I cannot believe I'm saying this, but after reading over 100 books since I retired (and writing Amazon reviews of them), I have come to the following conclusions about most (not all) women who write novels or novellas:

1. Most "historical fiction" novels written by women are thinly-disguised romance novels. The history is sparse and poorly researched and is merely an excuse for washboard abs and ripping bodices.

2. Most action and adventure, crime novels written by women are 40% (approximately) exploration of the emotions and psychological reactions of the characters, with another substantial portion devoted to minute recitals of the minutiae of the surroundings: table decorations, garden plantings, etc. The plot is a distant third place, each event serving mostly to provide another platform for angst and domestic description.

3. The most substantial and interesting (to me) novels by women authors seem to be urban fantasy, science fiction, and humor, where plot, character development, setting description are all in balance.

This goes against everything I believe as a woman and as a dyed-in-the-wool feminist. But after 100 examples in crime fiction, historical fiction, suspense, thrillers and so forth, I can only report on what I read: page after page of crying and moaning and hysterics, fears and trepidations, sturm und drang. I want to say, "Enough already! Let's get on with the plot."

I was looking for a new book for my Kindle (I've finished the previous one) this morning and I found myself shying away from those written by women. Shame on me!

Now if more women could write as well as Connie Willis or Diana Rowland, for instance, I could be convinced to change my opinion.