1/4 of the way through the year of women

Some random thoughts:

• It's always weird when a writer you really respect highly recommends a book you think is terribly written
• I loved The Snow Queen, but 150 pages into The Summer Queen I was far too bored to plow through another 550
• I guess I liked Shards of Honor, although I wasn't keen on the smart, intelligent female soldier finding her true life's work as the [SPOILER ALERT] helpmeet to a big guy in a super-patriarchal society
• I can't get into Ursula K. LeGuin as much as I feel like I ought to
• One of the better books I have read, surprisingly, was The Dollmaker. Plus, having spent time in the Big South Fork, it was fascinating to read a novel partially set there
• Yes, at certain bookstores it can be hard to find something to read (if you aren't looking for romance or mysteries)