@Libra18: I would have been happy if the book list was restricted to your reading level or above. Otherwise, if she was just reading small children level (like a 20 page book for a 6 year old), it's not fair.

@amandahugnkiss: I can understand why. I was in Honors English all throughout high school and AP English my senior year. We read a lot of books. I sort of burned out in college (I was a CS major, so I didn't read many novels for class) and didn't read that many. The ones I read for fun were the trashy/light-hearted…

@BrazenHussy: That's just sad. I lurk over at Chowhound. There are numerous posts about tipping and splitting the bill.

@girlreporter has a dorky journalism blog: Yes, started in 2000. The cheapest computer (desktop+CRT monitor) with the right configurations was $1500. It did last me for 4 years. But carrying the heavy 15" monitor and the desktop was so cumbersome twice a year for 4 years.

@CKD1: There definitely weren't extra-long sheet sets when I went to college either. My only choice was bed, bath, and beyond. Overpriced and only a few colors.

My first year of college was nearly 10 years ago. With a limited budget, the only things I remember getting were:

@Gemoftheday: My shoe collection is more mid-end. I don't have the latest styles because I've purchased them at a discount store. But they have real leather and very comfortable. It's rare that a Target/Payless (cute, but cheaply made shoes) are comfortable for me.

@MelissaMahoney Misses MizJenkins: They're definitely different. I bought the sugar boots: [www.fluevog.com] . The laces on the sides will accomodate my enormous calves.

Shoes are something I wouldn't want a knock-off/cheaper version of. I pay more for comfort/quality. Apparently Payless has been doing a lot of designer collaborations (in the vein of Target's designer ones).

@MelissaMahoney Misses MizJenkins: I just bought my first pair of knee-high Fluevog boots. I am eagerly awaiting later Fall/Winter to wear them with skirts/dresses.

@msmoneypenny: I liked Reba. There were some ups and downs, but I thought it was funny and not particularly raunchy.

@stealthird: It took me great pains to finish that book. I felt like I was supposed to feel sorry for the protagonist and all the shit she goes through. But by the middle of it, I just kind of really hated her, a lot.

@AllyAllyOxenFree: Not to mention that Sittenfeld's covers are fairly neutral and not "girly."

@OutDamnSpot: It's all part of white male privilege. Since it's the norm, they can write about anything and can get published. Women and minorities are supposed to write about what they know. So you get published authors who are only forced to write from a very specific female and/or minority perspective.

@redpensplease: Apparently the romance novel market is holding up the publishing industry. That stuff still sells while others don't. (I believe genre fiction in general is doing pretty well comparatively.)

@ronniedobbs: I think a male equivalent is Nicholas Sparks too. They're both popular and some of them have been made into movies. Lots of pandering sadness in both.

@Punkin: I read a few because I thought they would be "thought provoking." The first one was decent enough, and then I read another one. It was exactly the same as the first. I stopped reading her after that.

@stacyinbean: I love my slightly big pair of cute Geox Mary Janes. I got them for $25 at TJMaxx a year ago.

@Christina Gremore: My Cole Haan collection was purchased mostly from Nordstrom Rack. I managed to buy 4 pairs of shoes for about $50-$60 each. (Some were returned and "refurbished," so the prices were cheaper.)

@eruantaliel: To convert women's sizes into men's/juniors/big kids, you have to subtract from 1.5. Big kid's/junior sizes are usually 3-7.