I just finished my re-read of Nona the Ninth. After I was done boohoo crying at “life is too short and love is too long” I had a thought-

In loving Nona, everyone who loved her loved the Earth. None of them have ever been there, none of them know it as home, none of them have a connection to it other than in their humanity.

Despite that, they all loved the Earth so tenderly and fiercely.

Through all of Nona’s slow starts, all her childhood whimsy and wonder, all of her endless fascination and delight with life. Despite the fact that her naivety could be treated with disdain or anger, as many people would likely do in the face of the light after a lifetime of darkness, everyone who interacted with her loved her.

Maybe they saw a glimpse of home in Nona. of course they couldn’t help but love her.