My chief complaint so far is that the writing is overly descriptive. In a very Steinbeck way…only w/o the skill. It has all the wordiness I hate about Steinbeck (“I put on my blue sweater and denim pants” when “I got dressed” would have sufficed), but w/o it actually being interesting. The beginning isn’t that bad…like you said.

But their first encounters are very cat and mouse…and why does every man seem to discredit her brain automatically?

I like the cross posting idea. We are boldly going where feminist minded pop culture addicts have not dared go before!

I won’t be able to read anymore til tomorrow so you should have plenty of time to catch up