Truth be told: I’m a geek. I’m one of the few women I know (I run in a limited circle here in Jonesboro) who loves the Lord of the Rings, who will read science fiction and fantasy and books about magic and not think it’s weird or unusual. After I went through an Agatha Christie phase in junior high where I read everything she wrote (or at least everything the library had), I discovered fantasy. I was hooked. (At one point, I was reading all the Star Wars/Star Trek fan fiction. Thankfully, I realized it was a huge waste of time.) I read to escape (I’ve said that before) and sci-fi/fantasy is one of the best means to escape real life.
Books that aren’t here that I’ve read in the past, but need to re-read: Douglas Addams Hitchhiker’s series; the Isaac Asimov Foundation series, Moreta by Anne McCaffery, and probably many others that I can’t think of right now.
Deerskin, Robin McKinley
Read this ages ago, so I don’t really remember what it’s about. I do remember that she used new-agey Goddess healing as a plot device, and that I liked it (it’s Robin McKinley, after all).
Dragonflight and Dragonquest, Anne McCaffrey
The first two of the Pern dragon series. And they’re quite interesting — good storylines, heroic adventures. The final book, White Dragon, sucked. I think you can get away with reading the first two of the series and not finish it out…
A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula LeGuin
Many people really like this book. I just found it to be so-so. I tried reading the second book in the series and was bored.
Four Ways to Forgiveness, Ursula LeGuin
Interesting. But not what I was expecting.
The Lathe of Heaven, Ursula LeGuin
I think, out of all the books I’ve read by her, I like this one the best. She is good at not giving you quite what you expect out of a science fiction book, but it’s still intriguing. This one is about power and the abuse of it,
under the guise of a hypnotherapist “helping” a patient who’s dreams really do come to pass. A good book.
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, Douglas Adams
A funny little book, though for the life of me, I don’t understand the ending.
A Long, Dark, Teatime of the Soul, Douglas Adams
Another “Dirk Gently” book – better than the first one, I think. Funnier, and the ending makes sense this time.
Curses, Inc. and Other Stories, Vivian Vande Velde
An amusing collection of “witch” stories (though I think I would call them “spell” stories). My favorite was “To Converse With the Dumb Beasts”.
The Silver Crown, Robert O’Brien
My niece Sarah recommended this to me, and I found it to be a very interesting premise. It’s not very often that the magical and the real are intertwined so believably.
A Knot in the Grain and Other Stories, Robin McKinley
Good fantasy short stories. Includes ones based upon The Hero and the Crown.
Spindle’s End, Robin McKinley
Great take on Sleeping Beauty
Redwall, Brian Jacques
I have to admit, I picked up this book because I was interested in the cartoon version they advertised on PBS several years ago. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable book; I couldn’t put it down. I know there’s tons of books in the series, but I haven’t bee interested in reading any of the others.
The Book Nut 
re: Ursula Le Guin.
The first time I read <>Wizard of Earthsea<> I didn’t really get into it either, but I reread it and read for the first time the other books in the trilogy a year or so ago. The second one is my favorite! There’s also a fourth one, also with a girl as the protagonist.
I haven’t read either of the other two you list.
<>The Left Hand of Darkness<> is another one she’s well-known for. I thought it was somewhat interesting but also kind of hard to really get into. But it’s supposed to be groundbreaking.
I love a little book she wrote for young adults, not science fiction, called <>And Both Were Young<>.
And one of the most thought-provoking short stories I’ve ever read was her “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas.”
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Oh, PS, I went through an Anne McCaffrey phase in 9th grade! I think I read (and often reread) just about everything I could find by her, particularly in the Pern series. But I agree, the first couple are probably the best.
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Oops, I put the wrong title in my first post. The YA book is actually <>Very Far Away from Anywhere Else<>. (<>And Both Were Young<> *is* the name of a YA book I like, but it’s by Madeleine L’Engle.)
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I’ve begun reading science fiction again after a long lay-off. There are definite small pleasures to be had in Isaac Asimov’s short stories. They’re like a nice small glass of wine at the end of a long day.
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I love fantasy. I was raised on LOTR (my oldest sister is named Lorien). I’ve enjoyed many of the books you listed. I haven’t read much fantasy recently though. I need too.
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Loved everything by Anne McCaffrey! Her writing reminded me of Mary Stewart’s King Arthur trilogy (The Crystal Cave, etc.) in that she created a reality that has stayed in my head. Many fantasy novels (and I’ve loved so many of them!) always stayed in the realm of fantasy. But both these writers wrote in such a way that some part of me is just sure those worlds exist! (Of course, Stewart’s did, but not exactly as she wrote it. But I could never really enjoy other stories of Arthur; they always got something “wrong” when they differed from her definitive world!LOL)
Just found your blog via Amira’s The Thoughtful Spot. It’s great!
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I LOOVE Redwall. It’s the best book on earth!
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