Coming Home cover
Good Books rating 4.15
Fantasy
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Paperback • £10.99–£12.99
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Format • £10.44
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Technical
  • ID: 1173
  • Added: 2025-09-27
  • Updated: 2026-03-10
  • ISBN: 9780520227354
  • Publisher: Spectra
  • Published: 1986-01-01
  • Formats: 40
  • Reviews: 4

Always Coming Home is a rich and immersive exploration of the Kesh, an imaginary people whose lives are deeply intertwined with the natural world. Through stories, poems, and songs, Ursula K. Le Guin weaves a tapestry of their culture, beliefs, and daily lives, offering a glimpse into a society that values harmony and sustainability. The book is not just a narrative but a celebration of the Kesh's way of life, their connection to the land, and their spiritual practices. /n/n This work is a testament to Le Guin's imaginative prowess, presenting a world that is both familiar and utterly alien. It challenges readers to think about their own relationship with nature and the environment, making it a profound and thought-provoking read. The inclusion of songs and poems adds a lyrical quality to the text, enhancing the overall experience.

Reviews
Goodreads · 2026-03-08
great 4.10

This book is described as masterly and hypnotic, with a new edition featuring an introduction by Shruti Swamy. The reviewer highlights its lyric and luminous qualities.

A Goodreads reviewer describes 'Always Coming Home' as a masterly and hypnotic book, noting its consistently lyric and luminous qualities. The new edition, which includes an introduction by Shruti Swamy, is particularly praised. The reviewer suggests that the book's poetic and luminous style makes it a standout work in Le Guin's body of work. They appreciate the introduction by Swamy, which adds context and depth to the reading experience.

Quick quotes

    A masterly, hypnotic and her most consistently lyric and luminous book.

    This new edition includes an introduction by Shruti Swamy, author of A House is a Body.

    The book's poetic and luminous style makes it a standout work in Le Guin's body of work.

AGreenManReview · 2025-09-27
immersive 4.50

The book allows the Kesh to speak for themselves through a variety of literary forms. It is a dense and immersive exploration of a unique culture.

This review praises 'Always Coming Home' for its innovative approach to storytelling, allowing the Kesh culture to be explored through a mosaic of short stories, poems, and myths. The reviewer finds this method immersive and effective, providing a deep understanding of the Kesh way of life. They highlight the book's density and complexity, which they see as strengths that enhance the reading experience. The reviewer also notes that Le Guin's skillful use of different narrative forms makes the book a standout work.

Quick quotes

    Le Guin lets the Kesh speak for themselves, allowing the reader to learn about them through a patchwork quilt of short stories, poems, and myths.

    It is another dense, late-career doorstop of a book considered in equal parts the summit of a life's work.

    The book is an unsung masterpiece from one of fantastic literature's greatest writers.

RR Horton's Blog · RR Horton · 2024-04-24
rewarding 3.75

The narrative of Stone Telling is particularly engaging, and parts of the book are truly loved by the reviewer. Overall, it is a rewarding read.

RR Horton shares a mixed but generally positive view of 'Always Coming Home.' They particularly enjoy the narrative of Stone Telling, finding it involving and well-crafted. While not every part of the book resonates equally, Horton appreciates the overall experience and finds it a valuable addition to Le Guin's body of work. The reviewer notes that the book's unique structure and depth make it a rewarding read, despite some unevenness.

Quick quotes

    What's my final verdict? I'm glad I read Always Coming Home.

    Parts of it I truly loved.

    Stone Telling's narrative is really involving and engaging.

Resilience.org · 2023-02-16
thought-provoking 4.25

The book presents a complex and unfamiliar culture through a collection of interconnected texts. It challenges traditional narrative structures and invites readers to engage deeply with its themes.

This review highlights the unique structure of 'Always Coming Home,' which is not a single story but a patchwork of texts that together illustrate the Kesh culture. The reviewer appreciates the depth and complexity of this approach, noting how it differs from conventional storytelling. They also emphasize the book's ability to make readers think critically about societal structures and human nature. The reviewer finds the book thought-provoking and rich in detail, making it a standout work in Le Guin's oeuvre.

Quick quotes

    Always Coming Home is not a single story but a collection of texts that weave together to elucidate the complex and quite unfamiliar culture of the Kesh.

    It challenges traditional narrative structures and invites readers to engage deeply with its themes.

    The book makes you think about the human condition in a gentle, investigative manner.

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