I think this is the first time that a review has brought tears to my eyes, as I sit here four days before Christmas, an ocean away from my family, with only one parent left alive.

I saw The Departed in Taiwan, and the line about nuking Taiwan got a big laugh from the audience.

I saw The Departed in Taiwan, and the line about nuking Taiwan got a big laugh from the audience.

There's also mothers who can't produce enough milk, or are on medication that is transmitted via breast milk, or have persistent trouble nursing (it's not as easy as it looks), or have trouble pumping or work somewhere that doesn't facilitate taking milk pumping breaks several times a day, or can't afford a wet nurse.

There's also mothers who can't produce enough milk, or are on medication that is transmitted via breast milk, or have persistent trouble nursing (it's not as easy as it looks), or have trouble pumping or work somewhere that doesn't facilitate taking milk pumping breaks several times a day, or can't afford a wet nurse.

I read through the entire series recently, on various plane flights. The later half or third of the series gets more and more repetitive, and feels a little like Baum was tired of writing the damn books but couldn't stop due to high demand, and was generating plots by drawing plot elements out of a hat.

I read through the entire series recently, on various plane flights. The later half or third of the series gets more and more repetitive, and feels a little like Baum was tired of writing the damn books but couldn't stop due to high demand, and was generating plots by drawing plot elements out of a hat.

Sixty nine!

Sixty nine!

As women's bathrooms have personal stalls, that one has never bothered me. Everything else, including the honours degree in physics, though…

As women's bathrooms have personal stalls, that one has never bothered me. Everything else, including the honours degree in physics, though…

Yeah, the bison grass vodka is pretty good - I've had it on a few occasions thanks to Polish friends.

Yeah, the bison grass vodka is pretty good - I've had it on a few occasions thanks to Polish friends.

My father made the same comment about fresh garlic when he was a boy, in rural Ontario.

My father made the same comment about fresh garlic when he was a boy, in rural Ontario.

I'm in my 30s, and the brief bit I read in the bookstore was more than enough exposure for me.    Of course, my sixteen year old self was more interested in teaching herself Basic than screaming over vampires (or the Backstreet Boys)

I'm in my 30s, and the brief bit I read in the bookstore was more than enough exposure for me.    Of course, my sixteen year old self was more interested in teaching herself Basic than screaming over vampires (or the Backstreet Boys)

And you know that at some point in the future, Wally's going to be defending his friendship with Eddie to his wife or fiance.  "Yes, honey, I know he's a complete dickhead and treats you like crap. But we've been friends since elementary school!  I can't drop him now!

And you know that at some point in the future, Wally's going to be defending his friendship with Eddie to his wife or fiance.  "Yes, honey, I know he's a complete dickhead and treats you like crap. But we've been friends since elementary school!  I can't drop him now!

Combined with the usual teenage belief that everyone in the world is watching you, mind you.