The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin-finished 3-8-04
Girl with a Pearl Earring* by Tracy Chevalier-finished 3-8-04

Left Hand of Darkness deals with the Ekumen and the Hainish worlds, much like in Le Guin's The Telling, only on a different planet, an icy place where humans are androgynous.

this edition has a forward by Le Guin on writing, truth, lies, sci-fi, and fiction in general.
i think this quote from it was a wry observation on reading:

"In fact, while we read a novel, we are insane-bonkers. We believe in the existence of people who aren't there, we hear their voices, we watch the battle of Borodino with them, we may even become Napoleon. Sanity returns (in most cases)when the book is closed."


Kit at 4:32 PM