No argument there.

I know, right? I still wonder sometimes if people somewhere go to the opera.

I know, right? I still wonder sometimes if people somewhere go to the opera.

The Bible? As an English language book?! *Goes into anaphylactic shock, as brain self-destructs.*

The Bible? As an English language book?! *Goes into anaphylactic shock, as brain self-destructs.*

Speaking of bleak children's books…what about A Day No Pigs Would Die? That one's just obscenely direct in its horror: you have to kill your friends, because otherwise your family wouldn't be able to pay for stuff. I honestly think that it's one of the least uplifting works of art I've ever read. Sad stuff.

Speaking of bleak children's books…what about A Day No Pigs Would Die? That one's just obscenely direct in its horror: you have to kill your friends, because otherwise your family wouldn't be able to pay for stuff. I honestly think that it's one of the least uplifting works of art I've ever read. Sad stuff.

This is interesting, because I have not read all the books in the English language. Could you recommend a runner-up?

This is interesting, because I have not read all the books in the English language. Could you recommend a runner-up?

I sort of feel the same of Catcher in the Rye or Lord of the Flies, but that's when they're given.

I sort of feel the same of Catcher in the Rye or Lord of the Flies, but that's when they're given.

To me, "young adult" means "stuff you'd read in junior high," so I would still say that Hatchet is up there with the best, as are a lot of the Roald Dahl books. (Danny, Champion of the World was a particular favorite.)

To me, "young adult" means "stuff you'd read in junior high," so I would still say that Hatchet is up there with the best, as are a lot of the Roald Dahl books. (Danny, Champion of the World was a particular favorite.)

Wait…does this mean, like that Something Something of the Apocalypse guy, that you're now bowing out?

Wait…does this mean, like that Something Something of the Apocalypse guy, that you're now bowing out?

The Squid and the Whale is a great, great film. It also was the topic of one of the more infuriating conversations I ever had about a movie. I mentioned that I'd seen it to my sister and brother-in-law, who both averred what a shitty movie it had been. What?! said I. Yeah, they together argued, it was just the type of…

The Squid and the Whale is a great, great film. It also was the topic of one of the more infuriating conversations I ever had about a movie. I mentioned that I'd seen it to my sister and brother-in-law, who both averred what a shitty movie it had been. What?! said I. Yeah, they together argued, it was just the type of…

Speaking of grotesque fantasy creatures…what is your avatar supposed to be, @avclub-6997a8bd0e1042b70b60c5c879a1780e:disqus? I've clicked on it like three times because each time I see it I'm shocked anew that someone put a semi-tumescent post-sex condomized dick as his (her?) avatar. 

Speaking of grotesque fantasy creatures…what is your avatar supposed to be, @avclub-6997a8bd0e1042b70b60c5c879a1780e:disqus? I've clicked on it like three times because each time I see it I'm shocked anew that someone put a semi-tumescent post-sex condomized dick as his (her?) avatar. 

I just watched The Architecture of Doom on Netflix, which is an examination of that sort of thing. It's not good as far as movie-movies go (none of the added music or animated pictorials that a more current documentary might've used), but it's a very informative picture-essay, with a lot of architectural sketches by…