My experience was different than yours. I would hope reasonable people would recognize that.

Me too, it’s the worst!

All I really care about rn, tbh.

Eh, I guess if I actually believed anyone here writing these things genuinely felt superior, I’d be bothered. But they’re such obvious clickbait designed entirely for starting fights in the comments, I can’t really take it personally. I guess they have to fill the blogging quota somehow?

What if you’ve had plenty of different meat loaves in life, by many different cooks, and also hate meat balls? Because I hate both.

I’m not denying it was built on it; I literally just mentioned it in the comment you’re replying to. However, this is where I can’t agree with you:

I mentioned it in reply to someone who asked who wasn’t an asshole. (I work in the book industry, and edit, design, illustrate, and publish books. And yes, the book industry is big in LA, probably second only to NY at this point.) Again, I rarely have to deal with anyone who works in the industry, because whatever the…

Sure thing!

Dumas should always be kept.

I LOVE the idea of introducing teens to horror. I feel like it never even comes up; the closest anyone gets is maybe some sci-fi.

I hated Catcher as a 15-year-old, and I know I’d hate it even more now in my 30s.

I would always argue for Poe. I’ll never forget my junior year high school English teacher reading through “The Raven” for us with a very low volume speaker behind him providing a basic rhythm; it drove home the point that Poe wrote such evocative and lyrical works while simultaneously crafting verse that flows…

Yeah, teens are too young to appreciate that Wuthering Heights is about two obsessive assholes making themselves (and everyone around them!) completely miserable.

These are very good points.

I am seriously aghast at the concept of NO James Baldwin anywhere in this list. I mean, seriously?

Okay, I actually found all three! I remembered the one with the car and the camera slightly off (she ever actually got out of her car), but it’s still scary as shit. The one with the dog and someone living in the woman’s house (GAHHH) has definitely stuck with me, but again, the one that I remember the most vividly,…

Oh, nice! I’ve only been to Vancouver once, about 10 years ago, and spent most of my time downtown (since I was staying in a hostel and wasn’t old enough yet to rent a car), but it was lovely.

We definitely have discussed, a couple of times, where the trust issues come from, so at least it’s not a thing I’m sitting on. (I feel you on being everyone’s sounding board though, heh. It can be... a lot.) I have learned he’s just not dependable in the way that I am, and that’s just a thing I have to accept and…

I mean, I already did, and did so last night, so no issue there. Can’t undo engaging that was already done, though!

Thank you, Zellie. All I can say is that I appreciate you as a smart, compassionate commenter in general and that everything you wrote in this particular comment rings true with me.