the genre as a whole needs to do some self-correction and its editors need to work to move it a bit away from realistic fiction written by very privileged white people about dysfunctional families.

First, I am thrilled to have one of my favorite poets responding to a comment of mine. This is a BFD. Second, you are correct. We should all be embarrassed for reading poorly written anything. Third, you are correct again. There is no true authority on what is poorly written so it doesn't matter. Even poorly written…

Excuse me. What is wrong with mystery-solving cats?!

Why, exactly, should I confine my reading to what is considered challenging? It is more important that an adult reads and find enjoyment in it, or that they slog through something difficult to prove that they can? Can't reading just be a fun hobby?

Yeah, she cackled:

A) There are plenty of adults who do read at a teenage reading level, just as there are a lot of teens who skip YA completely. I would hate for anyone to make them feel ashamed of the reading that they do enjoy.

But if they are substituting maudlin teen dramas for the complexity of great adult literature, then they are missing something.

but it is also crucial to read books that are written at a more difficult, challenging level.

Exactly. I've long held the opinion that YA books (and middle grade books, to a certain extent) need to be well-written simply because teenagers and kids will rarely tolerate bullshit. If something isn't internally consistent or a character isn't characterized properly, they'll stop reading. Most adult novels seem to…

I have noticed that books with heavier subjects and more creative story-telling tend to do better in the YA category than adult books. I can not imagine books that are told entirely in free-verse poetry and focus on sexual and physical assault and/or drug use going up the best-seller list on adult book lists along…

BOOOOOOTS!

In my imagination the 50 Cent story went like this: 50 got someone else's breakfast, and, traumatized as a child by negative grapefruit experiences, looked at the grapefruit presented to him and, incredulous, said "What the fuck is THIS?" Ansari overheard, and misunderstood for the reasons of comedic…

Oh.

He doesn't look like a real person.

"Putting a lid on a beverage isn't telling rapists they shouldn't rape, which is, you know, the main problem. It's not really deterring rape."

Good call!!

that counts as a poodle

So I guess I'm calling Rachel Ray a drunk.

One time I mixed Bacardi 151 with my Aunt's pink lemonade at a family BBQ and everyone was like, "yo how did yours turn all brown the stuff in the pitcher is pink".