I was raped by someone I thought I knew very well- I had never seen it coming. And the thing is, I don’t believe he thought what he was doing was wrong. His behavior was so ingrained he thought it was perfectly okay. I wonder if a lot of men don’t rape under just those circumstances, if they aren’t completely blinded…

I imagine it’s something like a surveillance video of them both walking into the apartment. Then the attorney can claim “they were acting normally” and this whole thing was just a case of “morning-after regret and a personal vendetta against my client.”

Roxane Gay said it really well on Twitter today: You are entitled to be curious. You are not entitled to the satisfaction of your curiosity.

I’m a millennial and these books blew my mind and ruled my life. Read them or don’t, but don’t hate.

• Jia Tolentino makes an excellent point.

I agree. The entire article seems a lot less interested in literature than in revealing Ferrante’s Jewish background (while suggesting there’s something wrong with her “passing” as a normal Italian woman). Of course, “exposing” Jews in the media is a favorite pastime of antisemites to this day.

There is a weird undercurrent of xenophobia and anti-Semitism in this unveiling of Elena Ferrante’s identity. As if the author’s mother being German Jewish disqualifies her from being Italian or writing about Italian characters.

My sister (whose opinion I highly respect regarding books) gave me the first one and I didn’t pick it up for a year based solely on the stupid cover. But once I did, I couldn’t stop reading them or thinking about them. Really well written, really beautiful.

Judging these books by their covers, literally, I would never pick them up - they look like Nicholas Sparks type drivel. But a friend of mine, whose opinion I value (and yes she happens to be a middle-aged woman) raves about them.

As a middle-aged woman, this comment has put me off reading them.

I don’t use my real name, and do not want to know anyone else’s. What is wrong with me?

I have a friend who knows Thomas Pynchon. He wouldn’t give up what he knows about Pynchon for anything. I value that kind of...honor? Respect? I don’t know what to call it, but I value it.

There’s a distinction between wanting your art to receive attention/appreciation and yourself to receive attention/appreciation. It’s cruel to insist that every person who wants their expression to be heard must also open up themselves, even against their own wishes. It’s not necessary.

No. Artists create art for people to enjoy. Beyond that they don’t owe people shit.

Bullshit.